Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, Troy, Tennessee
1909-1981

The following articles from “The Sesquicentennial History of Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church”, mainly cover the period 1903-1951, pp 579-584, 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.

On the banks of the Catawba River, in York County, South Carolina, near what is now known as Riddles Mill, in the year 1824, possibly during Christmas week, a pioneer wagon train was formed. It was customary for these wagon trains to appoint a leader. James Harper was probably the leader of this train. The only names mentioned are: James Harper, with his son-in-law, Samuel Hutchison, Mrs. Rossana Harper, with her son-in-law, William Hutchison, with their families consisting in the aggregate of 43 souls, white and black. The objective of this train was some place in what was then known as forked Deer County in West Tennessee.

When the train reached Nashville, the leader was advised to go to a new county, Obion, in extreme northwest Tennessee. After a tedious journey of nine weeks they came to the banks of the Obion River, one mile east of Rives. The crossing of this river was in primitive style. Their baggage was taken across in canoes and then the empty wagons were pulled across with bed cords. As there were no roads on the west side of the river, it was necessary for them to cut their way through the undergrowth. They reached their destination on February 17, 1825, and settled about four miles west of where they had crossed the river. It is an interesting fact that much of this land is still in the possession of these families.

In quick succession other trains were formed in the Carolinas and Virginia, bringing many families whose names are prominent in our early church history. Among these we find the name of James Hogue and John Hutchison. Later we find the names of Reeves, Garrison, Polk, Wade, Mills, Moffatt, Wilson, Lathan, Erwin and others.

Not only were our forefathers progressive in material things, but they were progressive in spiritual affairs. Although they did not hear a sermon for two years, these devout Christians held their religious services in their homes. In 1825 Rev. William Blackstock came to minister to them. His first service was held in the shadow of a giant oak tree, somewhere near a spring west of the home of Calvin Pleasant, on the Troy and Union City Road. He was probably the first Presbyterian minister to preach in Obion County. J. H. Harper of Elverton, Ill., and a son of James Harper, said that he heard Rev. Blackstock preach under a beech tree in Troy, where the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church was later located. Rev. Blackstock made a second visit in 1829 while on a missionary tour from South Carolina through Alabama and Tennessee. At this time he preached at least once under an old beech tree near where the old church stood, now Troy Cemetery. This text was Psalms 68:13, Though ye have lien (sic) among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold. The service rendered to the people by Rev. Blackstock is invaluable, because at this time he was sowing the seed which in later years resulted in the organization of our church.

Rev. Robert Galloway next visited this field. His first visit was in 1831 and the other one was the following year.

In the fall of 1832 Rev. Eleazar Harris came to this field from Chester, SC. He organized a church with twelve or thirteen members. This organization probably occurred under the same beech tree, where Rev. Blackstock had preached, and where the church building was finally located in 1839. The first elders were James Harper and Samuel Hutchison. Rev. Harris supplied this church regularly for two years and then returned to South Carolina. Rev. John Wilson and Rev. Ralston supplied the church until the arrival of Rev. Robert McCoy in 1838. Arrangements were made for him as full time supply, and he accepted.

The first church building was erected in 1831 or 1832, about four miles east of Troy, near the Moses Harper home, and immediately north of the J. H. Guy home between the house and the Troy and Rives Road. This building was a small log structure. At the same time another church building was erected two miles northwest of Troy, near the Hogue home and cemetery. A church nearer the center of the congregation was needed, and in 1839 a design was made and approved. The site selected was the spot where the church was organized. The land was the property of James Polk, and he most graciously and gladly donated two acres for a church site and cemetery. The building was completed in 1847. The pulpit was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Moffatt of Chester, SC.

Records show that during the ensuing year three were added by certificate and twelve by examination, making a total membership of thirty-one. The church prospered for several years. Rev. McCoy served this field from January 8, 1839 to September, 1845. The reason for his giving up the work has been disputed. His claim was insufficient support. Certainly the work had prospered in his hands and a good foundation had been laid.

