BRIEF HISTORY
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
LEWISBURG, TENNESSEE
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
LEWISBURG, TENNESSEE

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The Beginnings
The First Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg was organized on June 13, 1847, by Reverend Edward McMillian with seven charter
members, three of whom were men.
These three men were duly installed and elected the first Elders of the church. They were Dr. S. W. Penn, and Messrs. G. B. Black and H. A. Hall.
During the first seven years of the organization the congregation worshipped with their brethren of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
In 1854 a commodious building was erected and on the second Saturday in September, 1854 it was dedicated by Dr. Robert
Hardin.
The first children to receive the right (sic) of baptism in the new church were Mary Biddle Black, infant daughter of Mr.&
Mrs. Gideon Black, and Nancy Reed infant daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James L. Reed.
This rite was administered on the third Sunday in September l854, one week after the dedication of the new church.
Presbytery was held in the Lewisburg Church for the first time in April 1851.
The membership of this church has never been large nor has there ever been a period of rapid growth, but there has been a
steady growth in membership during all these years, and a perusal of the Session Records convinces one that the Session of
the church has been diligent to make this church a spiritual force a the community.
A minute of the Session entered Jan. 13, 1889 states that requests (sic) was by the Baptists of Lewisburg to use this
church one Sunday in the month, which request was granted.
In 1889 it was decided to erect a new building on another location. This new building was completed and dedicated in 1890.
The dedicatory sermon was preached by Reverend D. L. Wilson of Pulaski. The dedicatory prayer was offered by the pastor, Dr. M.
S. Kennedy.
At the time a lengthy article in the local paper contained the following paragraph: "The new Presbyterian Church is an
exceedingly handsome and elegant edifice, constructed on the modern style, comfortably furnished situated on the North West
corner of the Square. It is decidedly the finest building in town and reflects much honor upon the community in general and
the Presbyterian Congregation in particular,"
Twelve years after the dedication of this beautiful church, it was destroyed by fire, and in 1903 the present building was
erected on the same site.
Rev. John B. Gordon, now of Richmond, Va, was pastor when the present building was completed. During the time between the
burning of the church and the dedication of the new church, Rev. Gordon and his congregation worshipped in the church of the
Methodist Brethren.
The dedicatory sermon of the new church was preached by Dr. M. S. Kennedy at that time Pastor of the Pulaski Presbyterian
Church.
Sunday School and weekly Prayer Meetings have been kept since long years in the past. Primary Department is presided over and
taught by the following named women: Mrs. E. C. Tate, Mrs. E. M. Armstrong, Mrs. Davis Hightower, Mrs. T. O. Harris.
The Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg has had twenty-one
ministers since its organization as follows:
Rev. Edward McMillian 1847-49
Rev. E. T. Brantley 1849-51
Rev. Geo. H. Blair 1851-53
Rev. W. C. Dunlap 1853-54
Rev. Robert Hardin 1854-59
Rev. W. H. Vernor 1859-70
Rev. W. L. Rosser 1870-7l
Rev. J. H. Alexander 1872-75
Rev. J. T. Rothrock 1875-80
Rev. M. S. Kennedy 1882-9l
Rev. B. H. Shire 1892-95
Rev. J. N. Lyle 1896-97
Rev. J. I. Alsworth 1898-1900
Rev. W. J. McMillan 1901-03
Rev. J. B. Gordon 1903-06
Rev. W. A. Ziegler 1908-10
Rev. A. S. Venable 1910-13
Rev. W. E. Phipher 1913-16
Rev. E. D. McDougall 1916-19
Rev. R. P. Walker 1920-24
Rev. H. S. Henderson 1926-
At this writing Rev. Henderson has been pastor for nine years, one of the longest pastorates. He 1s a consecrated expounder of
the Word of God and is zealous and busy in his work for the church.
There have been seven clerks of the Session to the present time as fo1lows:
Elders H.A. Hall
Dr. S. A. Penn
James L. Reed
James Scott Ewing
Geo. W. Ewing
S. C. Appleby
E. C. Tate
Mr. James Scott Ewing was clerk of the Session at the time of the opening of the oldest session book now on hand which was
September, 1870. He died in 0ctober, 1906, was clerk for more than 36 years, (An unusually long period) and was succeeded by
his son, Geo. W. Ewing.
This church has had ruling elders as follows: Dr. S. W. Penn, G. B. Black, H. A. Hall, Jas, V. Ewing, James E. Ewing, James L.
Reed, Dr. R. G. McClure, James S. Ewing, Dr. Samuel Ewing, Allen L. Ewing, John L. Marshall, James A. Woods, T. C. Black, George W. Ewing, W. K. Kercheval, James Barnette, Dr. Craig Ewing, W. G. Patterson, Robert H. Hayes, J. F. Darnell; all of these have gone up higher.
