Trinity Presbyterian Church

Formerly - First United Presbyterian Church, Trinity United Presbyterian Church

The First United Presbyterian Church is the successor of one of the very oldest societies in the county, and was organized in the early part of 1801, being known as the Cool Spring Church. Its first house of worship, located about three miles from the present one, was built of round logs, chinked and daubed with mud, and was 18x20 feet in dimensions. Its windows were of greased paper, and the door opened at one end of the building into the aisle, which led up the center of the church between the pews of split logs, laid parallel to each other at right angles to the sides of the structure, to the pulpit, which, like its primitive fellows, consisted of a huge stump, delicately festooned with a rich growth of green moss. The “meetin’ house” of the regular Presbyterian Church, known by the same name, of which Rev. Samuel Tait was pastor, was located about a half mile away, and between the two churches there was a narrow foot-path, the only means of communication. The first regular pastor of the Cool Spring Seceder flock was Rev. Thomas McClintock, who began his labors May 8, 1803. Among its early members were Mr. McClintock (no relative of the pastor) and family, Mr. McDonald and

Trinity Presbyterian Church

 
family, Mr. Bradley and family, Mr. Garvin and family and Mr. Braden and wife. Rev. McClintock  continued until July 2, 1805, when his pastoral relations were terminated.  An amusing incident is related of him, which shows how strong was his desire for the right to prevail. At one of his services two dogs, which had by stealth made their way into the church, became engaged in a fight, the noise of which so disturbed the pastor that he was compelled to cease preaching. As two of his congregation seized the unruly curs and began applying a liberal chastisement, preparatory to ejecting them from the church, he looked calmly on, with an appearance of impartial interest, and at length, in a slow, devout tone, similar to that which characterized his preaching, addressed the two conservators of the congregation’s peace, exclaiming: “Give the yellow dog the most, for he began it.”

It was during his pastorate that the name Cool Spring was exchanged for that of Mercer, and the old log church deserted. Services were first held, after the removal, in the open air at a spring situated near the old tannery, and known as the tent spring. Meetings were held here in the summer of 1805, and upon the approach of winter a tent was erected, which served as part shelter from the cold and snow. In this manner services were maintained until 1807, when the erection of the old court-house furnished better quarters. Private houses were, of course, utilized in the extreme winter, and it is related that the old tavern, which stood upon the present site of the post-office, was also occasionally occupied by the devout congregation. The second pastor, Rev. John Walker, was installed July 11, 1811.

The ordination services were held in open air under the shade of two large oak trees that marked the location of the tent spring, and were conducted by a Rev. Duncan. His pastorate lasted but three years, and came to a close August 14, 1814, his farewell sermon being preached on the same ground that beheld his installation. Near the spring was a large pool of water, on the bank of which had been placed a huge log. Two of the brethren seated themselves upon this rustic pew, and while preparing to drink deeply of the fountain of wisdom that was expected to fall from the preacher’s eloquent lips, as he bade his flock a final farewell, became somewhat drowsy. The sermon had been protracted to an unusual length, when the good brother sitting on the end of the log nearest the water, at last succumbed to the sedative influences, lost his balance, and in endeavoring to regain it, seized his companion and fell with him into the pool below. The water had a cooling effect, however, and the two quickly clambered out, and during the remainder of the sermon successfully resisted the wiles of Morpheus.

Rev. Walker was followed, after an interval during which no regular services were held, by Rev. Isaac Beggs, who was installed September 19, 1827, the exercises on that occasion being held in the Rocky Spring Church. The new pastor was a man of rather irascible temper, and possessed a firm will. Upon one occasion the Presbyterians and Seceders, through mistake, appointed their respective services in the courthouse at the same hour. Rev. Tait, the shepherd of the former flock, arrived first, and was about to ascend to the pulpit, when Beggs entered, strode hastily forward, pushed his clerical compeer to one side, and began the exercises himself, indulging for four hours in a disquisition upon the virtues of psalmody, to the delight and edification, doubtless, of his Calvinistic auditors, who were greatly in the majority. During his ministry, however, much progress was made, both spiritually and materially. In 1834 the old brick church, 40x60 feet in dimensions, situated on a lot just behind the present dwelling of Hon. S. Griffith, was erected and occupied. This was the first regular house of worship the Mercer congregation had ever enjoyed, the Cool Spring log house having been occupied but a year or two.

Rev. Beggs’ pastorate terminated in 1836. He was succeeded by Rev. D. H. A. McLean, D. D., who was installed in 1841, and released in 1845. His successor, Rev. G. O. Vincent, D. D., began his ministry in December, 1847, having been called the previous August, and continued until December 28, 1852. For four years following a vacancy occurred, which was filled by the advent of Rev. D. W. French, who was installed October 21, 1856, the ser vices being conducted in the present church, which bad been erected in the previous summer, at a cost of $10,000. Preparatory to its completion the court-house had been occupied, in which Rev. French had begun his labors in March, 1856. This ministry was the longest the church has yet known. It continued with gradually increasing success until March 16, 1875, when it was terminated by death. Rev. J. M. French, a brother of the preceding, then began a pastorate that ended in 1880. In 1881 Rev. J. S. McKee was installed, and released in 1884. Rev. H. W. Orabbe, the last regular pastor, began his labors in 1885, and closed them in 1887.

A list of the ruling elders of the congregation, as complete as possible, follows: James Braden, John Hamill, John Kerr, John Galey, Samuel White, Hugh White, Livingston Carmen, Thomas L. Cummings, Joseph Black, Henry Humphreys, William Cummings, George Grey, William Wallace, David Barr, Adam Sheriff, John Sheriff, A. P. Black, William Hamilton, J.R. Hanna, James Duff, David Wallace, James Humphreys, William H. McCormick, John Blair, Hugh Jordan, Andrew Robinson, William Vincent, Andrew Stranahan and A. F. Moore.