125th Anniversary Celebration for First Rock Hill


The First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Rock Hill, SC celebrated her 125th Anniversary on August 29, 2021 (one year late due to Covid). The special worship service had the theme of Celebrating God’s Faithfulness, and included lots of music, a dedication of the Church’s original education building in memory of the founding pastor, Arthur Small Rogers, a sermon preached by a son of the First Rock Hill Church – the Rev. Richard C. Lewis, pastor of Pisgah ARP Church in Gastonia, NC, and a presentation following worship by First Rock Hill’s resident historian – Paul Gettys. Pastor Emeritus Dr. Robert J. Robinson had a part in the service, and some former staff


were in attendance (including Dr. Roy Beckham who had served as a part-time pastor of visitation following his retirement from First Lancaster), as well as many out-of-town guests. While First Rock Hill has had several associate pastors through the years, her cur-  history. Dr. Rogers, on behalf of the Board of Home Missions, began to plant the church in the summer of 1895 while still in Erskine Seminary, and following his graduation the next year, assumed leadership   Rock Hill Church, and was successful enough that the sanctuary was completed in 1898 with no debt. God gave the congregation a wonderful beginning and the church grew quickly, and by 1930 enjoyed over 370 members and had added an educational building. When Dr. Rogers retired in 1948, the congregation called the Rev. William Pressly Grier, Jr. (known as Kit), who stayed for 15 years. Following his pastorate ending in 1963, which included planting a daughter church (Rogers Memorial ARP), the congregation called the Rev. Henry Lewis Smith, whose leadership added a new educational building, even though he resigned two and a half years later to plant a new church in Winter Haven, Florida. The congregation then called the Rev. Robert J. Robinson, and he was installed in 1967, and served well for the next 34 years. Under his leadership, the church continued to grow in ministry, member- ship, staff, property and facilities. When Dr. Robinson retired in 2001, the church called Dr. J. Barry  Pastor, and his 40th year of ministry in the ARPC.


New Minister and Staff Orientation Alex Lott is Ordained


The ARP Center hosted Orientation for new ministers and staff in September. The group heard from each agency and traveled to visit Erskine College and Bonclarken.


Front Row – Justin Brickey, Cameron Levine, Colleen Siems, Andy Webb, Seth Nelson, Ann Hawkes; Second Row – Paul Yoo, Luke Grigsby, Mark Levine, Leonard Siems, Brad Anderson, Kyle O’Donnell, Tom Hawkes; (Not Pictured – Jonathan Cook and Abraham Kim.)


Rev. Alex Lott was ordained on August 15, 2021 by First Presbytery. He is now the pastor of Starmount ARP Church in Charlotte, NC.


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The Associate Reformed Presbyterian


News In Brief


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