Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church
{{short description|Presbyterian church in Durham, North Carolina}}
{{Infobox religious building
| building_name = Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church
| image = Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church 2.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Blacknall Memorial Church in 2024
| location = 1902 Perry Street
Durham, North Carolina, United States
| coordinates = {{Coord|36|0|28|N|78|55|16|W|type:landmark_region:US-NC|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = PCUSA
| sector =
| district =
| consecration_year =
| functional_status = Active
| heritage_designation =
| leadership =
| website = [https://blacknall.org/ blacknall.org]
| architecture_type = Neoclassical Revival
| architect =
| groundbreaking =
| year_completed = 1923
}}
Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church in Durham, North Carolina. It is located in the West Durham Historic District.
History
The church, originally called West Durham Presbyterian Church was built on 13th Street (also called Presbyterian Street) in 1905.{{Cite web|url=https://www.opendurham.org/buildings/blacknall-memorial-presbyterian|title=Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian | Open Durham|website=www.opendurham.org}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.opendurham.org/category/neighborhood/old-west-durham|title=Old West Durham | Open Durham|website=www.opendurham.org}} In 1916, the church was renamed Blacknall Memorial in honor of Dr. Richard Blacknall Sr. and his son, Richard Blacknall Jr. The Blacknall family were prominent members of the West Durham community; Richard Blacknall Sr. owned Blacknall's Drugstore and James Blacknall served as the first sheriff of Durham County. The Blacknalls started the Presbyterian congregation in 1892 as a mission of First Presbyterian Church.
In January 1921, Rev. C. J. Whitley resigned as pastor of the church due to disputes with church officials over church policies.{{cite news |author= |date= January 25, 1921|title= Church Acts Upon The Resignation: Blacknall Memorial Presbyterian Church Is Seeking New Pastor |url= https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn84020730/1921-01-25/ed-1/seq-10/|work= The Durham Morning Herald|location= Durham, North Carolina|access-date= December 1, 2024}}
A new church sanctuary was built in 1923 on the corner of Perry Street and 8th Street.
An educational building was added to the campus in 1964. More additions were made in 1990 and 2008. In 2015, the church announced plans to spend $1 million to purchase land on Iredell Street for a parking lot.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bullcityrising.com/2015/07/durhams-never-ending-search-for-free-parking.html|title=On Ninth Street, and Durham's never-ending search free parking|website=Bull City Rising}}
The church is a member of the Presbyterian Church USA under the authority of the New Hope Presbytery.{{Cite web|url=https://church-trends.pcusa.org/church/21310/education/5/|title=PC(USA) Research Services - Church Trends|website=church-trends.pcusa.org}}