MOMENTS IN HISTORY ..........   THE SHELBY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.............   published in 1954
  Piedmont North Carolina was settled in the main by Scotch Irish who were Presbyterian in origin and culture. Some of the oldest churches in this area are therefore Presbyterian. The Unity Church and the Brittain Churches were begun in 1764 and 1768, and the Shiloh Church in nearby Grover was founded in 1780.   However, Presbyterianism came to Shelby late. The town was founded and incorporated in 1844, and though settled by people of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the Methodists and Baptists came first. The Shelby Presbyterian Church was organized in 1858. Not until 1875 did it secure a resident pastor.
  Between 1870 and 1874 the original building was constructed, and this structure was remodeled twice. During the 1940's the congregation finally grew until the church sanctuary was too small. It was finally torn down in 1952 to make way for the present building.   Our new church is the result of years of painstaking study and by much sacrificial giving. The original impetus was provided by the legacy of the late Dr. R. C. Ellis to erect a building in honor of his wife, Mrs. Ellen Fitzgerald Ellis. This building is familiarly known as our Fellowship Hall.   Financial campaigns were conducted in 1950 and 1952 and the congregation subscribed over $125,000.00. There was some $65,000.00 in the Ellis Fund to which had been added other moneys through the years. Our church still has a considerable indebtedness for the new buildings and their furnishings.   Begun in late 1952, the first occasion for worship in the new sanctuary was on April 11, 1954. The building was designed by Harold E. Wagoner, well-known architect of Philadelphia. The general contractor was the Barger Construction Company of Mooresville. A splendid building committee of our church headed by R. T. LeGrand, Jr., secured the services of Mr. Wagoner and faithfully carried through the project. This committee was assisted by several other committees who rendered counsel and advice.

THE SPIRE
  The Spire was given by the Women of the Church and including the cross is 102 feet above the floor. The cross itself is made of aluminum and is 7½ feet high. The white part of the spire, illuminated at night, extends 69 feet from the top of the brick tower.

THE PARLOR
  The front of the sanctuary contains a parlor which will be used in many ways: as a small classroom, for session meetings to receive new members, for the bride and bridesmaids at the time of a wedding, as a lounge for anyone taken ill during worship, as a place of registry for conventions, rallies, meetings of Presbytery or Presbyterial.

THE SANCTUARY
  The main floor of the sanctuary is 58' x 34', is 38' at the transept. The ceiling is 23' from the floor, and the pews will comfortably seat 276 adults. The balcony is 23' x 23' and contains pews to seat 74 people. The entire church will comfortably seat 375 including choir and minister.   The church is divided into areas which bear traditional names. The front hall or lobby is termed the narthex. The main body of the sanctuary is the nave, a term that comes from the Latin word meaning ship: the church is “the ship of salvation,” a ship with a cargo of souls. The wider area between the two large windows is called the transept. In larger churches, the transept usually contains pews. The area beyond the transept is termed the chancel. The outline of the floor plan of the church therefore resembles a cross. The central aisle leads directly to the Lord’s table. The absence of any railing or other barrier signifies our belief in the priesthood of all believers, for all have direct access to the table.   When one examines the design of the building and its colors, it is at once apparent that the nave is restful and quiet and that interest is steadily heightened as the eye moves forward to the Lord’s Table which is the focal point for worship.   This acceleration of interest is first apparent in the cornice which is very simple over the balcony becoming richer in detail at the balcony’s edge. At the transept interest further increases with the larger windows and the fluted columns. Beyond the transept the hymn boards lead into the large furniture of the pulpit and the lectern. The rich scarlet damask of the dossal curtain, the cross, flowers, and candles – all bring attention to a climax at the communion table.

THE HYMN BOARDS
  In the days before printed bulletins, hymn boards were designed for posting hymn numbers. Although often used for the same purpose now, their function in our sanctuary is primarily decorative. It is possible that some unique Christian symbols may be added on ours in the near future. The delicate flowers already carved on the boards are time honored decorations in church furniture. The heraldic rose symbolizes our Lord; lilies stand for purity and humility; and daises for innocence. Roses and lilies both appear on the hymn boards. Roses and daisies are used to decorate the panels on either side of the pulpit and lectern. Roses also appear on the tester.   (To be continued next month . . . the history of the Pulpit and Tester, the Lectern, the Chancel, the Lord’s Table and the Paraments.)   Interesting facts from 1954, the first year in the new sanctuary:   First Wedding held in the new sanctuary: Shem Blackley Jr. and Martha Baird (parents of Chip & Fred Blackley and sister of Mabel Lacey).
  Children and Infants baptized in 1954 were: Ann Gray Archer, Nancy Mae Bazonick, John D. Campbell III, John W. Claytor Jr., Richard Albert Dedmon, John R. Dover IV, Byard Falls Edwards, Mary Allison Freeman, Rosa Johnson, Elizabeth Josephine LeGrand, John Beam McBrayer, John Thomas McMurray, Bobby Morris, Mary Martha Parrish, Charles Preyerr Roberts III, Margaret Kay Ropp,
Elizabeth Ann Taylor, Julia Lee Tiddy, Virginia Roberts Yates.

