THE THREE MANSES
MANSE: the residence of a clergyman, esp: the house of a Presbyterian clergyman. (Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary)
Our church has owned only three manse homes in its 114 year history. Evidently there was a need for a manse for many years before one was finally built on Zetterower Avenue in 1920. Several times this need is mentioned in Session Minutes or in newspaper articles. At first, of course, the church was served by pastors who served part-time - and in the early 1900s, the congregation was hard-pressed to try to raise funds for a manse. During these years, the small church was spending much time and energy in helping to establish other Presbyterian churches in the surrounding area.
The need for the church to own a manse became more and more evident in the early years of the century, since sometime pastors had difficulty finding housing in the small town. All this changed when the Rev. Hertwig came to serve the church in 1919. Mr. Hertwig must have been a very energetic, dynamic pastor because the first manse was built very soon after he came to serve the church. This manse, built in the Dutch style on Zetterower Avenue, just off Savannah Avenue, served as home to our pastors for 33 years, until its space was needed for church school rooms in 1953.
The second manse was constructed in 1953, during the pastorate of the Rev. John Pridgen. As usual, Mr. Don Thompson was the driving force behind this construction. The new manse was built on a lot purchased for that use next to the original manse. It is said that Mr. Don laid off the foundations and outline of the home by stepping-off the dimensions on the bare ground!
This manse served as home for our pastors long after the church on Savannah Avenue had been sold in 1965. Living at this location proved to be a little awkward and a trifle uncomfortable for the family of the Rev. Robert Allman when they lived there, situated as they were between the Primitive Baptist Church property and the different churches renting the Savannah Avenue facility from its new owners, not exactly residential property.
A new manse was finally purchased in 1980 during the pastorate of the Rev. Malcolm Cole Davis. It was located in the Woodlawn sub-division, much closer to the church on Fair Road and in a residential community. Twelve years later, in about 1992 during the pastorate of the Rev. John Bressler, the Session , after much study, discussion and investigation, decided that the church should get out of the manse business, so the manse was sold, and the pastor was given a housing allowance. This action allowed the pastor to build up equity for a home for his family and also allowed him the privilege of choosing the area where he would live. This proved to be an excellent decision and is still the practice today.
All during the years when the church owned a manse, a manse committee was always a part of the Diaconate, and yearly reports always complimented the pastor’s family on the excellent care and upkeep of the manse.
Dot Odom,
FPC Historian