Exploring early American Presbyterianism this summer led the byFaith editors to wonder about the PCA’s oldest churches. Which congregation is the oldest? How many churches, if any, date back to America’s colonial days?
To answer these questions, we turned to Wayne Sparkman, director of the PCA Historical Center. He sent us his verified list of the 50 oldest PCA churches that are still in existence. Turns out, there are 11 PCA churches that have been around since before the Declaration of Independence was signed, and 19 that were founded before 1800. Of the oldest 50 churches, 17 were founding churches in the PCA. Churches with records on file at the PCA Historical Center are listed in bold type.
The oldest church in the PCA is Fairfield Presbyterian Church in Fairton, New Jersey. It was organized in 1680 and was independent until joining the PCA in 1979.
50 Oldest PCA Churches
| Rank | Name | City or Town | State | Org. |
| 1 | Fairfield Presbyterian Church | Fairton | NJ | 1680 |
| 2 | Manor Presbyterian Church [was Faggs Manor PC] | Cochranville | PA | 1730 |
| 3 | First Presbyterian Church | Schenectady | NY | 1760 |
| 4 | First Presbyterian Church [was Waynesboro Congreg. & Presb. Ch.] |
Waynesboro | GA | 1760 |
| 5 | Bethel Presbyterian Church | Clover | SC | 1764 |
| 6 | Goshen Presbyterian Church | Belmont | NC | 1764 |
| 7 | Knowlton Presbyterian Church | Columbia | NJ | 1766 |
| 8 | Bullock Creek Presbyterian Church | Sharon | SC | 1769 |
| 9 | Greene Valley Presbyterian Church | Carmichaels | PA | 1775 |
| 10 | Lebanon Presbyterian Church | Winnsboro | SC | 1775 |
| 11 | Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church | Ellerbe (Norman) | NC | 1776 |
| 12 | Providence | Limestone | TN | 1780 |
| 13 | Bethany Presbyterian Church | Greensboro | GA | 1786 |
| 14 | Fairview Presbyterian Church | Fountain Inn | SC | 1786 |
| 15 | Liberty Springs | Cross Hill | SC | 1787 |
| 16 | Prosperity Presbyterian Church | Charlotte | NC | 1788 |
| 17 | Aimwell Presbyterian Church | Ridgeway | SC | 1790 |
| 18 | Reformed Presbyterian Church | Duanesburg | NY | 1795 |
| 19 | Middlesex Presbyterian Church | Butler | PA | 1799 |
| 20 | First Reformed Presbyterian Church | Pittsburgh | PA | 1800 |
| 21 | First Presbyterian Church | Ellerbe | NC | 1803 |
| 22 | Pioneer Presbyterian Church | Ligonier | PA | 1803 |
| 23 | First Presbyterian Church | Augusta | GA | 1804 |
| 24 | Back Creek Presbyterian Church | Mt. Ulla | NC | 1805 |
| 25 | Mount Calvary Presbyterian Church | Clay [was Pinson] | AL | 1806 |
| 26 | Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church | Natchez | MS | 1807 |
| 27 | Zion Presbyterian Church | Columbia | TN | 1807 |
| 28 | Hopewell Presbyterian Church | Rock Hill | SC | 1808 |
| 29 | Meadow Creek Presbyterian Church | Greeneville | TN | 1812 |
| 30 | Salem Presbyterian Church | Blair | SC | 1812 |
| 31 | Lowndesboro Presbyterian Church | Lowndesboro | AL | 1816 |
| 32 | Bethel Reformed Presbyterian Church | Sparta | IL | 1819 |
| 33 | Kanawha Salines Presbyterian Church | Malden [Charleston] | WV | 1819 |
| 34 | First Presbyterian Church | Greenville | AL | 1820 |
| 35 | Friendship Presbyterian Church | Laurens | SC | 1820 |
| 36 | Lebanon Presbyterian Church | Abbeville | SC | 1821 |
| 37 | Philadelphus Presbyterian Church | Waynesboro | MS | 1821 |
| 38 | First Presbyterian Church | Greensboro | AL | 1823 |
| 39 | New Life Presbyterian Church of Hopewell Township [was Racoon Reformed Presbyterian Church] |
Aliquippa | PA | 1823 |
| 40 | Pea River Presbyterian Church | Clio | AL | 1823 |
| 41 | Catherine Presbyterian Church | Catherine | AL | 1824 |
| 42 | First Presbyterian Church | Centreville | AL | 1824 |
| 43 | First Presbyterian Church | Eutaw | AL | 1824 |
| 44 | The Church at Chantilly (formerly First Presbyterian Church) | Montgomery | AL | 1824 |
| 45 | First Presbyterian Church | Tuscumbia | AL | 1824 |
| 46 | First Presbyterian Church | Macon | GA | 1826 |
| 47 | Bethesda Presbyterian Church | Edwards | MS | 1826 |
| 48 | Sharon Presbyterian Church | Magee | MS | 1827 |
| 49 | Providence Presbyterian Church | Montgomery | AL | 1828 |
| 50 | South Liberty Presbyterian Church | Sharon | GA | 1828 |
The complete series can be found here.