History Prosperity ARP Church 

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History of Prosperity ARP Church 1828-1988

Taft, Tennessee

 The first settlement of Associate Reformed Presbyterians in Lincoln County, Tennessee was in 1826.  They came from Abbeville, Chester and Fairfield Counties in South Carolina.  Amount the early settlers were Drennans, Moores, McCallas, McMillens, Raymonds, McFerrins, Gleghorns, Parkinsons, Pinkertons, Sheffields, Sloans, Stewarts and Wileys; some of whose descendants are with us still.  Some of these families settled ten miles south of Fayetteville and formed the organization for the Prosperity Associate reformed Presbyterian Church.  Others settled six miles west of Fayetteville and formed Bethel Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.

 In 1826 Rev. Henry Bryson (←Click for his travel journal), who was reared in Laurens County, South Carolina, traveled alone on horseback to middle Tennessee to preach to the Associate Reformed Presbyterians who had moved to Lincoln, Marshall and Maury Counties.  He rode back to South Carolina in the fall of 1827 and in the spring of 1828 he returned to Lincoln County, Tennessee.  On Sabbath, May 17, 1828, he and Rev. John Renwick organized Prosperity Church. The land where Prosperity has been 175 years was donated by Hugh Parkinson.  Rev. Bryson, later Dr. Bryson, was installed as pastor of this church on the day of its organization.  There is no record of either the names or the number of charter members of the church.  However, the name of James Jennant is recorded as having united with the church “by examination” on the day of the organization, and the name of an infant, Lewis Bryson, son of Alexander Wiley, is recorded as having been baptized on the same day.

 Prosperity was apparently the first Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church organized in Lincoln County, Tennessee. Shortly thereafter, Bethel, about three miles west of Harms, and Head Springs in Marshall County were organized and Dr. Bryson served as pastor of these three churches.  He demitted Head Springs in 1838, but continued as pastor of Bethel and Prosperity until 1847 when ill health forced him to resign.

 Prosperity Church Flourished under Dr. Bryson’s care.  During his pastorate two church buildings were erected.  The first was of hewn logs and was built in 1828 and used for some time with only the dirt floor.  The land was obtained from Hugh Parkinson.  During a protracted meeting one summer this log house was too small for the accommodation of the congregation and they went to a grove in the graveyard. 

While they were preaching in the graveyard some young people got together and danced in the log church without the floor.  When they got through dancing the boys decided to have some fun at Dr. Bryson’s expense, and sent for him to come into the church to talk with a young man (pretending to be) under conviction of sin and seeking the light.  Dr. Bryson came and found the young man crying and feigning deep penitence.  At once divining the situation, he ordered the boys all to their knees and to prayer.  Having done this, Dr. Bryson began the prayer by asking God to convert the young man if his penitence was sincere, but if not sincere to strike him dead at once.   The young man jumped up in great fright and got away.  A few days later he came to Dr. Bryson, saying in earnest he was converted and joined the church.

 During 1841 and 1842 a substantial frame building, 52 feet by 52 feet, was erected.  This building was used until 1881 when it was burned by an incendiary that had enough respect for the pulpit Bible to take it some distance from the church and leave it on a fence.  Dr. Bryson died at his home in Viney Grove in 1878 and was buried in the Prosperity Cemetery.

In 1847, Rev. A. S. Sloan was installed as pastor and continued in this capacity for 27 years until 1874, thus being distinguished as serving the Prosperity Church longer than any other pastor.  Under Rev. Sloan’s ministrations the field enlarged and a building was erected five miles north of Prosperity. This new church was named New Hope.  Rev. Sloan preached at both churches and one bench of elders served both organizations for several years.   New Hope later became a separate organization and, with Bethel formed a separate pastorate.

 The Civil War caused a division of the church and one part of the congregation formed the United Presbyterian Church.  Several Confederate soldiers are buried in the Prosperity Cemetery.  The names of three slaves appear on the church roll prior to the Civil War.

