This Day In History February 19 - 25, 2012
(changes weekly; click on title above or on the month navigation link for previous entries on Presbyterian history)
On Feb. 19, 1747, the Rev. Samuel Davieswas ordained as an evangelist by the Presbytery of Newcastle, which had licensed him on July 30, 1746. Davies was sent to Hanover, Virginia, in Spring 1747. He woould later raise funds for the College of New Jersey (Princeton) and then become president of the school.
On February 21, 1721, Dr. John McKinly was born in Ulster. He emigrated to the Delaware Colony in 1642. A lifelong Presbyterian, McKinly would serve as a physician, the initially elected President of Delaware (1777), in effect Delaware's first Governor, and would chair the board of the Newark (DE) Academy from 1794 to 1796 when he died. The Academy would become the University of Delaware.
On Feb. 23, 1850, the Rev. Hiram Chamberlain (1797 - 1866) and worshippers founded the first recorded Protestant church in the lower Rio Grade area — the First Presbyterian Church of Brownsville, Texas.
On February 24, 1790, the Presbytery of the Carolinas and Georgia was formed for the Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church of America. Forming the Presbytery were 43 ARP churches including 14 North Carolina ARP churches: Hawfields, Eno, Goshen, Fourth Creek (now Statesville), Coddle Creek, New Hope, Gilead, Prosperity, Rock Springs, New Sterling, New Perth, Sardis, Providence and Waxhow; 22 South Carolina ARP churches: Ebenezer (in York county), Steel Creek (now Blackstock), Neely’s Creek, Ebvenezer (in Fairfeld county), Rocky Creek (now Hopewell), Rocky Creek Meeting House (now Union), Ebenezer (now New Hope), Indian Creek (now King’s Creek), Cannon’s Creek, Prosperity, Cedar Creek (now Cedar Springs), Long Cane, Little Run (now Little River in Abbeville county), Rocky Springs (in Abbeville county), Generostee, Duet’s Corner (now Due West Corner), Diamond Hill, Crystal Spring, Rocky Spring (in Abbeville county), Little River (in Laurens county), Warrior’s Creek (in Laurens county), and city Charleston; and 8 Georgia ARP churches: Queensborough, Back Head, Big Creek, Joppa, Popular Springs, Twenty-Six-Mile Creek, Eighteen-Mile Creek, and Rayburn’s Creek.
Missions to Mexico exhibit covers the first Presbyterian missionaries (independent, PCUSA, PCUS, ARP, etc.) from the mid-1800s to the recent decision by the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) to terminate its 1980 joint mission agreement with the Presbyterian Church (USA). Learn about a newly scheduled Mexico Mission conference to be held May 14-15, 2012. Rare artifacts and photos, including a 19th century side saddle owned by Melinda Rankin, the first Presbyterian supported, independent missionary to Mexico.
Pearl Harbor & WWII: Through the Eyes of Chaplains and Valley Residents
A new exhibit has opened which commemorates the 70th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and the United States' (and Swannanoa Valley's) involvement in World War II.
Open through April 2012.
Answering the Call: Religion and Chaplains during the Civil War exhibit unveils the little known history of chaplains during the Civil War. It includes rare artifacts, books, photos and documents that cover the various roles chaplains played at the battlefield, camp, hospital, prison, library, worship and burials. Click here for more information on the Civil War Chaplains' Exhibit. This exhibit is open through October 2012 and additional material is constantly being added.
Montreat - Evangelists, Preachers & Singers Exhibit
As the oldest religious conference center in the Southeast, Montreat has always attracted nationally and internationally known preachers and evangelists — Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists and others, who have preached or lived in Montreat. This exhibit looks at: J. Wilbur Chapman,
Billy Sunday,
R. A. Torrey, A. C. Dixon, Rodney "Gypsy" Smith,
Peter Marshall, Billy Graham and more! Open through April.
Presbyterian Missionaries and Ministers Databases
are
being uploaded to this site, under Bios tab above. You also can click here. These databases are starting with early ministers and missionaries (pre-1860)
and are being researched by teams of volunteers and staff at the Presbyterian Heritage Center. If you have biographical information on ministers and misionaries, and especially photos, please email us.
E-Flip Online Books and Reference Sources
(allow popups on your browser;
click on image above or one of three e-book links below) The Ministerial Directory (1898)
Centennial Celebration: Presbyterian Women — We are preparing a display on the history of the Woman's Auxiliary (1912) of the Presbyerian Church in the U.S. This group became Women of the Church and later with reunion, Presbyterian Women. The exhibit opens in 2012. If you have a photo of the Woman's Auxilliary for the Presbyterian Church that you can loan or donate for this special exhibit, please call us (828) 669-6556 or send us an email. Thanks. Click here.
New downloadable programs (leader guides, materials for group members) on Presbyterian history, missions and more will soon be available on this web site. If you would like to be notified as these modules become available, click here to send us an email!
Joyful, Joyful: Psalters & Hymnals, a 500 year Musical Journey Exhibit
A new exhibit will open in Fall 2012 featuring rare volumes from Genevan Psalters to early hymnals to the 2013 Presbyterian Hymnal. Little known facts, musical recordings and artifacts over the centuries will help prepare you for the unveiling of the 2013 new Presbyterian Hymnal.
1540s Psalter illustration of musicians, above; Ethiopic Ge'ez Psalter, circa 1700s.
Photo Collections
We are starting to provide online access to pictures.
Click to see: Stegall Collection (Congo), 1915 - 1940s.
was ordained as an evangelist by the Presbytery of Newcastle, which had licensed him on July 30, 1746. Davies was sent to Hanover, Virginia, in Spring 1747. He woould later raise funds for the College of New Jersey (Princeton) and then become president of the school.
Presbyterian missionaries (independent, PCUSA, PCUS, ARP, etc.) from the mid-1800s to the recent decision by the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico (INPM) to terminate its 1980 joint mission agreement with the Presbyterian Church (USA). 
Civil War
