The Congregation's History
A History of Presbyterians in Walton County
From 1822 until 1889 there was an Alcovia Presbyterian Church in the Bold Springs area. And there was a Presbyterian Church in Monroe from 1839 through 1843.
Our congregation launched with afternoon Sunday School classes in 1923. Enthusiasm grew, land was acquired, and in 1924 a building was completed on Pannell Road. Logically, we became the Pannell Presbyterian Church.
On June 4, 1950, 31 members from the Pannell Presbyterian Church and the Monroe Presbyterian Church united to form the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe. For the next 22 years, we met in the former First Methodist Church building.
In 1970 our presbytery tapped its Ray-Thomas Trust Fund to cover a large part of the construction costs of our present facilities on Breedlove Drive. Taking the name Ray Memorial Presbyterian Church, we held our first service on Easter Sunday 1972. In 1988 we reconfigured the sanctuary and added classrooms and office space.
In August 2012, we reclaimed our former name, the First Presbyterian Church of Monroe.
Staff
Dr. Bruce McRae, Pastor
bruce@fpcmonroe.com
Valarie Malcolm, Executive Assistant & Financial Secretary
office@fpcmonroe.com
Beattie Evans, Choir Director
evansbeattie22@gmail.com
Harriet Kilpatrick, Accompanist
Nancy Moss, Treasurer
Dr. Bruce McRae
Pastor
bruce@fpcmonroe.com
Dr. Bruce McRae grew up in Philadelphia and New England and graduated from college at Washington University in St. Louis. He studied for the ministry of Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, and he also has a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. In his free time, Bruce loves cycling, movies, music, football, and vacationing in Maine.
Valarie Malcom
Executive Assistant & Financial Secretary
office@fpcmonroe.com
Valarie has lived in Monroe, Georgia her entire life. She attended school in Monroe all the way through graduation. She graduated from Monroe Area High School in 2002. She has been working at First Presbyterian Church of Monroe since January of 2016. She has enjoyed her time here at FPC and hopes to continue for many years.
Beattie Evans
Music Director
Beattie has served as Music Director at First Presbyterian Church since 2003. He has served churches as music director over the past 50 years in South Carolina, Indiana and Georgia. He is a graduate of Furman University with a B.A. in Music Education. Beattie also holds a Master of Church Music degree with a major in conducting from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has had additional studies in Music Education at Louisiana State University and the University of South Carolina.
Over the years he has performed a number or roles in community theater. He has also been a stand-in and featured extra in several movie and TV productions. Outside of music his interests include photography, golf and traveling.
Harriet Kilpatrick
Accompanist