 In 1870 another church was organized by members of Prosperity.  This church was known as Pleasant Plains.  A church building was erected at Blanche, the Methodists and the Associate Reformed Presbyterians each having a half interest in it and each having preaching on alternate Sabbaths.  Rev. Sloan served as pastor.  This organization was never strong.  In 1885 it reported 35 members; in 1907 the membership was still 35, and $100 was paid to the pastor’s salary.

 Rev. J. B. Muse was installed as pastor of Prosperity and Blanche in November 1874 and continued in this capacity until his resignation in 1882.  It was during Rev. Muse’s pastorate that the present church building was erected.  After Rev. Muse’s resignation, the church was without a pastor for six years and was somewhat irregularly supplied until Rev. O. Y. Bonner began his labors in 1888.  Rev. J. A. Myers supplied the pulpit for some time.  Rev. H. B. Balkely preached here during the summers of 1886 and 1887. 

Rev. O. Y. Bonner was formally installed as pastor in May 1889.  He organized the church’s first Sabbath School on the third Sabbath of December, 1888.  He was the first superintendent of the Sabbath School which met only twice a month on days of preaching.  The earliest available statistics of the Sabbath School are from 1893 and indicate that there were four teachers and 50 pupils.  The Ladies’ Missionary Society was organized in 1888 and a separate account of this organization’s history is given elsewhere in this history.  Rev. Bonner resigned his pastorate in June 1891.

 During the next few years Prosperity Church was without a regular pastor.  Various men came as supply pastors; among them were Rev. J. M. Garrison, W. S. Castles, W. B. Logan and others. In 1894 a Dr. W. W. Orr held a meeting at the church which resulted in 67 additions to the rolls.

In June, 1895 Rev. A. J. Ranson came as supply and he was installed as pastor of Prosperity and Blanche on November 10, 1895.  It was during his pastorate that a young people’s organization was established.  In 1901 this organization reported 60 members and contributions of $35.  Dr. Ranson and his bride were the first to occupy the new manse.  The manse was built on five acres of land given by Mr. Thomas McFerrin to the Women’s Society to be used for the purpose of constructing a manse.  Rev. Ranson resigned November 17, 1901, and later became a missionary to India.

 Rev. J. B. Hood was installed pastor November 5, 1902.  He also acted as principal of Camargo School.  He continued in the pastorate at Prosperity until his resignation in August of 1910.

 Rev. W. A. Kennedy became the next pastor on February 11, 1911.  It was during Rev. Kennedy’s pastorate that a building was erected at Coldwater.  About this time the organization which had been established at Blanche began to falter seriously due to lack of members. 

In 1911 this organization was moved to Coldwater and a nicely furnished building was erected.  It was financed largely by two men:  William McAnn and Hense Patterson.  The church was named McAnn’s Chapel in honor of Mr. McAnn and was supplied by the pastors of Prosperity.  In 1918, weakened by deaths and removals, the congregation voted to discontinue the organization and the majority of the members transferred their membership to Prosperity.  The church furniture, consisting of pews, pulpit, organ and chairs for children were all moved to Prosperity and are still used today.  The pews used today were refinished by young people in the early sixties.  Rev. Kennedy resigned the pastorate during the latter part of 1912 due to the condition of Mrs. Kennedy’s health.

 Rev. J. N. Lesslie and his bride came to Prosperity in 1913.  He was installed as pastor July 22, 1913, by Rev. H. B. Blakely and R. A. Young.  During Rev. Lesslie’s pastorate the organization at McAnn’s Chapel was discontinued and Prosperity has had a full-time pastor since then.  Rev. Lesslie resigned November 9, 1920.

 Rev. M. T. Ellis began his ministry in Prosperity April 10, 1921, and was installed as pastor Sabbath, May 4, 1921, by Revs. J. L. Pressly and W. T. Simpson.  Rev. Ellis continued in this capacity for 21 years.

 Prosperity has had two parsonages:  the first was built by Rev. W. B. Logan in 1894, but was never occupied by him.  That building was destroyed by fire of unknown origin on the night of August 4, 1922 while the Ellis family was at church.  A new manse was constructed on the same site in the fall of 1922.  The McAnn’s Chapel at Coldwater was sold to the county school board for $1,000, and this money was put into the new parsonage which, in 1937. was valued at $3,000.

