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Weekly 150

Blessed Assurance

McKenzie and Its Churches – Part II

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In the last edition, we looked primarily at the Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in McKenzie. This edition starts with First Cumberland Presbyterian Church and moves towards the Methodist faith.
First Cumberland Presbyterian Church
The Cumberland Presbyterian Church in McKenzie, Tennessee was organized on July 17, 1867 with the Rev. J. M. Davies and 19 charter members. In 1872 land was purchased from James Monroe McKenzie on Stonewall Street for $400.
The congregation erected a frame building at the back of the property but met building difficulties and actually worshiped at Bethel College for some years. In 1892, after a 5-year building program, the congregation moved into their new building with Gothic architecture, high vaulted slate roof, tall steeple and memorial art-glass windows.
The building still stands at 647 Stonewall Street and now houses Bethel University’s Bethel Performing Arts Center where the Renaissance Choir and Theatre have performances. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.
In 1920 a seven-room brick manse was constructed on the northeast corner of the church property for $8,000 and was used as a pastor’s residence through the years. The original Educational Building with Fellowship Hall named after Fannye Baxter Moore was built in 1960. The building now houses Bethel University’s Nursing Program.
In 1997, the congregation felt it was time to re-model and enlarge their facilities or build. The final recommendation was a new church facility. Approximately 18 acres of land was purchased on Highland Drive, and a new church building was erected.
On February 2, 2002 (the birthday of the Cumberland Presbyterian Denomination founded in 1810), the congregation had their final worship service in the old church on Stonewall and carried the altar, pulpit, baptismal font, brass cross, candlesticks, altar cloths, offering plates and other items to the new church where everyone gathered for a Service of Communion and a potluck dinner. The stained glass windows were also moved to the new location.
First Presbyterian Church U.S.A
The year 1906 marked the beginning of the First Presbyterian Church U.S.A. in McKenzie. The first members were members of the local Cumberland Presbyterian Churches. Reverends M.B. Molloy and B.B. Lavender served as the first pastors.
In 1910 Reverence Oliver Cude was elected pastor and with the building committee of R.J. Parnell, Jeff Thomason, and R.B. Moore work began on the church building on Stonewall.
A special service was held for the laying of the corner stone. The first brick was laid by Marquerite Parnell. The new building was dedicated, debt free, on September 22, 1912.
The dedication sermon came from Dr. James Clarke of Nashville, Editor of The Presbyterian Advance.
On June 17, 1951, Shiloh Presbyterian Church merged with First United Presbyterian Church with the Shiloh property being sold to Pleasant Grove Primitive Baptist Church in October of 1951.
First United Methodist Church
The McKenzie Methodist Church was organized in 1867 by Reverend E.B. Plummer, Pastor of Huntingdon Methodist Church. The first pastor appointed was H.B. Covington.
The first meetings of the church took place in a log cabin school house on the the Gilbert family land on the northwest corner of Stonewall and Magnolia Streets. At the time Magnolia was known as Methodist Row since every family along the street was Methodist.
Charter members were: E.P. Randall and his wife, Miranda Gilbert, and their daughter, Mattie, who later married Morgan Green; R.T. Brown and his wife, Matilda Busby and their daughter, Laura, who later married George Porter; J.M. Gilbert and his wife, Carrie Witten; Colonel N.J. Caldwell and his wife, Evelina Davis and daughter, Fleta; Captain J.N. Gardner and his wife Ann Jones and their daughter, Sallie; C. Todd Clark and his wife, Martha Wilson and daughters Mattie and Willie; Milton Ownby and his wife; C.P. Curran, David Ezell; J.T. Gardner and W. C. Hawkins.

In 1870 at a conference, the pastor called attention to the fact that a proper church building was an absolute necessity. Newton J. Caldwell, J.N. Gardner and E.P. Randall were appointed to a committee “whose duty is to erect or have erected in the town of McKenzie a church house for the use of the Methodist Church South.” It was stipulated the church should be “forty by sixty feet, suitable and comfortable.”
The congregation outgrew the log cabin school and moved into the Masonic Hall for church services. At the time, the Masonic Hall shared its building not only with the Methodist Church but with other denominations since there were no church buildings within the City of McKenzie.
A lot was purchased from James Monroe McKenzie in December of 1870 finally leading to the construction of a church facility. By March 3, 1872 brick work began, and in July the walls were completed and the doors, window frames and roof were in place.
The following year the church was plastered, seats provided, flues built, shad trees set out and vestibule was built. A church bell was purchased for $300 through the fundraising efforts of Mrs. J.H. Witt.
Johnson Temple Methodist Church
In the late 1800s, under the leadership of Reverend A.F. Williams, the Collin’s Chapel Colored Methodist Church was organized.
It was mutually agreed to locate the Church near the Sassafras Mill by the railroad track. After accomplishing the location and erecting a small church house, Reverend A.F. Williams become the first pastor.
In 1941, the Church was moved to a more desirable location on West Walnut Street near Webb School. The lot was donated by B.T. Everett.
The name was soon changed to Johnson Temple Christian Methodist Episcopal Church. The corner-stone was load in 1945 under the leadership of Reverend J.L. Griffin and Reverend R.V. Johnson, presiding elder.
Community Grove Methodist Church
In 1840, a log church was standing about 100 yards south of Spring Creek by the name of Pleasant Valley. When the rains came water would rise on the floor of the church.
In 1888, a new building was erected on the opposite side of the road. In 1918, the congregation decided to move the church out of the creek bottom, the members of the Gleason side of Spring Creek built New Valley Church and the members on the McKenzie side of the creek built Community Grove Church. Clifford Clark and Robert Newton deeded two acres of land, four miles west of McKenzie for the new church.

Jason R. Martin
B.S. • M.A.Ed • MLS
Councilman, Ward II
Executive Chairman, McKenzie 150th Celebration
E: jmartin@mckenziebanner.com  P: 731.352.3323

Jason Martin is a life-long resident of McKenzie. He graduated from McKenzie High School in 2000; earned a Bachelor of Science in History from Bethel College in 2004; a Masters in Education from Bethel University in 2009 and a Masters in History and Humanities from Fort Hays State University in 2011.