1711 Indian massacre, Huguenots fled to the Santee River in South Carolina.

1764 The Rev. George Whitfield, after a tour of the coastal section of Carolina, writes of New Light Presbyterians. He preached in New Bern on Christmas Day 1739 and again visited here in November 1764.

1807 Subscription was announced for "Presbyterian Meeting House". Subscription stated for a building in December 1807. A lot was purchased in 1819 for the sum of $ 1200. Contractor and builder: Uriah Sandy, assisted by John Dewey and Martin Stevenson. Oldest church building in the city. Size: 70x52 feet. Balcony on three sides. Cost: $ 7000.

1808 Minutes of Orange Presbytery read, "Mr. James Burch received a call from New Bern," and record his ordination here May 27,1807. In 1810, the minutes record his dismissal "from his pastoral duties" to the presbytery of Philadelphia. Such entries imply an organization here. Intervening records were lost, leaving no specific information prior to 1817.

1817 The present organization was effected January 7, 1817, by the Rev. John Witherspoon, native of New Bern, grandson of a signer of the Declaration of Independence, then living in Hillsboro, North Carolina.

1819 Lot was purchased and the building was started. The cornerstone was laid on June 9, 1819. The building is quite similar in architecture to the Congregational Church, Litchfield, Connecticut, which was erected in 1829. The building was dedicated on January 6, 1822. The original pews were sold with the prices ranging from $150 to $350.

1842 The manse at 411 Johnson Street, originally a side-hall Federal style house, was purchased in 1842 and has been renovated several times.

1856 The lot on the east side of the church was purchased and the "Lecture Room", now called "The Session House," was built.

1861-1865 The church building was the Federal Regimental Headquarters for worship until the epidemic of yellow fever when it was made into a Federal Emergency Hospital, together with the entire church property, the manse being used as surgeon's headquarters.

1866 The building was repossessed and renovated. The high pulpit, as now restored, was removed. The platform was lowered 25 inches, made much broader, with arched, semidome shaped recess behind. The stranger pews in each corner were rearranged so worshipers would all face the pulpit. The Communion Table was discarded. It was in two nine foot sections, forming a crescent shaped table from stair to stair, fifteen inches wide. One section was found in 1936 and restored to use. Recently a duplicate was made so that we have two tables as originally used.

1898 The baptismal font was given by the "Ladies Sewing Society" in memory of former pastor, The Rev. L.C. Vass.

1936 The old pulpit was restored by Mrs. Leo Harvey of Kinston, in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T.G. Hyman.

1950 Present Education Building was constructed.

1976 During the renovation of Session House, wallpaper removed from interior walls of the main hall revealed stenciling at the cornice level and below the chair rail, probably installed amid the 1866 renovations; stenciling was restored in 1977.

1986 Pipe organ, a two-manual instrument with 19 ranks and 13 stops, was built and installed by C.B. Fisk, Inc. of Gloucester, Massachusetts. The 1012 pipes are housed in a poplar case painted white and trimmed with Honduras mahogany. The pipe shades are carved with shells and other nautical motifs representing the link between New Bern and the water.

1992 Sanctuary interior renovated.

1993 Sanctuary exterior renovated and Fellowship Center purchased.

1996 First Presbyterian Church Preschool moved to the new Fellowship Center and the church office was moved to our present location. We purchased the old Hargett House located next to the church office.

1997 The New Bern Preservation Foundation moved the Hargett House to its new location on Queen Street.