Founded in 1852, First Presbyterian Church of Bel Air Maryland was established with nine charter members. The original church structure still stands on Pennsylvania Avenue between Main and Hickory.

      By 1881 that building was too small for the growing congregation. A new site was acquired for the construction of our present building at the corner of Broadway and Main Streets. The cornerstone was laid on September 7, 1881 with appropriate ceremony.

       In 1936 a fire engulfed the church building, destroying all but the four stonewalls of the main sanctuary. The original blueprints were found from the first construction and only a little over a year later the restored church was rededicated.

       The Christian Education Building was added in 1967.

       In 2000 we began a Legacy of Faith campaign to upgrade and moderize our facilities. At our 150th Anniversary in the summer of 2002, we broke ground for the Legacy of Faith building. The new building, which includes the multi-purpose Legacy Hall, also includes new offices, four new classrooms, a conference room, and a library was dedicated in April 2004. The Legacy of Faith building enables us to more faithfully minister to people in our congregation, community, and world.