DAVIDSON COUNTY, TN - CLIPPINGS - First Presbyterian Church
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Tennessee Calendar
By William E. Beard
Associate Editor of the Banner
November 14
			First Presbyterian Church

     This is the birthday of Nashville's First Presbyterian Church.  
Originally organized on November 14, 1814, since Sunday the congregation has 
been commemorating it 125th anniversary.
     The church was organized by Dr. Gideon Blackburn, stalwart Presbyterian 
pioneer, assisted by Dr. Robert Henderson of Murfreesboro.  Both the Franklin 
and the Murfreesboro churches antedate somewhat Nashville's First Church.
     The original congregation consisted of one man, Robert Smiley, and six 
women--Mrs. Andrew Ewing, Mrs. Frank McNairy, Mrs. Thomas Talbot and daughter, 
Mrs. Elihu S. Hall, Mrs. Josiah Nichol and Mrs. Patton Anderson, later the 
wife of M. L. Hybee of Memphis.  Pious women they must have been, else they 
would never have sought to found a church on Monday morning ( as November 14, 
1814, was)--the busy day then as now in a housekeeper's calendar.
     Church commemorations, such as that now in progress, serve to throw 
interesting historical light not only on individual churches, but on the 
community's religious life.
     The Communion Season a century or so ago was the all important religious 
period, and the observance extended beyond, "Communion Sunday" and in 
instances beyond denominational lines.  An example: On November 26, 1820, "the 
Rev. Mr. Campbell," presumably the First Church's new pastor, dispensed the 
Sacrament at the "Methodist meeting house," with preaching, at the usual hours 
on Friday and Saturday preceding."
     And a few years later, an even more striking example of Christian unity, 
then prevalent early Nashville---"By request we state that the Episcopal 
service in the (Masonic) Hall by the Rev. J. H. Otey, appointed for 11 o'clock 
of the forenoon Sunday (April 2, 1826) will be postponed for the purpose of 
affording the congregation....opportunity to attend the Sacramental service of 
the Presbyterian Church.    Dr. Blackburn was the first pastor of the First 
Presbyterian Church, at as late as 1819 his agreement with the congregation 
contemplated preaching services by him on alternate Sundays only.
 
(Submitter:  Margaret Nolen Nichol, MNNichol@aol.com.  Original clipping in 
files of the submitter.)