The church was now without a minister, and a petition for supplies was forwarded to Synod. In response to this petition, Rev. J. P. Weed was sent to Troy. He arrived in February, 1846, and preached for about four months. His services proved acceptable to the people, and a call was made that fall. The call was accepted and he became pastor of the Troy congregation in December. He was ordained and installed in April, 1847, by Rev. Henry Bryson and Rev. John Wilson. The salary of Rev. Weed was to be $300, and because of the weakness of the church financially, the Salem congregation of Tipton County, of which Rev. John Wilson was pastor, subscribed about $80 per year for three years for Rev. Weed s support. The conditions were that Rev. Weed spend seven Sabbaths each year with the Salem congregation and another seven Sabbaths as a missionary in any destitute place in Obion county or any other place where preaching services might be wanted. Sure we owe a debt of gratitude to our Christian friends and brethren of Tipton County. At this time the elders were Robert Harper, Benjamin Garrison, Hiram Reeves, Benjamin K. Harper and James S. Moffatt. The membership was sixty-four, but during the year it was increased to seventy-either. In the year 1858 Rev. Weed, suffering from a combination of diseases, became very feeble, and realizing he was unable to discharge his duties as pastor, offered his resignation.

On November 19, 1860, Rev. R. L. Grier, who had been called to the field, was ordained and installed pastor. In the following year the church experienced probably its greatest revival. It was conducted by Rev. John G. Miller, pastor of Mt. Zion, Missouri, assisted by Rev. Weed. There were twenty-eight professions of faith and about twenty accessions to the church. During the ministry of Rev. Grier the church prospered. The membership was then on hundred and twenty-five, the largest in the history of the church up to that time.

Soon the war came on with its blighting influences. The members of the church and the young men of the congregation enlisted in the service. It was not long before Troy was within the federal lines, yet the pastor continued his work, keeping the public worship regular, and serving in sorrows and troubles that abound in time of war. Only one year during the war were services not held in the church. The federal soldiers used the church for their quarters. The pastor changed the preaching services to the homes. After the close of the war the church building was remodeled and worship established regularly on the Sabbaths. Prayer meetings were organized among the congregation. During the week Rev. Grier would go out into the county to these homes where the neighbors would gather for prayer. The prayer meetings proved to be one of the greatest forces to bring the people back to God. Many were converted at these prayer meetings. After serving the congregation for about ten years, Rev. Grier resigned to take up work in the Mt. Carmal Church in Marshall County, Mississippi.

From the time of Rev. Grier’s resignation in 1870 until 1872 Rev. J. P. Weed principally supplied the congregation. The Memphis Presbytery was held at Troy, April 12, 1872, and the congregation petitioned for the moderation of a call. Rev. Weed received this call and accepted it. He quite feebly again assumed the pastoral relation, and served the people to the best of his ability for three years, after which he resigned. On September 4, 1875, the Presbytery dissolved his pastoral relation. A new church building was dedicated June 13, 1874.

Rev. T. P. Pressly, having completed his theological training, was licensed to preach by the Memphis Presbytery, and was directed to supply the church at Troy until the following May. His services were acceptable to the congregation, and a petition to send him back was presented to Presbytery in May 1876. This was done and Rev. Pressly received a call from the Troy congregation, which he accepted. He was ordained at the next meeting of Presbytery and installed October 14, 1876, under the direction of Rev. H. L. Murphy. The congregation under its new pastor moved forward in membership and all the activities of the church. Rev. Pressly proved to be a great home missionary. Every Sabbath afternoon he preached in some section of the county. Baker’s Schoolhouse, Pleasant Hill, Palestine, Curry Schoolhouse and later Polk, are some of the places where he conducted services. He was instrumental in organizing two new churches; the first at Pleasant Hill in 1882, the other at Polk in 1900. Even until this day we hear people say, Dr. Pressly was the first preacher I remember of hearing preach.

The congregation under his leadership erected a most attractive and modern building in 1909. The location of the church was changed from the present Troy Cemetery to the east side of the square. The building of this handsome structure was a worthy undertaking. The people of the community had been richly blessed in material things and were well able to build. The building was dedicated March 27, 1910. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. W. B. Lindsay. Rev. E. P. Lindsay preached in the afternoon and Rev. W. B. Lindsay that night. The following fall the congregation entered Synod for its second time, the first being in 1877.

It was the ambition of Dr. Pressly to serve this congregation for half a century, the Lord willing. However, on May 10, 1924, God saw fit to reward him for services already rendered. Only a few hours before his death, knowing that the end was near, he conducted family worship and led in the singing of the 124th Psalm. Among his last words were: I have spent all my life preparing for this day, and it is the happiest day of my life.