Present Ruling Elders: W. A. Bills, J. O. Ewing, J. N. McCord, S. Knox Ewing, J.M. Brandon, J. M. Brown, C. C. Houston, J. A.
Marshall, S. C. Appleby, E. C. Tate, and Dr. F. H. Gault.
Present Deacons: Leslie Marshall, J. C. Buchanan, Hale Hawkins, John Ezell, C. M. Hursh, Davis Hightower, Lee Moss, Chase Moss, Harold Bills, and Walter Cowden.
The following statistical facts are taken from the records at intervals and give some idea of what has been done:
1891: Membership 104, Benevolences $590, Pastor's Salary $440, Paid on new church, $2080. Dr. M. S. Kennedy, Pastor.
191l: Membership l43, Benevolences $300, Pastor’s salary $900, manse debt $600, Pastor Rev. A.S. Venable
1918: Membership 166, Benevolences $1023, Pastor’s salary $2000, Miscellaneous expenses $300; Dr. E.D. McDougall, Pastor
1921: Membership 186, Benevolences $2464, Pastor’s salary $2200, miscellaneous expenses $1428, total $6092, Rev. R P.
Walker, Pastor.
1928: Membership 170, Benevolences $1621, Pastor’s salary 1900; Rev. H. S. Henderson, Pastor
WOMENS WORK:
The Women’s Missionary and Mite society as organized back of the memory of the oldest living members of the church. The
names of those outstanding in the society may be mentioned: Mrs. Mary McClure, Mrs., Joe McCrady, Mrs. J. Scott Ewing, Mrs. J.V. Ewing, Mrs. J. Ollie Ewing, Sr., and others whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Later the work was carried on by other women some of whom have passed to their rewards: Mrs. P. C Smithson, Mrs. J.L. Marshall,
Mrs. T. C Black, Miss Sara McCrady, Mrs. Alice McCrady-Co1lins, Misses Emma and Margaret Caldwell and other Christian women.
The Young Women’s Missionary Society was organized under the name of Dorcas Society by Mrs. T. C. Black.
The next changes in the Women's organizations were brought about by the adoption of thy Presbyterial Plan.
The Auxiliary was put into working order by Mrs. Dr. Walker wife of the then pastor.
Today there are two circles doing excellent work, Mrs. Helen Ewing is president of the Aux1ilaty and is outstanding in the
work.
The Music Department is in charge of Mrs. C. M. Hursh, a noted teacher and musician. The church was presented a handsome
Pipe-organ by Mrs. Alice McCrady-Co11ins in memory of her daughter Mabel MaCrady who passed away in early womanhood.
Mrs. Pauline Ewing has long been the faithful organist.
A Missionary Society for children been in operation for fifty or sixty years. This Society was organized by Mrs. Carrie
McClure Knox before her marriage but gradually extended into the church. One of its oldest and beloved members today is Mrs.
Nannie Woods.
The meetings are held once a month; dues are five cents. A president and secretary are chosen from the young members.
Contr1butions are added to the Foreign Mission Budget of the Sunday School.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Mrs. C.A. Armstrong
Auxiliary Historian
The First Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg was organized on June 13, 1847, by Reverend Edward McMillian with seven charter
members, three of whom were men.
These three men were duly installed and elected the first Elders of the church. They were Dr. S. W. Penn, and Messrs. G. B. Black and H. A. Hall.
During the first seven years of the organization the congregation worshipped with their brethren of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
In 1854 a commodious building was erected and on the second Saturday in September, 1854 it was dedicated by Dr. Robert
Hardin.
The first children to receive the right (sic) of baptism in the new church were Mary Biddle Black, infant daughter of Mr.&
Mrs. Gideon Black, and Nancy Reed infant daughter of Mr. & Mrs. James L. Reed.
This rite was administered on the third Sunday in September l854, one week after the dedication of the new church.
Presbytery was held in the Lewisburg Church for the first time in April 1851.
The membership of this church has never been large nor has there ever been a period of rapid growth, but there has been a
steady growth in membership during all these years, and a perusal of the Session Records convinces one that the Session of
the church has been diligent to make this church a spiritual force a the community.
A minute of the Session entered Jan. 13, 1889 states that requests (sic) was by the Baptists of Lewisburg to use this
church one Sunday in the month, which request was granted.
In 1889 it was decided to erect a new building on another location. This new building was completed and dedicated in 1890.
The dedicatory sermon was preached by Reverend D. L. Wilson of Pulaski. The dedicatory prayer was offered by the pastor, Dr. M.
