Briarwood Presbyterian Church

Origins

Briarwood Presbyterian Church is a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).

Located in Birmingham, Alabama, Briarwood's origins date back to before the PCA was established. In the summer of 1960, Frank M. Barker, Jr. helped start the church in the Cahaba Heights Shopping Center, the church's original location. The first worship service was on June 5, 1960, and Briarwood was chartered on September 25, 1960.

Briarwood helped form the PCA in 1973. On December 4, 1973, Briarwood hosted the First General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America.

Community Outreach

The church has a strong commitment to evangelism and outreach, both locally and globally, and offers a variety of ministries, including worship, discipleships, missions, and outreach. Briarwood divides its community outreach into children and adults.

• Children's outreach programs include: Briarwood Soccer Club, Cheer Briarwood, Cheer Briarwood, and Trail Life USA.
• Adult outreach programs include: Campus Outreach, Christian Medical Ministry, Counseling Ministry, Evangelism Training Ministry, and more.

Pastors

Today, the church is led by Senior Pastor, Dr. Harry Reeder, and Executive Pastor, Bruce Stallings. They serve a congregation of over 4,000 members in the Birmingham area.

Dr. Harry Reeder has served in this role since 1995, and is the author of several books, including The Unexpected Jesus and The Gospel of Mark: A 12-Week Study. He and his wife, Jan, have three children.

Live Nativity

The Briarwood live Walk Through Nativity is an annual event held at the church. The 1/4 miles stroll includes 14 scenes from the life of Christ. Each year, Briarwood holds this event for three days approximately 2-3 weeks before Christmas. Admission is free and many families throughout Birmingham have made this a part of their Christmas and holiday traditions.