The centennial celebration was held August 11, 1928 with about 500 people in attendance.  Addresses on this occasion were made by all living former pastors: Dr. A. J. Ranson, Rev. J. B. Hood, W. A. Kennedy and J. N. Lesslie.

1828    PROGRAM    1928

 Centennial Celebration

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

 August 11, 1928

Song……………………………………………………………………………....………Psalm 100

Invocation

Greetings………………………………………………………………………….Rev. M. T. Ellis

The Organization & First Pastorate…………....………..……..Mr. H. K. Bryson

My Father’s Pastorate……………………..…………………Rev. T. W. Sloan, D.D.

                                           Pastorate of Rev. J. B. Muse......................Rev. G. G. Parkinson, D.D.

Pastorate of Rev. O. Y. Bonne....................Rev. G. G. Parkinson, D.D.

Prosperity and Blanche………………………….…………..Rev. A. J. Ranson, D.D.

Picnic Dinner

My Pastorate………………………….……………………………..…………Rev. J. B. Hood

The Prosperity and McAnn’s Chapel………….…………..…Rev. W. A. Kennedy

The Consolidated Church………………………….……….………….Rev. J. N. Lesslie

Greetings from Sons and Daughters

Song……………………………………………….…….………..………………Psalm 133 C. M.

Benediction

 Rev. S. L. McKay was installed as the next pastor of Prosperity on July 12, 1942, and served until his resignation March 31, 1946, when he accepted a call to Bethel Church at Oak Hill, Alabama.  The church had no regular pastor for a period of two years, but was supplied in part by Rev. W. A. Hayes.  Dr. Hayes, a son of the congregation, was pastor of the Lincoln Memorial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church and conducted services on Sabbath afternoons at Prosperity. (During this time, June 1942 till March 1946, the Manse was redecorated.)

 Rev. W. L. Latham came in June 1948 and began his ministry which lasted two years and seven months.  During his pastorate plans were made for the Educational Annex, consisting of kitchen, fellowship hall, classrooms and a balcony in the sanctuary.

Rev. J. P. Johnston was installed July 15, 1951, and served until his death November 24, 1957.  In addition to the pastorate at Prosperity, Rev. Johnston took up the work at Lincoln Memorial Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.  During his work at Prosperity the annex was completed and the dedication services were held November 30, 1952. (Rev. B. T. Livingstone) The building committee was composed Messrs. Good, Forbes, Broadrick, Charlie Jones, McFerrin and Gracy.  Participating in the dedicatory service was Rev. B. P. Livingstone, pastor of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville.

August 23, 1968 Robert Alexander (Rob) Good an Elder for 39 years died as the result of a tractor accident on which he was driving that overturned on him. His funeral was at the church on Sabbath afternoon the 25^th of August with attendance of a full house and standing room only.

 Rev. Russell Shedd and Rev. M. K. Harwell supplied the pulpit for a brief period until Rev. J. H. McFerrin, a son of the congregation, and his family moved into the manse October 1, 1958.  He served both churches at Prosperity and Lincoln until his death March 16, 1976.  During his pastorate the well was drilled which was financed by Edgar Sloan, M. D.  Restrooms and water were put in the church. Air conditioning was also put in.  The YPCA refinished the church pews and sanded and finished the floors in the annex.  He placed signs on the road to show where Prosperity is and planted many shrubs and trees on the church lawn.

