First Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church located behind the Marion Recreation building, near the Marion Library, at 79 Academy Street in Marion, McDowell County, North Carolina. Established in 1845, it was the first organized church of any denomination in the town of Marion. The church is a "daughter" of two older Presbyterian missions in the region: the Muddy Creek Mission (which became Drusilla Church) and the Pleasant Gardens Mission (which became Siloam Church).
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. It is located in the Main Street Historic District.
On August 30, 1845, a group of individuals from various Presbyterian churches met in Marion to discuss the formation of a local congregation. The church was officially organized by evangelist Rev. George M. Gibbs on October 11, 1845, with fifteen charter members.
The first ruling elders were Adolphus L. Erwin, James Harvey Greenlee, and John Neal. For its first two years, the congregation lacked a dedicated building and held services in the McDowell County Court House
At the time of its 100th anniversary in 1945, the church leadership included:
From an initial charter group of 15 members, the church grew to an enrollment of 350 by 1945. The church roll historically included several generations of the founding families, such as the Erwins, Greenlees, and Neals. Notably, the charter members included Eliza Erwin, a Black member admitted by examination on August 31, 1845.
The church also maintained several active organizations, including the Woman's Auxiliary, the Youth Fellowship, and the "Men-of-the-Church" (though the latter became inactive during World War II).
In October 1945, the church celebrated its One Hundredth Anniversary with a week of special programming, including a Centennial Communion, a historical program, and a "Home-Coming" dinner on the grounds. For this occasion, Rev. McMurray composed a poem titled "Centennial Chimes" to honor the century of faith.