Erin Presbyterian Church History
By Lionel Sands

 

19th Century

More than 130 years ago, several prominent families moved to the vicinity of Bearden. Later more families came, and a village grew up. Many of these people were religious, and many of them were Presbyterians. For some time the village had no name, and there was no house of worship. As some of the families came from Ireland, it was suggested that the village be named Erin. But later the name of the village was changed to Bearden, since there was a larger town in West Tennessee called Erin.

In the early 1870s, Mrs. Joseph Cooper gave the land on which to erect a church with the understanding that all denominations would have the privilege of worshiping and preaching there. On the Building Committee were General Joe Cooper, Dr. William Rodgers and W. L. Crippen. Since Mrs. Cooper had given the land for the church, others in the community furnished labor, wood, money, etc. All denominations contributed to the church building.

A little later the members of the Christian Church built a church of their own, and still later the Methodists and the Baptists did likewise. So on May 13, 1874 Mrs. Cooper, a staunch Baptist, deeded the property to the Presbyterian Church of USA. Then the house of worship was named Erin Presbyterian Church.

The church was organized on September 30, 1877; the Rev. William Aiken served as the first pastor. He served from 1877-1879.

There were eighteen members present: Joe Hart, Elizabeth J. Hart, his wife; Susan M. Hart; Martha E. Hart; J. H. Nave; Jacen L. Barger; John Bean, Sr.; John Bean, Jr.; J. D. Bean; Mary Bean, his wife; Mrs. Ellen Pinner; Mrs. Elizabeth Bean; Mrs. Elizabeth Johnston; Major Barger; W. L. Kennedy; Margaret I. S. Kennedy; Isabella O. Kennedy; and Miss Sarah Poston. The elders elected as the first session were Joe Hart, John Bean, Sr., W. L. Kennedy; and Jacob L. Barger. The deacons were John H. Nave, and John Bean, Jr. The church was on Kingston Pike where Mann’s Chapel of Rose Mortuary now stands.

Rev. W. M. Munday supplied the pulpit from 1879-1880. Rev. B. H. Hook served 1880-1881. Rev. Peter M. Bartlett supplied the pulpit once a month from 1881-1892. The earliest written records or minutes of the session start in 1901.

 

20th Century

Rev. John B Creswell served for 25 years; 1892-1917. It was during his pastorate that the original building was torn down and the second edifice was erected on the same site. A session meeting was called February 4, 1903, to discuss building a new church and to estimate the cost. The building committee was Rev. John B. Creswell; O. B. Henderson; R. M. Warren; W. J. Core; James Bean; L. L. Brooks; J. R. Ford; W. F. Searle; B. L. Armstrong; F. H. Mary; and William Pershing. That building served for 51 years.

The succession of pastors is as follows: W. W. Astles 1917-1918; Rev. William Gilliam 1918-1928; Rev. P. L. Radford 1921-1930; Rev. Harry R. Mercer 1921-1944. Rev. James R. Beard 1944-1951; Rev. Horace C. Wilson 1951-1952.

In 1954 property at 200 Locket Road and Albunda Drive was purchased from Albert Lockett and W. P. Thurmer, and the firm of Lindsay and Maples was chosen as architects for a new building. That building, plus the educational wing added later, still serves the congregation.

The succession of pastors is as follows: Rev. Douglas M. Carhart 1952-1960; Rev. Bernard E Vanderbeek 1961-1966; Rev. Franklin S. Nauman 1966-1974; Rev. Kerry L. Stoltzfus 1975-1985; Rev. Harold Pease 1986-1987; Dr. Louise Farrior (interim) 1987-1988; Rev. Stephen Williams 1988-1994; and Rev. John Stuart 1995-present.

Rev. John Stuart preached his first sermon in Erin on June 11, 1995, and he was installed as Erin’s pastor on August 27, 1995. Rev. John & Mrs. Evelyn Stuart, with daughters Lynsey and Lauren, came from Maybole, Scotland in the year 1995, and they became U.S. Citizens on February 5, 2002.

 

21st Century

On May 17, 2003, we celebrated 125 years of service to the Lord. The event included guest speakers, a carnival, performances, and a picnic dinner. In 2004, the church made major renovations to create the Family Life Center. A large, new playground facility was dedicated on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2005 to provide an attractive and safe play area for children.

Most recently, Erin completed an addition and renovation in 2010 which includes new classrooms, office space, and a beautiful expanded Narthex with exterior stonework. The congregation is in the middle of a Capital Campaign that will allow for further renovations and updates to the Sanctuary.