The congregation was then without a pastor. Rev. L. R. Neill, who was then preaching at Rives, supplied occasionally and assisted in securing supplies. Among these were Rev. E. E. Strong, Rev. R. M. Bell and Rev. Roy Dale Strong, who supplied during the summers of 1924 and 1925. On account of finances the congregation was unable to secure a full time pastor. A meeting of the sessions of the three churches resulted in the call of Rev. L. R. Neill for one-third time.

Rev. Neill married a daughter of the congregation, Miss Maude Moffatt, November 18, 1926. To this marriage was born one daughter, Betty Ross Neill, who is at this time a senior student in Peabody College at Nashville. The Neill’s together made a way into the hearts of the people with their loving kindness, their faithful, skillful and unrelenting service to them in the church and civic life of the entire county in ever widening usefulness and influence. Brother Neill, as he was known to all, was one of Obion County s best loved and most forceful ministers, and was a civic leader of prominence. He was known all over the country and was very much sought after by homes in which there was serious trouble, illness or bereavement. He was Boys (sic) Scout Master of Troop No. 54 for several years, and Chaplain of the Milton Talley Post of the American Legion. To both he gave much work and interest. At the time of his death he was Past Worthy Grand Patron of the Order of the Eastern Star, a member of the Masonic Order, Chairman of Obion County s Better Home and Life Program, and had been identified with most of the county s campaigns for welfare organizations and with the various war drives. His great amount of work is more marvelous, when it is realized that much of it was done under physical handicap, which was brought about by injuries received while serving his country in World War I. These injuries caused him much pain and inconvenience, and resulted in his death November 17, 1945. At this time the county mourned the loss of one of its most loved servants.

The church prospered greatly under Bro. Neill s leadership. He took a great part in all church activities, and the church kept up a substantial growth in membership, liberality and spirituality. He was much interested in Bonclarken and often took groups of young people to attend its conferences. Erskine College was dear to him, and it was through his influence largely that many of the young people here attended college there. This is in keeping with the traditions of the Troy church in regard to taking advantage of educational opportunities. It is said that the parents of this congregation have been ambitious for their children and after they have taken advantage of the local educational opportunities, many of them have finished their education at the denominational colleges at Due West, SC. It is said that this church has sent out more well prepared young people than any other church of its size in the county.

An outstanding event of the church was a centennial celebration in 1923 under the direction of Bro. Neill. In this celebration there was a very impressive pageant acted out by the people of the church. The pageant was acted out in four scenes: on representing the origin of our denomination by the separation of Ebenezer Erskine, William Wilson, Alexander Moncrieff and James Fisher from the church in Scotland, one giving an Indian scene, one showing the coming of the pioneers by wagon train to Obion County, and one illustrating the first preaching service of a hundred years before under a large tree near Troy.

Rev. T. B. McBride worked as an assistant pastor to Bro. Neill at Rives and Polk in 1933 and 1934 and preached several times in Troy.

In August of 1947 Rev. J. H. McFerrin, then the pastor of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church of Roanoke, Va., accepted a joint call made out by the Troy and Rives congregations to take up work in the two churches. He preached his first sermon as pastor September 14, 1947, and is now on the field as three-fourths time pastor. In the last year the church has had two programs of visitation evangelism, which have resulted in the receiving of nineteen new members. At the present there are 160 members. In 1946 the two congregations, Troy and Rives, bought an attractive manse, which is occupied by the pastor, his everwilling helpmeet (sic) and three children, Sarah, Nancy and Janie.

The church now has a Sabbath School of seven classes, a Woman’s Missionary Society of two circles, a Junior Society and Young People’s Christian Union; all doing much in a progressive way for the kingdom of God. There are nine elders of the church: O. C. Berry, Wm. F. Curry, Paul L. Erwin, J. A. King, Fred Marshal, J. E. Moffatt, Jr. R. Moffatt, J. B. Stricklin and D. E. Tucker. There are eleven deacons: B. W. Buchannan, D. M. Carmack, P. H. Crittendon, A. R. Cude, S. S. Curry, Jno. V. Kendall, H. E. McDaniel, J. C. Moss, H. C. Moss, Andrew Scott and Noel Snyder. We look backward in great appreciation of the history that has been written by God through the lives of his people of the church here for the past one and a quarter centuries. We look forward in great hope, being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in this church will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

10 Dec 1998: Virginia Simonton’s husband called the last session clerk in Troy, a college friend of his, and learned that the records for the Troy Associate Reformed Church were destroyed when the minister’s house burned down in 1951. This explains why the ARP church history has so much detail about the Troy church, but we can’t find the original source records at Erskine College.