Our History
In 1871, the newly incorporated city of Birmingham was little more than a handful of buildings. It was during this time that Reverend M.W. Stephenson and four elders from the Green Pond Cumberland Presbyterian Church organized a new congregation, which became known as the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Birmingham. Soon after, the Elyton Land Company deeded property to the congregation, and a house of worship was constructed at the southeast corner of Fifth Avenue North and 18th Street.
The early years were challenging. A cholera epidemic in the 1870s decimated the membership, causing the church to disband temporarily. However, the congregation was soon reorganized.
Notably, Mr. William Marshal Cosby, elected as an elder in 1886, served on the Session for fifty years, the last forty-nine years he served as Clerk. His wife, Josephine Plosser Cosby, served as Director of Music for nearly thirty years. The Cosbys were instrumental in the church's growth during this period, including the decision to construct a larger building on the same site.
In 1895, a new brick building was completed at a cost of $9,000. Following the 1906 reunion of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and the Presbyterian Church (USA), the congregation declared itself a member of the new denomination on January 1, 1907, officially changing its name to the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church in 1911.
Reverend Joseph M. Broady became the pastor in 1912, leading the church for thirty years. Under his leadership, the church grew significantly. By 1920, the need for a larger building was evident, and the Session purchased property at the northeast corner of Sixth Avenue North and 18th Street. In November 1925, the new church was dedicated, with the congregation marching to the building while singing “Onward Christian Soldiers.” The children were especially encouraged to sing loudly to remember the occasion.
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After Dr. Broady’s retirement in 1942, Reverend R. Dale LeCount took over as pastor, continuing the tradition of strong leadership. During Dr. LeCount’s tenure, the church installed a series of memorial windows depicting the life of Christ, initiated by the Cosby family in memory of Josephine Ruth Cosby. These windows, designed by the Payne-Spiers Studios of Patterson, New Jersey, were completed in 1959.
The 1950s were a time of strength and prominence for the church in downtown Birmingham. By Dr. LeCount’s retirement in 1962, the church had experienced fifty years of steady growth under two capable pastors. However, changes in the city, including the decline of the steel industry and the civil rights struggles of the early 1960s, as well as the development of the Red Mountain Expressway and the Over the Mountain area, led to a sudden decline in membership.
Meanwhile, a new congregation, St. Stephen’s Presbyterian Church, had been established in the rapidly growing community of Mountain Brook, initially meeting at Mountain Brook Elementary School. This congregation soon purchased property on Brookwood Road. With many members of the downtown church now living in the Over the Mountain area, a merger was proposed and completed in 1968.
The new building, constructed with funds from the sale of the downtown property, incorporated stained glass windows from the Sixth Avenue church. The completed structure was dedicated on September 21, 1969, with the laying of a new cornerstone and the cornerstones from the former Fifth and Sixth Avenue churches, symbolizing the continuity of this historic congregation.
In 1981, the sanctuary was further enhanced with a new organ built by the Schlicker Organ Company of Germany. The church continued to thrive in Mountain Brook under the leadership of pastors such as Reverends Thomas Atkinson, August Kling, Stephen Morse, Jesse Garner, Cary Speaker, Lant Davis, and the current pastor, Madison Roberts. The congregation maintained many traditions from Sixth Avenue while also developing new programs, including Boy Scout Troop 320, which has become one of the largest and most active in Birmingham, and a flourishing preschool program offering excellent child care and development.
Throughout its history, Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church has met the challenges of each new era, supported by a proud legacy as it looks to the future.
Our Team
