Presbyterian Churches Get Together

 An interesting article from the:

Crittenden Press, Oct. 25, 1940

Local Presbyterians Get Together

After being separated for fifty years or more, the two local congregations, the Presbyterian U. S. and the Presbyterian U. S. A. have federated for all worship services.

It is recalled that the first church organization in Marion, or in Crittenden County for that matter, was the Presbyterian U. S. A.

The first church known to function in this county was a Presbyterial church located near Crooked Creek, where Crooked Creek church is located today, then called the Bethany Church.

After Marion was founded and began to grow, this church was moved to Marion. A building was erected on the corner of the old cemetery lot, (which is just south of highway 60.) Worship services were maintained here for a number of years. The congregation was made up of citizens of both the town and country. At least 50 percent of the congregation lived in the country and in that section now known as the Chapel Hill neighborhood.

In time the congregation grew and the church prospered. Finally the building needed repair. Its location did not suit the town people and the country people wanted to be closer to their place of worship. So it was agreed that the congregation divide itself. Accordingly the country people organized a separate church and located it at Chapel Hill. 

 

The town people then erected a new building at the corner of Bellville and College streets.

In the course of time the church in Marion found itself without a pastor. The Reverend Spencer, an ordained minister in the U. S. church, being available was offered the pastorate. He being a minister in the U. S. church it was thought advisable to transfer this church from the jurisdiction of the U. S. A. Presbytery to the jurisdiction of the presbytery of the U. S. church. So it is still under the jurisdiction of the U. S. Church.

The U. S. A. church, on corner of Main and Depot, was organized as a Cumberland Presbyterian church. In 1906 when the General Assemblies of the two churches united this church became a U. S. A. Presbyterian church.

The plan of federation, spoken of above, is this: the two congregations have federated together and will unite in all worship services which includes preaching and Sunday school. It is not an organic union. Each congregation will take care of its own benevolences and all obligations to its presbytery, synod and general assembly. The pastor's salary and all local expense including Sunday school will be from contributions from the federated congregations working as one body.

Most of the people concerned seem to think that greater service can be rendered to the Master if all forget all petty differences and prejudices that have kept us apart so long and all work as one body for the glory of God and the advancement of his cause. It would be a great day if and when all prefixes and suffixes could be cut off from the great name Presbyterian and all stand under the banner and name of the church with such a glorious history, tradition and records.

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July 1, 1965 – Two Presbyterian Church Congregations Hold First merged Services

A merger of two Presbyterian Churches in Marion was approved May 13^th, 1965, the Presbyterian Church, U. S. and the Presbyterian Church, U. P. U.S.A. congregations in separate sessions voted to merge the two congregations.

Other approved proposals by the groups were to use the Presbyterian Church, U. S. building and sell the Presbyterian Church, U. P. U.S.A. Property. Use of proceeds from sale of the U.P. U.S.A. Building for repairs, remodeling, etc., of the U. S. property, and/or use same toward securing a manse, and last to affiliate with the United Presbyterian Church of the United ?Sates of America.

This move was the recommendation and approval of the church Extension Committee, Presbytery of Muhlenberg, U. S. and National Missions Committee, Presbytery of Western Kentucky, U.P. U.S.A.

The church to be sold is the Main St. Edifice. Pastor Lou Thompson of the Bellville St. Church, said that the merger will allow for expansion of local church work, witness to the community, church, youth groups and ladies organization.

June 20^th was the first Sunday that the two churches' congregations met and worshiped as a body.