In April 1975, Mr. McFerrin had surgery and while he was away several men from the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama filled the pulpit.  One was Elder Charles F. Edgar who was familiar with the Associate Reformed Presbyterians, having been baptized at Unity Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church at Lancaster, South Carolina, when he was an infant and is a descendant of the McCain family at Unity.  He spoke to Mr. McFerrin and offered to help in any capacity he could fill during Mr. McFerrin’s recuperation.  In June, 1975, Mr. McFerrin and some elders asked Mr. Edgar to preach once a month at Prosperity as Mr. McFerrin was interested in retiring.  On July 30, 1975, Mr. McFerrin suffered a stroke and the session asked Mr. Edgar to serve as supply.  He agreed to serve in this capacity while working toward licensure and ordination under a special clause of the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod.  He was subsequently ordained April 24, 1976, at the Prosperity Church by the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod and transferred to the Associate Reformed Presbyterian denomination in October of 1976 and installed as pastor at that time.                                                      

Mrs. Emma Clark, a member of the Prosperity congregation, lived to be 103 years old.  She died in 1978 and her funeral was contrasted sharply in a Huntsville newspaper with that of a worldly bar-owner in Nashville whose funeral was the same day.  Mrs. Emma walked with her dog in the rolling farmland of Lincoln County.  Carrying a jug of water “in case the dog got thirsty”, she roved the land that she moved to years before with her sisters.  An 18-month marriage ended in a tragic death of her young husband and a child was lost in childbirth.  But Emma could not exclude the neighborhood children.  Attending the funeral services, these now-grown women said, “When I was very young I can remember her telling me, ‘Now I’ve just baked some cakes and you’ll have to help me eat them’”.  Mrs. Emma was a gentle lady who kept chewing gum in her pocketbook for the youngsters she met on her walks.

 Prosperity has given many men to the gospel ministry.  Revs. J. M. Brown, D.D.; Thomas W. Parkinson; G. G. Parkinson, D. D.; J. W. Good, Ph.D.; Thomas H. McDill, D.D.; J. B. McFerrin, W. A. Hayes, Th.D.; J. H. McFerrin; Dan K. Moore and Ben Renegar were all reared in this congregation.  Four sons of pastors have also entered the ministry:  Revs. J. H. Bryson, D.D.; T. W. Sloan, D.D.; W. B. Hood and C. Edgar. Professor B. L. Parkinson, Ph.D., who was reared in this church, was president of the Mississippi State College for Women.

Synod has met twice at Prosperity:  October 1, 1847 with Rev. Nel M. Gordon presiding as moderator and again September 17, 1866 with Rev. H. H. Robison as moderator.  Four of Prosperity’s pastors have served as moderator of Synod:  Dr. Henry Bryson, Dr. A. J. Ranson, M. T. Ellis and Rev. A. S. Sloan.

The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Women’s Synodical Union held its annual meeting at Prosperity in October 1975. In preparation for the meeting the interior of the church was remodeled.  The committee members for remodeling were: Mrs. William Newman, Mrs. Lawson Good and Mrs. Ed Byers. A new ceiling was installed with chandelier light fixtures.  The interior was painted.

Bible school and revival meeting was held the week of July 10, 1978. The Rev. Gary Letchworth was the speaker. On July 22 and 23, 1978 a celebration was held in commemoration of the 150th birthday of the church. Visitors from throughout Tennessee and eight other states, some as far away of Oregon, gathered to observe the event. The Edgars decided to move into the manse and become a part of our community. After renovation, they finally moved in on November 19th, 1978, an open house was held at the manse in order for the members to observe the beautiful remodeling of the Manse.

 July 9 through July 15, 1979, Mr. Arthur Allen of Augusta, GA conducted our meetings during Vacation Bible school this week. 

Mr. Clay Jones, husband of Mrs. Rena Jones, died February 2, 1980. Mr. Clay was an Elder of the church. A church supper and musical program by the New Vibrations, a group of students from a Charlotte, NC high school was enjoyed April 17, 1980.Bible school and a week of revival was June 16-23, 1980. The speaker was Rev. John McGregor, Chaplin, Covenant College, Lookout Mountain, Tennessee. Youth work and special music was under the direction of Mr. Tom Huddleston of Huntsville, Alabama.

Under the leadership of Rev. Edgar, Kay Good Williams choose to attend a Christian College. She attended Covenant College and graduated in May 1981. In 1985, she volunteered for short-term mission service with the ARP World Witness Mission Board. She photographed many aspects of the ARP Mission work all over Mexico, and the photos were used in mission literature.

