First Presbyterian Church

First Presbyterian Church Hilton Head had its beginnings when Fred and Billie Hack moved their young family to Honey Horn Plantation in the 1950’s and began to hold church services in a small wooden chapel building on the Plantation. This was before a bridge was built to the island and ministers were ferried across to conduct services.

The formal organization as a Presbyterian church occurred on 11 November 1957. The small congregation continued to meet at Honey Horn until 1965 when a new facility was built on land donated by Fred Hack and Owen McIntosh on William Hilton Parkway – the site of the current church. The membership had grown to 95 by this time.

In 1968 a classroom expansion was built and by 1970 the congregation had grown to 400.

With the membership continuing to grow a new building was added in 1978 that would seat 700. A columbarium was added in 1983 with 1200 units.

The relocation of the Honey Horn chapel building, where the church began, to the church campus on William Hilton Parkway occurred in 1994.

Responding to the continued growth of the congregation, an expansion of the sanctuary was done in 1989 bringing the present capacity to 1,000. The congregation has been generous in sharing its sanctuary with the community, being the largest indoor gathering place on the island.

In 2007 the addition of a 2 story wing was completed with the 1st floor used as a day school. The most recent update to the facilities was in 2012 which included the creation of a gathering space.

With a current membership of about 1245, First Presbyterian continues to be a an active and vibrant part of the Hilton Head community.