First Presbyterian Church
100 South Norton Avenue Sylacauga, AL 35150 Telephone: 256-249-0391 |
History
| Large enough to meet your needs - small enough to need you. |
Please contact us with comments or questions by e-mail at: reverendstanford.yahoo.com or mprobrson@yahoo.com By mail at 100 South Norton Avenue, Sylacauga, AL 35150 By phone to 256-249-0391, fax to 256-249-0390 |
| James B. Stanford, Pastor |
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As early as 1901 the Presbyterians of the village of Sylacauga,
through the Presbytery of North Alabama, began to look forward to
the establishment of an organized church here. Mrs. Mary Brown
was the person most interested in this effort. She was instrumental
in getting Rev. A. B. Curry, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church of Birmingham, to visit Sylacauga. He was impressed with the
possibilities of growth in this area, and proposed to Mrs. Brown's
son, Mr. John Brown, that he build a chapel for services, and that the
Presbytery would furnish a preacher. However, before the plan could
be put into operation, Dr. Curry accepted a call to the Second
Presbyterian Church of Memphis, Tennessee. So the matter was
dropped.
The second effort at a church organization occurred in January, 1903,
when the A. K. McLeod family moved to Sylacauga from Goodwater.
Soon after their arrival a meeting was held, evidently with Dr. Mack,
the evangelist for North Alabama Presbytery, in charge. The charter
members of the new church were: Mr. and Mrs. A. K. McLeod, Mrs.
Mary Brown, Miss Margaret McLeod, Miss Angie McLeod, Mr. R. Nall
McLeod, Mr. John Prather, and Mr. Tom Irwin. Mr. A. K. McLeod,
assisted by Dr. J. M. Smith, a young physician from Nixburg, Alabama,
led the Presbyterian constituency to decide to secure a tent for
special services. Dr. Smith became ill with typhoid fever and was
sent to his home in Nixburg, where he later passed away. The
Methodist Church gave permission for Dr. Mack to hold the services
in their church. This meeting was held in July. A number of other
people joined the group at these meetings. There is no record of
these members by name, because the original minute book was lost
when Mr. Milner took it to Presbytery in 1907.
The original officers of the church were: Mr. A. K. McLeod, and Mr.
John Prather, elders; and Mr. Fred Prather and Mr. W. J. McLeod,
deacons. The first pastor was Rev. Frank Marston, who was pastor of
the Goodwater church. He was called for half time. The services
were held in the auditorium of the high school building.
Early in 1904 the Women's Auxiliary, under the leadership of Mrs. A. K.
McLeod, bought a lot on the corner of Spring Street and Norton
Avenue, which became the permanent location of the church. Much
of the success of the new church was due to the zeal, perseverance,
and consecration of Mrs. McLeod. During the entire remainder of her
life, she put an unprecedented amount of energy, faith, and prayer
into the growth and expansion of the church and all its facilities. To
the Women of the Church she left the heritage of devotion to God's
Kingdom through the work of their organization. Throughout the
years they have been very active and intent about advancing the
work of the Master through the avenue of this church.
The next move was made by the officers of the church in constituting
themselves a building committee, with Mr. W. J. McLeod as chairman.
The committee met and staked off the ground for the new building.
Without a dollar in the treasury for the work, but with great faith, and
the promises of God, they determined to build a Presbyterian church.
Mr. Frank Kaup was the owner of a large lumber mill, and Mrs. Kaup
was a most enthusiastic worker of the church. When Mr. Kaup was
asked about furnishing the lumber for the new building , he
consented to do so, and also made a large contribution of lumber.
The members of the church and the friends of the church contributed
as liberally as they could, and materials necessary to complete the
building were secured. Mr. Sim McLendon was employed to
construct the building. He and his helpers worked so well that by the
first of August, 1904, the church was ready for occupancy. There
were times when funds ran low. Mr. McLeod told of once when there
was not enough money for another payroll. The daughter of Mr. John
Smith of Nixburg gave him a check from her father for $100. At
another time Judge Ernest Hammett of Talladega came to the rescue
and raised the funds to plaster the building. There was a great joy in
the hearts of the little congregation when they dedicated the building
to the Lord.