S. Kennedy.
At the time a lengthy article in the local paper contained the following paragraph: "The new Presbyterian Church is an
exceedingly handsome and elegant edifice, constructed on the modern style, comfortably furnished situated on the North West
corner of the Square. It is decidedly the finest building in town and reflects much honor upon the community in general and
the Presbyterian Congregation in particular,"
Twelve years after the dedication of this beautiful church, it was destroyed by fire, and in 1903 the present building was
erected on the same site.
Rev. John B. Gordon, now of Richmond, Va, was pastor when the present building was completed. During the time between the
burning of the church and the dedication of the new church, Rev. Gordon and his congregation worshipped in the church of the
Methodist Brethren.
The dedicatory sermon of the new church was preached by Dr. M. S. Kennedy at that time Pastor of the Pulaski Presbyterian
Church.
Sunday School and weekly Prayer Meetings have been kept since long years in the past. Primary Department is presided over and
taught by the following named women: Mrs. E. C. Tate, Mrs. E. M. Armstrong, Mrs. Davis Hightower, Mrs. T. O. Harris.
The Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg has had twenty-one
ministers since its organization as follows:
Rev. Edward McMillian 1847-49
Rev. E. T. Brantley 1849-51
Rev. Geo. H. Blair 1851-53
Rev. W. C. Dunlap 1853-54
Rev. Robert Hardin 1854-59
Rev. W. H. Vernor 1859-70
Rev. W. L. Rosser 1870-7l
Rev. J. H. Alexander 1872-75
Rev. J. T. Rothrock 1875-80
Rev. M. S. Kennedy 1882-9l
Rev. B. H. Shire 1892-95
Rev. J. N. Lyle 1896-97
Rev. J. I. Alsworth 1898-1900
Rev. W. J. McMillan 1901-03
Rev. J. B. Gordon 1903-06
Rev. W. A. Ziegler 1908-10
Rev. A. S. Venable 1910-13
Rev. W. E. Phipher 1913-16
Rev. E. D. McDougall 1916-19
Rev. R. P. Walker 1920-24
Rev. H. S. Henderson 1926-
At this writing Rev. Henderson has been pastor for nine years, one of the longest pastorates. He 1s a consecrated expounder of
the Word of God and is zealous and busy in his work for the church.
There have been seven clerks of the Session to the present time as fo1lows:
Elders H.A. Hall
Dr. S. A. Penn
James L. Reed
James Scott Ewing
Geo. W. Ewing
S. C. Appleby
E. C. Tate
Mr. James Scott Ewing was clerk of the Session at the time of the opening of the oldest session book now on hand which was
September, 1870. He died in 0ctober, 1906, was clerk for more than 36 years, (An unusually long period) and was succeeded by
his son, Geo. W. Ewing.
This church has had ruling elders as follows: Dr. S. W. Penn, G. B. Black, H. A. Hall, Jas, V. Ewing, James E. Ewing, James L.
Reed, Dr. R. G. McClure, James S. Ewing, Dr. Samuel Ewing, Allen L. Ewing, John L. Marshall, James A. Woods, T. C. Black, George W. Ewing, W. K. Kercheval, James Barnette, Dr. Craig Ewing, W. G. Patterson, Robert H. Hayes, J. F. Darnell; all of these have gone up higher.
Present Ruling Elders: W. A. Bills, J. O. Ewing, J. N. McCord, S. Knox Ewing, J.M. Brandon, J. M. Brown, C. C. Houston, J. A.
Marshall, S. C. Appleby, E. C. Tate, and Dr. F. H. Gault.
Present Deacons: Leslie Marshall, J. C. Buchanan, Hale Hawkins, John Ezell, C. M. Hursh, Davis Hightower, Lee Moss, Chase Moss, Harold Bills, and Walter Cowden.
The following statistical facts are taken from the records at intervals and give some idea of what has been done:
1891: Membership 104, Benevolences $590, Pastor's Salary $440, Paid on new church, $2080. Dr. M. S. Kennedy, Pastor.
191l: Membership l43, Benevolences $300, Pastor’s salary $900, manse debt $600, Pastor Rev. A.S. Venable
1918: Membership 166, Benevolences $1023, Pastor’s salary $2000, Miscellaneous expenses $300; Dr. E.D. McDougall, Pastor
1921: Membership 186, Benevolences $2464, Pastor’s salary $2200, miscellaneous expenses $1428, total $6092, Rev. R P.
Walker, Pastor.
1928: Membership 170, Benevolences $1621, Pastor’s salary 1900; Rev. H. S. Henderson, Pastor
WOMENS WORK:
The Women’s Missionary and Mite society as organized back of the memory of the oldest living members of the church. The
names of those outstanding in the society may be mentioned: Mrs. Mary McClure, Mrs., Joe McCrady, Mrs. J. Scott Ewing, Mrs. J.V. Ewing, Mrs. J. Ollie Ewing, Sr., and others whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.
