Holy Ground

A northeast Mississippi garden is a beautiful oasis for a church and its people.

- Margaret Gratz

First Presbyterian Church Tupelo, with its classic Gothic architecture, exemplifies its Presbyterian Scottish heritage. Foremost, First Presbyterian is a house of worship. It has beautiful stained-glass windows, tapestries, a Celtic cross, and a vibrant congregation. Every Sunday the bell in the bell tower tolls, and the soaring strains of the pipe organ call the people to worship. The beauty and ambience of this church, like the faith of its congregants, is timeless and enduring.

There is no doubt that this stone edifice is indeed a church, but it is situated in a garden setting, and the gardens are resplendent throughout the seasons. The gardens and the grounds of First Presbyterian Church are a testament to the beauty of God’s natural world, and the gardens have become an extension of the church. In this garden setting the members of the church come together for worship, meditation, and fellowship. The gardens have become a place for wedding receptions and dinners on the ground, and there have been times when the haunting skirl of a bagpipe has accompanied a faithful and beloved church member to the columbarium situated in the garden to bid farewell.

The grounds and gardens of First Presbyterian Church Tupelo were not always so lovely. In fact, at one time, they were somewhat lackluster, but there were many garden enthusiasts in the church who were determined to enhance the setting. Their zeal was contagious, and the gardens continue to be a labor of love and a work in progress.