By 1922, the congregation had begun to realize that the building was
inadequate, and they had started a Building Fund. In November of
1922, Rev. J. C. McQueen, who had served as a missionary in Africa,
was called as pastor. He suggested that the evening offering be
added to the Building Fund. Mrs. S. E. Thomas was treasurer of this
fund. During the six years that he was pastor of the church, he and
the congregation worked and planned to increase the fund for a new
and more permanent church building. Mr. McQueen resigned in
February, 1928, to accept the pastorate of the Bay St. church in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
On September 1, 1928, Rev. J. E. Hixson was called as pastor. He was
an excellent organizer and in a few months he convinced the
congregation that with the funds on hand, and those which might be
raised among members, and the neighbors and friends of the church,
they could, with the help of the Lord, build a new brick building. The
pastor and the officers were the building committee. A financial
campaign was put on in a downtown office on December 1, 2, and 3
and every one was given an opportunity to subscribe. The loyal
fellowship among the churches of the town was shown by the large
number of contributions from members of the other churches.
The old rectangular frame building was razed in a week's time. The
windows were given to a group of colored people who were building
a new church. The first brick was laid on May 14, and the last one was
placed on July 27. The new building was opened to the public on
September 8, 1929, with a worship service at 3:30 p.m.
The first church building had been heated with two iron stoves, one
near the right front corner, the other near the entrance at the left
rear corner. On cold mornings, Mr. Fred Prather always went down to
the church to see, personally, that there was sufficient heat to make
the building comfortable. The new building was heated with steam.
The auditorium, the balcony, and the rooms on the auditorium level
were all completed. There were no funds with which to complete the
basement. At first for several years the basement was used for
Sunday School space, for young people's meetings, and for other
get-together meetings with only the earth floor covered with
sawdust. This worked very well for several years. One summer Mrs.
E. S. Smith suggested that a Cement Shower be held. Each person
took his supper and as much cement as he could and met in the
church basement. There was enough cement for the basement floor.
Eventually enough money was borrowed to finish all construction.
The repayment of this debt spread over all the depression years, and
into the World War II period. One Sabbath, when discouragement was
deeper than usual, one of the deacons, Mr. Charlie S. Northen, saved
the day by an impassioned appeal to all the members to try tithing.
Not all of them agreed to accept this method, but such an increase of
funds resulted that the debt was considerably reduced. At a later
time, Col. Delbert Heinbaugh came to the rescue with the visual
device of a poster, showing a thermometer, graduated in the amount
of the debt. Much enthusiasm was aroused and the rising sum of the
thermometer was watched with interest from Sabbath to Sabbath.
through the Presbytery of North Alabama, began to look forward to
the establishment of an organized church here. Mrs. Mary Brown
was the person most interested in this effort. She was instrumental
in getting Rev. A. B. Curry, D.D., pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church of Birmingham, to visit Sylacauga. He was impressed with the
possibilities of growth in this area, and proposed to Mrs. Brown's
son, Mr. John Brown, that he build a chapel for services, and that the
Presbytery would furnish a preacher. However, before the plan could
be put into operation, Dr. Curry accepted a call to the Second
Presbyterian Church of Memphis, Tennessee. So the matter was
dropped.
The second effort at a church organization occurred in January, 1903,
when the A. K. McLeod family moved to Sylacauga from Goodwater.
Soon after their arrival a meeting was held, evidently with Dr. Mack,
the evangelist for North Alabama Presbytery, in charge. The charter
members of the new church were: Mr. and Mrs. A. K. McLeod, Mrs.
