Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Polk, Tennessee

This article taken from The Sesquicentennial History of Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, mainly covering the period 1903 – 1951, pp 515 – 516 , Prepared and Published by order of the General Synod, Clinton, SC, Presses of Jacobs Brothers, Printers, 1951. The editor for a committee of the Synod was W. A. Kennedy.

The book is not indexed, contains information about all congregations of the ARP during this time period and has rather extensive biographies of all clergy living during that period. The clergy biographies and the congregational histories are in alphabetical order.

Abstract by Dorothy Chance

The first preaching services on record were held by Rev. J. P. Weed at Old Horseshoe. He preached Sabbath afternoon once a month until Rev. T. P. Pressly came to Troy in 1875 and took charge of the work. These services were continued until the fall of 1886 when the services were changed to Baker’s schoolhouse, then later to the schoolhouse at Polk. A Sabbath school was organized at Baker’s schoolhouse. Mr. Lee S. Lancaster was the first superintendent, and Mr. R. C. Moss, assistant. The good Sabbath schools ever stood out as the leading force in this work.

A congregation was organized March 31, 1900, and in that year a church building was erected. Mr. J. W. Scarsce graciously gave his lot where the church building was erected. On September 29 this building was dedicated to the Lord for his glory. The sermon was preached by Rev. T. G. Boyce, with Rev. T. P. Pressly in charge. The first elders were W. J. Erwin and J. B. Buchannan. The deacons were Samuel G. Erwin and W. J. Caskey. In order to secure more preaching services and another laborer in the fields, the sessions of Troy, Rives and Polk met in joint session. They agreed that the last two be allowed to form a pastoral charge, provided that suitable arrangements could be made. Rev. Pressly continued to supply until January 1, 1902, when Rev. E. P. Lindsay was sent by as stated supply. He was very acceptable to all the people, and on December 6, 1903 was installed pastor by Revs. J. W. Baird and T. P. Pressly. In 1904 Ross Brown and Wm. R. Lancaster were ordained elders and David Guy and W. S. Smith deacons.

Rev. Lindsay remained as pastor until November 4, 1905. After his resignation arrangements were made for him to continue as supply. this continued until February 26, 1911, when Rev. Lindsay gave his full time to Rives and Union City. The congregation was without a pastor for some time. Rev. M. R. Gibson served as supply for two months in 1912. Rev. W. O. Wier supplied until September 5, 1915, when he accepted a call and was installed pastor December 12, 1915, by Rev. T. P. Pressly.

On January 9, 1916, J. L. Peery and James Cunningham were elected as elders, and B. W. Buchannan, Robert Cunningham and Paul Erwin as deacons. These officers were installed March 12, 1916. Rev. Wier’s work was most acceptable to the congregation and community. A strange providence which could not be understood; a young man, full of the spirit of God, doing an excellent work, was called to his reward June 2, 1916. There still remains in the hearts of the people a tender feeling for Rev. and Mrs. Wier.

Rev. Pressly supplied the congregation again until January 14, 1917, when Rev. J. L. Boyd took charge of the work. This relation was continued until June 1, 1920, when Brother Boyd accepted a call to Brighton, Tenn. Rev. J. A. Baird supplied the congregation during the summer of 1921. Rev. B. Dale White supplied during the summer of 1922. A prayer meeting and Young People’s Society was organized. Rev. White went directly from this field to India as a missionary, and the love and prayer of the community followed him.

Rev. L. R. Neill preached his first sermon as pastor the second Sabbath of November, 1922, Rev. T. B. McBride preached as assistant to Rev. Neill in 1933 and the spring of 1934, at which time he accepted a call to Oak Hill, Alabama. After services had been held one Sabbath morning in the spring of 1934 the church building caught fire and burned. For some time services were held in the store and in the home of Mr. J. L. Peery, and at other times in the Polk schoolhouse. Plans were discussed for rebuilding, but no building was erected. The session later decided it advisable to discontinue services. A good many of the members have transferred their membership to Troy.

Rev. Neill rendered a faithful and loving service to the congregation and community until he was taken by death November 17, 1945. Some of the most outstanding Christian characters of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church were members of this congregation. The Sabbath School was always a strong organization in the community, and the Ladies society was active and efficient