Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1914-06-13
HISTORY OF
WESTMINSTER
A Hundred Years Of Usefulness
Of Presbyterian Church
in City.
LIST OF ALL THE PASTORS.
Compiled by Rev. c. Il. H.
Branch, the Present Pastor
of the Church.


Presbyterian church of Hopkinsville
have been lost, and there are none
that 20 back any further than MAY
1924, yet there is very old and
well-established tradition that the
church was organized by the Rev.
Gideon Blackburn, d. D., between
1871 and 1918. This tradition is
substantiated by certain facts con-
nected with the planting and de-
velopment of Presbyterianism in the
state, and with certain facts con-
nected with the life of DR.. Black
burn. These facts are, to say the
least, not inconsistent with the ira
dition, and lend weight to the belief
that the church was established
nearer the earlier than the later
date.
Hopkinsville itself was not plated
out until 1893, and it is suggestive
that one of the first two settlers in
Christian county, Jno. Montgomery,
bears the same name as one who
later was an Elder in this church,
DR.. F. G. Montgomery. The names
of the earliest settlers appear upon
the rolls of the church. and some OF
them occupied a prominent place in
the establishment and developing Of
the town. One who compares the
histories of the county and Of the
Church is impressed with the recur-
renee of such names as: Thompson,
lDavidge, Dallam, Bradshaw, Shack
leford, Bronaugh, Breathitt, Henry,
Sites, Steele, Rice, Sharp, Hopkins,
and many others.
During its infancy the church had
no regular preaching or house Of
worship, using the old Court House
when it was necessary. The original
Elders were VIM. Moore and David
Berry. The first stated preacher
was Rev. VIM. K. Stewart, W h o
preached here once a month for sew
eral years, and organized what is
now known as Mckenzie Kirk.
When the records begin Rev. Ralph
Cushman is Pastor; the Elders are
! David Berry, Thos. Hopkins, Jas ID.
Rice, Robert Scott, Matthew W.,
Henry and the church has a member
ship of fifty-seven
Some time during the year 1925,
the congregation erected a building
on the same lot and slightly to the
east of where Westminster church
now stands. An itemized statement
has been preserved, showing that
the cost of the building and lot was
S4,6O4.
Then followed several supplies for
brief seasons, Rev. R. A. Lapsley,
Rev. John Smith and Mr.. Robert
Hamilton, which brings the record
down to the ministry of Rev. Thos.
Caldwell, who arrived here in May,
1928. He was granted permission to
preach at GAINESVILLE and other places
and seems to have conducted regu-
lar services at "Salubria Springs. ="
He died while absent on visit in
Nov. 1888.
He was succeeded by Rev. W. d.
Jones, who began his ministry here
before having been ordained, la May
1884. His ministry was character
| lied by several great revivals and
had more additions to the church
than that of any other pastor, save
those of DR.. Nourse. In 1874 Mrs.
Susan Preston left her property to
the church for a manse, the proper
ty where DR.. Jackson now resides.
and in her will it is described as be-
ing ION the east side of Main street,
between South and Maple streets"
When the church separated in 1879
this went into the hands Of the First
church and was sold.
In Mar. lS4S Rev. Burr H. Nc
Gown was called to the pastorate.
The erection of the present church
building is assigned to this date and,