Imagine…a new church…a Presbyterian Church. There was already a Methodist Church and a Baptist Church. And think how important faith would be for these brave people arriving in these new parts. Life was very difficult. A strong faith in God could help them get through the rough times. It is said that starting a church is serious business…not like starting an organization. I wonder if proverbs 16:3- “Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established” – helped these new elders.
The 1820’s…what is going on? World news revealed that there were revolutions in Russia, Spain, Portugal and the Italian States. Great Britain was the richest country. China had the largest economy. In the United States, the Land Act of 1820 reduced the price of land to encourage Americans to go west. In 1825 the Erie Canal was completed. Indiana had become a state in 1816, and Indianapolis became the state capitol in 1825.
By 1820 John Conner had built a trading post. He also had platted the village into 62 lots. There were 2 North/South streets and 4 or 5 East/West streets. Fayette County was created, and Connersville had 8 to10 houses. Clearing the land was a big problem. This area was covered with thick hardwood forest. The houses were just small cabins. Few people lived in town. They lived out in the county and had claimed farm land.
In the early 1820’s the town of Connersville had a lawyer and two doctors. There were several stores – a grocery store, a general store, a hat store, and a shoe store. Also, there was a tailor, carpenters, a pottery works, various mills and a cooperage. The Court House was built in 1822. In 1820 the county population was close to 4,000 and it more than doubled by 1830. By then the town had around 500 people.
First Presbyterian Church in Connersville
This is a direct quotation from the first church history.
I hereby certify that pursuant to the appointment of the Presbytery of Cincinnati, I attended at Connersville, Fayette County, Indiana and preached on Sabbath the 3rd day of October, 1824, and after the sermon announced in the presence of the congregation that I would preach on Monday the 4th at 11 o’clock and after the sermon attend to the organization of a congregation and church agreeable to the order of the Presbytery and that I attended today, October 4th at the time and place mentioned when the following persons were duly elected by ballot , viz: A. Van Vleet, Adam Smeltzer, John Boyd as ruling elders in the Connersville Church. They having declared their willingness to serve were set apart to their office. Also, that John Sample was elected treasure of the church. The following persons were the electors: James Brownlee, John Boyd, John Houston, John Sample, Adam Smeltzer, Lyman Carpenter, Jonathan Park. Certified by Daniel Hayden, Moderator.
The first entry in a small book of yellowed pages titles “Records of the Presbyterian Church of Connersville”, marks the start of Presbyterianism in the village John Conner founded.
There is little record of meeting places in the early years…sometimes a home and sometimes the courthouse. The congregation was without a settled pastor and were supplied with preachers from time to time by the Presbytery. The first regular pastor of record was Rev. J. M. Stone in 1838. There is a feeling that maybe months went by with no church service. Pastor Mark shared that early Presbyterians were hearty folk . They often came from difficult situations. Many arrived from Scotland and Ireland. The church survived because Presbyterians were well organized and connected to the Presbytery.
Session minutes for the 1820’s were few. At one point they went three and a half years with out a recorded session meeting. When they did have meetings, new members were added to the church roster. The next main purpose of the session minutes seemed to be discussing behavior unbecoming of a Presbyterian! Members were reprimanded for imbibing. They had to make public confession of their sin of intemperance and promise to abstain in the future. At one session meeting the individual showed no evidence of repentance for saying unkind words. The session minutes said the words were too horrible to record in the session notes. The member was removed from the church rolls.
So according to Colossians 3:14-17 this is now our responsibility: “Most of all, let love guide your life, for then the whole church will stay together in perfect harmony. Let the peace of heart which comes from Christ be always present in your hearts and lives, for this is your responsibility and privilege as members of his body. And always be thankful.”
Remember what Christ taught and let his words enrich your lives and make you wise; teach them to each other and sing them out in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing to the Lord with thankful hearts. And what ever you do or say, let it be representative of the Lord Jesus and come with him into the presence of God the Father to give him your thanks.
So, fellow Presbyterians…today we have 199 years, and we are headed to the celebration of 200 years. May we sing loud, pray long and love God and neighbors with our whole heart and soul.
God, please bless this wonderful church!
— by Ronda Leiter