First Presbyterian Church - Talladega Co., AL ----------------------------------------------------------------------- USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with the USGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. ALGenWeb File Manager - Lygia Dawkins Cutts ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Wed, 13 Jan 1999 21:06:26 -0600 Contributed by Ronald Bridges First Presbyterian Church - Talladega Co., AL "FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH On October 18th, 1893, the First Presbyterian Church of Talladega celebrated the 25th anniversary of the dedication of their church building located on North St. On this occasion Dr. B. W. Toole read a history of the church which was later printed in pamphlet form. From this "Historical Sketch of the First Presbyterian Church of Talladega, Alabama", (1) I have culled the following: ‘The organization occurred on Saturday, November 28, 1834, in a log house situated near our large town spring, the building then being used as a court house and the place for public meetings. This section of the country was then in the bounds of South Alabama Presbytery. Rev. Robert Holman and Rev. Field Bradshaw were the authorized commissioners to do this. There were fourteen members in the organization, and their names should be preserved, viz: Charles Miller and wife, George Miller and wife, Patrick Johnson and wife, William Caruthers and wife, Harper Johnson and wife, Robert Hett Chapman, Dr. Henry McKenzie, Miss Amanda Talmage, George Watkins. ‘One day after the organization, which was Sunday, November 30, 1834, the sacrament of the Lord’s supper was celebrated. As a fact of incidental interest it may be stated, in the absence of any written record of the date of the organization, the certain and exact is known because of its association with a most noted solar eclipse which occurred on Sunday, November 30, 1834. It was a total eclipse, and occurring as it did at midday, was well calculated to make a deep impression on the minds and memories of those who witnessed it, both civilized and semi-civilized, as was the case with the tribe of Creek Indians, who had at that time not been removed from the State. The eclipse commenced at fifty minutes after eleven o’clock, while the religious services were in progress, and ended at forty minutes after two o’clock, lasting for a period of nearly three hours. There was just after one o’clock total darkness for about two minutes. This fact is referred to, as stated before, because by it the exact date of the church organization is established through the testimony of one of the original fourteen members, and present that day. ‘Messrs. Wm. Caruthers, Patrick Johnson, Charles Miller and Robert H. Chapman were then elected and ordained ruling elders and Wm. Caruthers was made Clerk of the session. Rev. Robert Holman acted as state supply for the church until the fall of 1835. Rev. Richard Cater at that time moved to Talladega and took charge of the church as stated supply, and continued as such till the latter part of the year 1838, or early 1839, when Rev. Robert Hett Chapman succeeded him. ‘In the latter part of 1834 Rev. Robert Holman bought at public auction a lot for church purposes; a part of that lot is the ground on which this church now stands. A portion of the original purchased lot was sold in order to procure funds with which to build a church. In 1835 a frame building, about 30 x 40 feet, was erected by Messrs. George and Charles Miller, contractors. The front of the building occupied the ground about where the pulpit now stands. ‘In 1859 the question was raised and discussed whether the Presbyterian congregation would erect a new church. It is to be regretted that no written and authentic records can be found showing the various stages of this movement with the subscription list and names of the persons who contributed. ‘In 1859 and 1860 the congregation, having decided to build, raised by subscription between ten and eleven thousand dollars. About the time this was accomplished the signs of the approaching civil war were plainly manifested. A council of the chief and wise men of the congregation was held to consider what ought to be done as to building since the dark and foreboding clouds of civil war were surely forming. It was argued that part of the money was already secured and paid in and the subscribers were then able to pay the amounts subscribed. If the war should come, then when it should be over, whatever would be the result, victory or defeat, the people would be impoverished and could not give; that it was better to use the money now when they had it and could spare it, put up the building, place it in such condition as to preserve what was done if not able to finish it, and trust to the future to complete it. This conclusion proved to be an eminently wise one. They determined to go forward. ‘About the first of June, 1861, after the most tragic drama of the 19th century had commenced at Fort Sumter in April, the work of building this church was begun, and we who for twenty-five years have been permitted to worship here have reason to be grateful to the men of that generation for the