Our week of meetings and Bible school was held June 22-28, 1981. Our speaker for the week was Rev. John Carson of Ebenezer ARP Church of Charlotte, NC. Jubilee Birthday services were held August 19, 1981 at 7:30 p.m. A covered dish supper was enjoyed by the congregation before the services. The 71st Annual Session of the Tennessee-Alabama Presbyterial Union met at Prosperity ARP Church on October 21, 1981. A quilt depicting each church in the TN-AL Presbytery Union was displayed at the meeting. Our appreciation goes out to Mr. Larry Bricker, who drew the sketch of our church and to Mrs. Virginia McElroy and Mrs. Dorothy Byers who did the beautiful embroidery work on the block which represents our church in the quilt.

1982. The looks of the church at Prosperity has changed. Now we have a brick church resting among the hills and trees of Southern Tennessee.

The 1982 Bi-Centennial stems from the union of churches in North America who joined on November 5, 1782, bringing congregations of the Associate Presbyterians from Presbyteries in New York and the Reformed Presbytery of PA. in this union in Philadelphia, PA. and went un-noticed for one hundred years. On April 25^th, the ARP Church celebrated the 200^th anniversary of this union and the congregation participated in a dinner on the grounds at 2:00 P.M. and Psalm singing under the direction of Mr. Calvin Smith.

Bible School and special meetings were held the week of July 11-17. Rev. Leslie Holmes, Pastor of First Presbyterial Church, Pascagoula, Mississippi was our speaker.

A Thanksgiving Breakfast was served by the College and Career class on November 25, 1982 from 7:00 to 8:00 A.M. with Thanksgiving worship at 8:30 A.M.

June 9, 1983. The New Vibrations from Idelwild ARP Church of Charlotte, N.C. performed at our church. They always try to include us on their tour each summer. Our yearly Bible school and Revival meeting was held July 11-17. Rev. Calvin Draffin of New Albany, Miss. Was our speaker and his wife Libby, assisted in the Bible School. 

Bible School was held the week of June 11-15, 1984 and was very well attended.

General Synod met the week of June 11-17, 1984. Pastor Charles Edgar was nominated as Moderator. Even though he did not get the office the congregation was proud of this nomination. Elder Don Templeton and Sandra Derksen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Derksen, accompanied Mr. Edgar. Sandra served as a page at Synod. Mr. Felix Maafo, Associate Director of New Life For All, taught joint Sabbath school at our church November 11, 1984. Mr. Maafo is from Ghana, Africa.

 Westminster Christian Academy Choir sang at the church for Wednesday night prayer meeting on April 3, 1985. A family night supper followed. Bible school and Revival was held June 24-30, 1985. Rev. Paul Alexander, pastor of the Reformed Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama was our speaker. Congratulations to Ann Stevenson and Sandra Derksen. Ann Stevenson was selected as Valedictorian of the senior class at Lincoln High School and Sandra Derksen was accepted to the Tennessee Governor’s school of the Humanities for Gifted High School Juniors. July 7 through August 3, 1985. Katie Edgar graduated Cum Laude from Covenant College with a BA in Elementary Education. 

The choir of West Suburban Hospital, Chicago, IL presented a sacred musical concert at our church March 7, 1986. Members of the choir stayed in the homes of different members and a family night supper was served. New Vibrations of Idelwild ARP Church appeared at our church for their yearly concert June 13, 1986. The yearly revival and Bible school was held the week of June 23, 1986. Rev. Charles Todd of Salem ARP Church, Atoke, TN. was our speaker.

 The Bible school and Revival was held June 22-28, 1987. Our speaker was Rev. William L. Barron, from Charlotte, NC. Our pastor, Rev. Charles Edgar resigned from our pulpit, November 8, 1987.

1988. The Rev. Charles Edgar, who had resigned as our pastor in November 1987, agreed to return as Supply Pastor to our Church. Rev. Davie Wakeland of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, conducted our Revival which was July 11-17, 1988

To:  History pg 2 1988-2004

 Completion of this history is a work in progress.

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