Later the work was carried on by other women some of whom have passed to their rewards: Mrs. P. C Smithson, Mrs. J.L. Marshall,
Mrs. T. C Black, Miss Sara McCrady, Mrs. Alice McCrady-Co1lins, Misses Emma and Margaret Caldwell and other Christian women.
The Young Women’s Missionary Society was organized under the name of Dorcas Society by Mrs. T. C. Black.
The next changes in the Women's organizations were brought about by the adoption of thy Presbyterial Plan.
The Auxiliary was put into working order by Mrs. Dr. Walker wife of the then pastor.
Today there are two circles doing excellent work, Mrs. Helen Ewing is president of the Aux1ilaty and is outstanding in the
work.
The Music Department is in charge of Mrs. C. M. Hursh, a noted teacher and musician. The church was presented a handsome
Pipe-organ by Mrs. Alice McCrady-Co11ins in memory of her daughter Mabel MaCrady who passed away in early womanhood.
Mrs. Pauline Ewing has long been the faithful organist.
A Missionary Society for children been in operation for fifty or sixty years. This Society was organized by Mrs. Carrie
McClure Knox before her marriage but gradually extended into the church. One of its oldest and beloved members today is Mrs.
Nannie Woods.
The meetings are held once a month; dues are five cents. A president and secretary are chosen from the young members.
Contr1butions are added to the Foreign Mission Budget of the Sunday School.
Respectfully Submitted by:
Mrs. C.A. Armstrong
Auxiliary Historian
Our Sanctuary
The current sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church was built in 1903-1904, after the prior church sanctuary was so heavily damaged by a fire that swept through the west side of the Lewisburg square required that it be torn down and a new sanctuary erected.
This sanctuary was built just as the Sunday School movement was rising in the United States, and it is reflected in the “Akron” style of the sanctuary, in which partitions could be lowered to create Sunday School classrooms adjoining the main sanctuary.
There are multiple symbols incorporated into the overall sanctuary design, particularly the ceiling.
- It is built in the classic Christian design of an upside down ship hull representing “the ark of salvation” holding us all in God’s care and protection.
- The transepts, or rafters of the ceiling, have silhouettes cut out in them representing the saints in heaven with halos around their heads, as depicted in the earliest Christian art, with the large downward spindles representing the glory of heaven coming down to us and lifting us into God’s presence with them.
- The multiple directions of the ceiling boards create a pleasing visual effect, but more profoundly, they represent the “multi-faceted wisdom of God” throughout all of God’s creation on the earth and in the heavens.
- The three main light fixtures and the three curved sections of pews remind worshipers that we gather around God in three persons, as reflected in the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
All of this is designed to invite those who enter to recognize that they are entering into a holy time and space for worship to God joining with the saints in heaven who praise God night and day.
Located as it is on the west side of the square, it is obvious that the sanctuary doors exit to the east, toward the rising of the sun, and the magnificent stained glass windows depicting the angel at the empty tomb of Jesus on the morning of his resurrection is a vivid reminder that Christians are living toward our own deaths and resurrection, as we follow Jesus out into the world to serve God and our neighbors.
This sanctuary was built just as the Sunday School movement was rising in the United States, and it is reflected in the “Akron” style of the sanctuary, in which partitions could be lowered to create Sunday School classrooms adjoining the main sanctuary.
There are multiple symbols incorporated into the overall sanctuary design, particularly the ceiling.
- It is built in the classic Christian design of an upside down ship hull representing “the ark of salvation” holding us all in God’s care and protection.
- The transepts, or rafters of the ceiling, have silhouettes cut out in them representing the saints in heaven with halos around their heads, as depicted in the earliest Christian art, with the large downward spindles representing the glory of heaven coming down to us and lifting us into God’s presence with them.
- The multiple directions of the ceiling boards create a pleasing visual effect, but more profoundly, they represent the “multi-faceted wisdom of God” throughout all of God’s creation on the earth and in the heavens.
- The three main light fixtures and the three curved sections of pews remind worshipers that we gather around God in three persons, as reflected in the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
All of this is designed to invite those who enter to recognize that they are entering into a holy time and space for worship to God joining with the saints in heaven who praise God night and day.
Located as it is on the west side of the square, it is obvious that the sanctuary doors exit to the east, toward the rising of the sun, and the magnificent stained glass windows depicting the angel at the empty tomb of Jesus on the morning of his resurrection is a vivid reminder that Christians are living toward our own deaths and resurrection, as we follow Jesus out into the world to serve God and our neighbors.