wisdom displayed in acting as they did. The architect, whose name I am unable to give, lived in Philadelphia and was a man prominent in his profession. The plans and designs as made by him embraced a basement. When it was finally determined to commence to build it was believed to be necessary, because of the cost and the amount of money which could be relied on, to omit the basement and carry out the plans in other respects. This was done. It is a matter of regret that his course seemed to be necessary. Some of the subscribers proposed to have the basement and omit the tower and spire, so as to keep within the amount of money at their command, claiming that the tower and spire could be built in the future if they were able, but the basement could not. But this view of the case was not adopted. Some years later our Baptist brethren, when about to erect a new church, got our plans, drawings and specifications and modeled their church from them with the exception of the tower and spire, which they omitted. They profited by the experience of their neighbors and have a comfortable and useful basement and have reasons to congratulate themselves in this particular. The plans, drawings, etc. Were then sent to some church in South Alabama and have never been returned, hence my inability to give the name of the architect. ‘About twelve months after the work of erecting the church had commenced the very substantial framework for the roof was put up and covered with the best quality of shingles that could be procured; the windows, doors and openings were closes with the plank to protect the work already done from injury by the weather. It stood there uncompleted, none of the inside work having been done, for at least six years. ‘Just prior to the erection of the new brick building the old wooden building, which had been used for worship for twenty-six years, was removed to make room for it s successor. During the period from the early part of 1861 to the third week of October, 1868, the congregation worshipped in the Chapel of the Synodical Female Institute, now Isbell College. ‘The dedication services were at 11 a. m. Sunday, October 18th 1868. There was a large congregation present, all of the available space being occupied. There were no morning services in the Baptist and Methodist churches. Rev. G. W. H. Petrie, D. D., of Montgomery, preached the dedicatory sermon from the following text: Luke 21st chapter, 5th and 6th verses, ‘And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, As for these things which ye behold, the days will come in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another , that shall not be thrown down.’ ‘Fifty-nine years ago it was a little band of fourteen, twenty-five years ago there were one hundred and thirty-three, today (1893) the number is three hundred and thirty. ‘From the best information obtainable the Sabbath School was established in the year 1857. Since it has been kept up with considerable regularity. Repairs and enlargement of buildings connected with the church have been made throughout the years, but the main auditorium remains the same as when dedicated in 1868. The following ministers have served the First Presbyterian church throughout the years: Rev. Robert Holman ................................... 1834-35 Rev. Richard Cater ...................................... 1835-39 Rev. Robert Hett Chapman ........................... 1839-44 Rev. A. B. McCorkle ................................... 1845-71 Rev. F. A. Ewing .......................................... 1872-84 Rev. J. M. P. Ottis, D. D. ............................. 1884-89 Rev. Wm. W. Houston, D. D. ..................... 1889-91 Rev. Joseph H. Skinner ................................ 1892-94 Rev. Lynn R. Walker ................................. 1895-1902 Rev. F. B. Webb, D. D. ................................ 1902-20 Rev. A. C. Ormond ........................................ 1920-29 Rev. Wm. Crow, III ...................................... 1929-37 Rev. Lewis Lancaster, D. D. ......................... 1937-38 Rev. Wm. Crowe, D. D. ................................ 1938- One of the beautiful and sacred features of the Presbyterian Church building is that of the memorial windows, which are worthy of record: 1 - Dr. James Croll Knox Born March 28, 1812 Died Mar. 27, 1877 A ruling Elder and One of the Founders of this Church 2 - Rev. Alexander B. McCorkle 1806-1886 Lucilla A. McCorkle 1822-1907 3 - Elizabeth Armstrong Turner 1799-1860 4 - Barckley Wallace Toole 1834-1898 5 - In Memory of Venable Holt Walker By the Vennie Walker Society 6 - William Nathan Boynton Frances Isbell Boynton 7 - Mary Meade Hardie Who Labored More for Others Than for Self 8 - George Stovall Walden Emily Patton Walden 9 - William Hughston Burr Sarah Borden Burr 10 - Pauline McAlpine DuBose 1872 - 1914 Missionary to China from 1872 to 1914 11 - Annie Hardie Lewis By Her Sons" (2) (1) Historical Sketch of the First Presbyterian Church of Tall. Alabama, by Dr. B. W. Tool, copy of which is in my (E. Grace Jemison) possession, presented by Miss Nannie B. Golden. (2) E. Grace Jemison, Historic Tales of Talladega, (Montgomery, AL: Paragon Press) pp. 243-247.