Mary Brown, Miss Margaret McLeod, Miss Angie McLeod, Mr. R. Nall
McLeod, Mr. John Prather, and Mr. Tom Irwin. Mr. A. K. McLeod,
assisted by Dr. J. M. Smith, a young physician from Nixburg, Alabama,
led the Presbyterian constituency to decide to secure a tent for
special services. Dr. Smith became ill with typhoid fever and was
sent to his home in Nixburg, where he later passed away. The
Methodist Church gave permission for Dr. Mack to hold the services
in their church. This meeting was held in July. A number of other
people joined the group at these meetings. There is no record of
these members by name, because the original minute book was lost
when Mr. Milner took it to Presbytery in 1907.
The original officers of the church were: Mr. A. K. McLeod, and Mr.
John Prather, elders; and Mr. Fred Prather and Mr. W. J. McLeod,
deacons. The first pastor was Rev. Frank Marston, who was pastor of
the Goodwater church. He was called for half time. The services
were held in the auditorium of the high school building.
Early in 1904 the Women's Auxiliary, under the leadership of Mrs. A. K.
McLeod, bought a lot on the corner of Spring Street and Norton
Avenue, which became the permanent location of the church. Much
of the success of the new church was due to the zeal, perseverance,
and consecration of Mrs. McLeod. During the entire remainder of her
life, she put an unprecedented amount of energy, faith, and prayer
into the growth and expansion of the church and all its facilities. To
the Women of the Church she left the heritage of devotion to God's
Kingdom through the work of their organization. Throughout the
years they have been very active and intent about advancing the
work of the Master through the avenue of this church.
The next move was made by the officers of the church in constituting
themselves a building committee, with Mr. W. J. McLeod as chairman.
The committee met and staked off the ground for the new building.
Without a dollar in the treasury for the work, but with great faith, and
the promises of God, they determined to build a Presbyterian church.
Mr. Frank Kaup was the owner of a large lumber mill, and Mrs. Kaup
was a most enthusiastic worker of the church. When Mr. Kaup was
asked about furnishing the lumber for the new building , he
consented to do so, and also made a large contribution of lumber.
The members of the church and the friends of the church contributed
as liberally as they could, and materials necessary to complete the
building were secured. Mr. Sim McLendon was employed to
construct the building. He and his helpers worked so well that by the
first of August, 1904, the church was ready for occupancy. There
were times when funds ran low. Mr. McLeod told of once when there
was not enough money for another payroll. The daughter of Mr. John
Smith of Nixburg gave him a check from her father for $100. At
another time Judge Ernest Hammett of Talladega came to the rescue
and raised the funds to plaster the building. There was a great joy in
the hearts of the little congregation when they dedicated the building
to the Lord.
By 1922, the congregation had begun to realize that the building was
inadequate, and they had started a Building Fund. In November of
1922, Rev. J. C. McQueen, who had served as a missionary in Africa,
was called as pastor. He suggested that the evening offering be
added to the Building Fund. Mrs. S. E. Thomas was treasurer of this
fund. During the six years that he was pastor of the church, he and
the congregation worked and planned to increase the fund for a new
and more permanent church building. Mr. McQueen resigned in
February, 1928, to accept the pastorate of the Bay St. church in
Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
On September 1, 1928, Rev. J. E. Hixson was called as pastor. He was
an excellent organizer and in a few months he convinced the
congregation that with the funds on hand, and those which might be
raised among members, and the neighbors and friends of the church,
they could, with the help of the Lord, build a new brick building. The
pastor and the officers were the building committee. A financial
campaign was put on in a downtown office on December 1, 2, and 3
and every one was given an opportunity to subscribe. The loyal
fellowship among the churches of the town was shown by the large
number of contributions from members of the other churches.
The old rectangular frame building was razed in a week's time. The
windows were given to a group of colored people who were building
a new church. The first brick was laid on May 14, and the last one was
placed on July 27. The new building was opened to the public on
September 8, 1929, with a worship service at 3:30 p.m.
The first church building had been heated with two iron stoves, one
near the right front corner, the other near the entrance at the left
rear corner. On cold mornings, Mr. Fred Prather always went down to
the church to see, personally, that there was sufficient heat to make
the building comfortable. The new building was heated with steam.
