Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1886-06-12
A Historical Sketch of the Presbyterian
Church at McMinnville, Tenn,
Summarized from Rev. T.
M. McConnell's Ser
mon of Last
Sunday.

"Iten1enl6eF me o0yS OF OCd, cOllSlCter !
the gears Of many generations" De,6.
32-7.
The Presbyterian Church of Nc
Minnville, Tenn, was organized
June 18th, 1869, by commission APP
pointed by Nashville Presbytery,
consisting of Rev. j. H. Bryson, d.
D., and Ruling Elders, J. w. Barton
and j. w. Cowan. The original mem
bership was sixteen, of which mem
bers, six are still connected with the
church.
The first Elder was Maj. S. d.
Rowan, who served one year, dying
July 9th, 1870, and the first Deacon
was DIR. j. r. Paine. March 9th,
1870, DR.. Paine and Thos. Walker
were added to the Eldership and E.
S. Rowan and VIM. E. Laird were
elected Deacons. DR.. j. w. Hoyte,
ofNashville, took charge of the church
as stated supply soon after its organi-
cation, and continued to serve it till
the fail of 1871. During that time
there were added to the church 81
members, IA on profession of faith
and II by letter. Two members died
during DR.. Hoyte's ministry, leaving
net gain of 80 members. Deem
Der 10th, 1871, F. X. Bell and Isaac
p. Wright were ordained as Deacons,
during the few months the church
was served by Rev. VIM. Neal. In
the spring of 1872 Rev. j. F. Hill, of
Pennsylvania, took charge of the
church as stated supply and contin-
ued to serve it until thespring of 1874.
During his ministry there were added
to the church 7 members, on profess
sion of faith and by letter. In that
time of the members died, and 2
were dismissed to another church,
leaving net gain of 2 members.
The LIST Of June, 1875, Rev. T. M.
Mcconnell, of Virginia, licentiate
of Abingdon Presbytery, took charge
of the church as stated supply, and
served in that capacity until July
1876, when he was regularly installed
as pastor of the church. During this
year house of worship was built,
and on July 18th, 1876, was formally
dedicated to the service of God. The
services of installation and dedication
were conducted by Rev. T. A. Hoyte,
d. d., of Nashville, Tenn, and Rev.
J. w. Lupton, d. D., of Nashville,
Tenn. Mr.. Mcconnell continued to
serve the church as pastor until Jan,
9TH, 1879, when the pastoral relation
was dissolved, in order that he might
accept a call to the Westminster Pres
byterian church of Nashville, Tenn.
During his ministry there were added
to the church 50 members, % on profess
sion of faith, and a by letter. In
that time there were deaths in the
church, and 8 letters of dismission
granted, leaving net gain of 81
members. On the 18th of May, 1876
J. H. Nicely and J. S. Barton were
Elected Elders, and on Nov. Goth
1876 d. H. Hartwell was elected Dea
con, and on Nov. 18th, 1877, T. c.
Lind was elected Elder and r. M
Reams Deacon.
In February or March 1879, Rev
Alex Cowan took charge Of thu
church as pastor and continued il
that relation until September 1880
During that time 10 members wer,
added on profession Of faith, and II
were granted letters of dismission
leaving net gain OF nothing.
In the spring of 1881, Rev. A. f
Grover of Virginia, was elected a
pastor Of the church, and continued
to serve it in that capacity until tn
spring of 1888. During his ministr.
members were added to the church
on profession Of faith, and by let
ter, whereas, were dismissed t
othet churches, and five died, making
net loss of members. During hi
ministry, on Sept. 18th, 1882, f. G
Mead was elected as Deacon.
In July 1883, Rev. T. M. McCon
nell left Nashville, and again too
charge of the McMinnville church a
stated supply, in which capacity h
still serves it. During this secon
ministry there have been Al member
added to the church, % on profession
of faith, and ID by letter, have bee
dismissed to other churches, and
have died, leaving net gain of .
members. On April 10Th, 1884, W
X. Patterson and w. r. Payne wer
elected Elders, and Sept. 9th, 1885,
G. w. Lewis, George Steetly, and I