   THE PULPIT AND TESTER
The pulpit is big and symbolizes the large place which preaching the gospel occupies in Christianity. The eagle with the cruciform nimbus over its head represents the triumphant Christ. The eagle, traditionally able to renew its strength (Isaiah 40:31), is a fitting and scriptural symbol of the Lord.
The tester over the pulpit is both functional and decorative. It is a genuine acoustical aid and is commonly known as a sounding board. It bygone times when sermons were from one to two hours long, the tester eased the strain on the preacher’s voice and at the same time made hearing easier for the congregation. Its decorative effect can be readily felt in its graceful lines.

THE LECTERN
The lectern is the teacher’s stand and serves to emphasize the teaching function of the church. Since the New Testament epistles were written to instruct the young churches, the side of the church where the lectern is located is often referred to as the “epistle side” whereas the side where the pulpit is erected is known as the “gospel side.”
The carving on the front of the lectern is a phoenix and flame. The phoenix is not a real bird but according to legend it builds a nest of sweet smelling twigs and spices when it grows old. These are set on fire by the sun and the phoenix is the most widely used symbol to represent the Resurrection of our Lord and of His followers.

THE CHANCEL
The chancel is 24' x 24' and is 23' high. It contains choir seats for 24 not including the organist. There are two benches for the use of the minister and for elders during communion.
The chancel is mounted by going up three steps which traditionally represent the Christian virtues of faith, hope, and charity. The three steps leading from the floor of the chancel to the Lord’s table are symbolic of the trinity. The second of these latter steps is made broad for the practical purpose of providing a place for the bride and groom and their immediate attendants to stand during the wedding service.
The choir members are seated in pews facing each other. This gives them a measure of privacy and freedom for movement during worship which they cannot enjoy when they are seated facing the congregation. Similarly, their relative concealment from direct view does not allow them or their personalities to catch the interest of the worshipers.

THE LORD’S TABLE
The Lord’s table is not an altar. It is a table and is built low as a table. Except for weddings it is never against the wall, and for communion the minister and the elders will be seated around it. On the front of our communion table is a carving of the burning bush which symbolizes the presence of God.
Directly behind the table is a long shelf known as the Retable and flanked at either end by built-in flower boxes which are the only places in our sanctuary which flowers may be placed.
Upon the Retable are displayed candlesticks and candles. We shall use varying number of these from time to time, and the use of each number is also traditionally symbolic. When we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we shall use two which represent the human and the divine natures of our Lord. On other occasions we shall use four or six. Four represent the light of the four gospels all of which tell the story of the Lamb of God who is the atonement for man and of His cross which hangs above. Six represent the six days of Creation. In all frankness, there is little traditional precedent for four candles, but six have been used in churches for centuries.
Above these candles hangs the cross, the principle symbol of our faith. The cross hangs against a red dossal curtain, the damask design of which is purely decorative. Red not only lends color and emphasis, but it is the color of life and reminds us that our faith is vital to life and that it is based on One Who gave His Life on a cross.

PARAMENTS
The hangings from the pulpit and lectern are known as paraments. The two large book marks hanging from the lectern are, of course, related to the open Bible on the lectern. The open Bible is an important symbol that has great significance to Protestants. On the book marks are the Greek letters, “Alpha” and “Omega.” These are the first and last letters in the Greek Alphabet, comparable to “A” and “Z” in the English Alphabet. They are symbols of the fact that Jesus is the beginning and ending of our faith - signifying his completeness.
On the pulpit may be seen a “Chirhogram.” There are the Greek letters Chi (X) and Rho (P) which are an abbreviation for Christ. These letters are surrounded by a circle which symbolizes eternity. There is also a Greek cross in the center. In addition there is the Greek word NIKA which means “He has conquered” referring to Christ’s ultimate victory over sin and death through the crucifixion and the resurrection.

From the Kings Mountain Presbytery Minutes, 1954:
Dreams too often have a way of fading into nothingness. Not so with the dream of a new church with the Shelby Presbyterians of yesteryear. It became very dim many times but always lingered until April 11, 1954 gave to the congregation a new Sanctuary – elegant in simplicity, warmth for fellowship, and an atmosphere conducive for prayer and worship. A great day long to be remembered. Encouragement for hope and definite planning came when the Trustees reported that the money from the Ellis Estate had grown through the years. From time to time other gifts were added to the Building Fund. Sufficient funds from campaigns completed the building of the Fellowship Hall and Sanctuary which is only a part of the entire church plant. So a dream full of prayer, genuine sacrifice, and faithful labors of the committees, the architects, and contractors had come true. At that first service R. T. LeGrand Jr., chairman of the Building Committee, with words of thanks and appreciation for all associated committees, turned over the keys of the Sanctuary to Athos Rostan, chairman of Board of Deacons, who in acceptance pledged to keep the building beautiful always for the glory of God. Dr. John S. Brown, Pastor, in his sermon urged the making of a new Sanctuary “a house of prayer, a house of thanksgiving, a house of preaching which would always hold up the face and gospel of Jesus Christ.”