The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-12-05
; HISTORY OF THE THOMPSON
, STREET CHURCH
k4 o o . o o . @ o o o @ o 8 .

dOUOu Olo SoiAS PASoShiAiS az etA~
lme place. In the year 1855 the
riends of the enterprise began to en-
ertain the, thought of building a
puse of worship. At this important
yeriod DR.. Thomas W. Thompson
donated lot for this purpose. By
consulting the public Offices we find
deed to this effect in legal form
recorded by B. j. Ramage, as Clerk
of Court. We also find Mrs. I'll"
sons dover to the same. By this
deed Joseph S. Reid and Robert c..
Wright were appointed trustees.
Arrangements were made to build
n suitable house on. this lot. Wallace
{Cline took the contract of building
md completed the house in the
pring of (1S55) eighteen ffty-fve.
The building committee consisted of
Ihe following persons: DR.. T. w.
Thompson, Col. James M. Crosson,
William Steel and Robert Wright.
The second Associate Reformed
Presbyterian furnished the congre-
cation with supplies of preaching dur
hing the building of the house.,
Among the ministers who preached
during this period the following
names are recollected: R. c.. Grier,
! d. D., Revs. w. R. Hemphill, D. F.
kHaddon, II. T. Sloan and H. L.
Murphy and j.. N. Young.
During the year 1855 this con-
egation united with that of Kings
keek in extending a call to H. l..
urphy to become their pastor. In
e time this call was regularly pre-
nted and accepted. Previous
engagements having been made to
effect Mr.. Murphy was ordained
installed pastor of Thompson
reet and Kings Creek congrega-
Ions. The installation services weIe
held in the house of the O.. S. Pres
byterians. Most Of the members of
the End. Presbyterian were pre-
sent participating in the exercises.
E. E. Pressly, D. D., presided as
and H. 7. Sloan preached
he ordination sermon. Rev. Mur-
hy preached in the court house from
his time until the completion of the
house of worship.
Soon after the house was COM
leted protracted meeting was
eld during which the house was
edicated to the worship of the only
wing and true God. In the organi-
ton of the church DR.. T. ".
ompson and Col. James NJ. Crosson
re elected ruling elders and DR..
w. Reid and j. c. Sims Brown
cns.
considerable period this
as sts could reasonably sl ;y:-:5a be = ex-
With preaching on every
ke Sabbath, prayer meet
ng the week and Sabbath
o. Exercises every Sabbath, there
ms to be good proof of large
growing congregation. In the
lrse of a few years, however, the
gregation began to suffer by re-
ais, and at length entered while
IN its youth into the sore ex-
bce which the southern churches
subjected in the "War Between
States" The older and more
1y established churches found it
tie difficult to preserve them
ives during this period and thought
thing of growth.
At the closelof the war this little
aggregation found itself little more
an skeleton. Among the office
Earers DR.. Thompson had died, Col.
rosson had removed to another state,
I'm. Hood elected some years after
he orgaization had been elected
teasurer of the state and had re-
Apved to Columbia. William Nc
rries alone remained of the elders.
deacons had been both removed
her congregations. The mem
lip was reduced to a handful and
of them stripped of their
Nv the war. The pastor, Rev.
was discouraged both with
e oG his congregation and the
5ns OF the country. lis dis
cement on the part.lWe pas
ecane so\great ths =. AN .4e lat
part of 1885 he ah"~1or"a The
regations and removed to an
state.
|om this time for number Of
these churches remained vacant.
Second Presbytery furnished
E;onal supplies. Among those
ling the pulpit with occasional
es were R. C. Grier, w. R..
bill, j. w. Young, j. P. Press
L. Pressly, j. L. Hemphill and
Haddon.
M. Grier was sent to this church
hat of Kings Creek as stated
" for one year. After remain
this time he was sent to some
+ field. During the following
call was extended to Rev. W.
.rier to become pastor. For a
the congregations were hopeful
they would secure the services
regular pastor, but were dis
inted in their expectations and
ged on their existence as
ncies.
blowing this formal written
tory of the Thompson Street
ch," DR.. Mower gave further
h from notes he had obtained
church minutes and personal
lection; with ex tempore COM
{1o~oo4