The auditorium, the balcony, and the rooms on the auditorium level
were all completed. There were no funds with which to complete the
basement. At first for several years the basement was used for
Sunday School space, for young people's meetings, and for other
get-together meetings with only the earth floor covered with
sawdust. This worked very well for several years. One summer Mrs.
E. S. Smith suggested that a Cement Shower be held. Each person
took his supper and as much cement as he could and met in the
church basement. There was enough cement for the basement floor.
Eventually enough money was borrowed to finish all construction.
The repayment of this debt spread over all the depression years, and
into the World War II period. One Sabbath, when discouragement was
deeper than usual, one of the deacons, Mr. Charlie S. Northen, saved
the day by an impassioned appeal to all the members to try tithing.
Not all of them agreed to accept this method, but such an increase of
funds resulted that the debt was considerably reduced. At a later
time, Col. Delbert Heinbaugh came to the rescue with the visual
device of a poster, showing a thermometer, graduated in the amount
of the debt. Much enthusiasm was aroused and the rising sum of the
thermometer was watched with interest from Sabbath to Sabbath.
| Those Who Have Served |
1903
1903-1906
1907-1908
1909-1911
1911
1912
1912-1915
1917-1918
1918-1919
1918-1919
1923-1928
1928-1929
1929-1930
1929-1930
1930-1941
1941
1941-1942
1942-1944
1946-1964
1964-1969
1970
1970
1969-1970
1971-1979
1979
1980-1982198
1-1982
1982
1982-1990
1987
1988
1989
1989
1990
1991
1991-1997
1995-1997
1998
1999-2000
2000-
1903-1906
1907-1908
1909-1911
1911
1912
1912-1915
1917-1918
1918-1919
1918-1919
1923-1928
1928-1929
1929-1930
1929-1930
1930-1941
1941
1941-1942
1942-1944
1946-1964
1964-1969
1970
1970
1969-1970
1971-1979
1979
1980-1982198
1-1982
1982
1982-1990
1987
1988
1989
1989
1990
1991
1991-1997
1995-1997
1998
1999-2000
2000-
J. B. Mack
Frank H. Marston
John B. Milner
C. B. McLeod
J. W. Stagg
E. D. McDougal
T. J. Ponder
Zack E. Lewis
U. G. Lacy
W. B. Holmes
John C. McQueen
James E. Hixson
E. B. Robinson, Sr.
C. G. Partridge
William B. Hood, Sr.
James H. Gailey
Leonard E. Woodward
James E. Graham
Joseph L. Plexico
Anderson Buchanan
Stephen A. Bacon
Richard Bass
Robert D. Burnett
John M. Partridge
Roland Sims
James R. Kennedy
Craig D. Childs, Sr.
Walter D. Langtry
Lynn E. Shurley
Libby Smith
Peter Shelly
Margaret R. Northen
Harvey Jenkins, Jr.
William H. Kryder
Thomas C. Duncan
G. Taylor Brown
Joseph M. Hinds
Albert S. Crigler, III
William F. Charles
James B. Stanford, III
Frank H. Marston
John B. Milner
C. B. McLeod
J. W. Stagg
E. D. McDougal
T. J. Ponder
Zack E. Lewis
U. G. Lacy
W. B. Holmes
John C. McQueen
James E. Hixson
E. B. Robinson, Sr.
C. G. Partridge
William B. Hood, Sr.
James H. Gailey
Leonard E. Woodward
James E. Graham
Joseph L. Plexico
Anderson Buchanan
Stephen A. Bacon
Richard Bass
Robert D. Burnett
John M. Partridge
Roland Sims
James R. Kennedy
Craig D. Childs, Sr.
Walter D. Langtry
Lynn E. Shurley
Libby Smith
Peter Shelly
Margaret R. Northen
Harvey Jenkins, Jr.
William H. Kryder
Thomas C. Duncan
G. Taylor Brown
Joseph M. Hinds
Albert S. Crigler, III
William F. Charles
James B. Stanford, III
