1897

Cloyd's Church, Mr. Juliet, Tenn.--
This church is near Mt. Juliet, midway between Nashville and Lebanon on the Lebanon branch of the N., C. & St. L. R. R. With this church the Lebanon Presbytery will hold its next session, April 14, 7:30 p.m. Cloyd's is one of the oldest churches in the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination. It was organized as a Presbyterian Church, about the year 1799 or 1800. Its members unanimously favored the great "Revival of 1800," out of which grew the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Prominent among its charter members were John Williamson, Sr., Joseph Hodge, Jacob Woodrum, Hugh Robinson and Ezekiel Cloyd. This church immediately after the organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church elected to put itself under the care of the new presbytery and was duly represented at the first meeting of the same. At that time Cloyd's church had no house of worship of its own, but from its organization services were held in a school room some distance north of the place where their house of worship now stands. In a short while afterward Ezekiel Cloyd donated seven acres of land on which to build a house of worship and to establish a camp meeting ground. A house was built; camps were erected, and a most splendid camp meeting shelter was constructed, and the first camp meeting on the ground was held in 1813. Near fifty such meetings were held upon this old sacred spot. In these great camp meetings scores and hundreds were born to God and became consecrated and Spirit-filled workers in the Master's vineyard. Cloyd's church has been served by some of the best ministers of our denomination, Rev. David Foster was supply and pastor from 1808 to 1823. Rev. John Beard served from 1828 to 1848, except two or three years, when relieved by Rev. Ezekiel Cloyd and Rev. John N. Roach. Since 1848 this church has been served by various good and faithful men. Of these a few may be named: Joel E. Davis, J. M. McMurry, J. C. Provine, W. S. Langdon, B. W. McDonnold, T. C. Blake, S. G. Burney and M. B. DeWitt, and also a great many young men from Cumberland University. This church once had under its care several mission points, one of which only developed into a separate organization. A few preachers of our own denomination have gone out from this people, and some very able men converted in camp and protracted meetings held at Cloyd's church are laboring now, and have been for years, in the ministry of other denominations. Rev. E. L. McWilliams now serve as pastor. The meeting of Lebanon Presbytery with this people, it is earnestly hoped, will be a great blessing both to pastor and flock.
                                              J. L. ALEXANDER.
   Nashville, Tenn.
[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, April 1, 1897, page 1278]

1928

The above is a picture of Cloyd's Church at Mt. Juliet, Tenn. This is perhaps the oldest church in the denomination, being organized in 1795. The church celebrated its one hundred and thirty-third anniversary recently. Information concerning the anniversary and the church appears on the following pages. The above picture was taken by Master Walter Daniel Curl who has a studio of his own at Mt. Juliet.

The picture on the front page is taken from a recent photograph of this church. It is the third house in the history of the congregation, now 133 years old, it having been organized by Ezekiel Cloyd and his brother-in-law, John Williamson, both Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. They had but just recently emigrated from North Carolina and settled on the waters of Stoner's Creek in what was afterwards to become Wilson County, Tennessee. The immediate ancestors of both these men were of Scotch birth, but were driven out of Scotland into the north of Ireland during the days of religious persecution in the former country.

This church, first known as Stoner's Creek Presbyterian Church, belonged to the revival party during the religious struggles connected with the great revival of 1800. When the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1810 it immediately became a part of the new organization and now, in its one hundred and thirty-third year, it still maintains an existence as a Cumberland Presbyterian church. It belongs to the Lebanon Presbytery, which body many years ago changed the name to "Cloyd's Church," in honor of Rev. Ezekiel Cloyd, one of the founders of the Church. Ezekiel Cloyd, after the organization of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, entered the ministry of that church and was for many years pastor of the Stoner's Creek Church. This was one of the numerous camp meeting churches of the early days. Its first camp meeting was held in 1814, the last one in 1857. Many hundreds were converted and added to the church between those dates as a result of the great camp meeting revivals.

The first church building was a hewed cedar log house, but soon became inadequate to meet the demands of the growing congregation. This log house still exists as a substantial part of one of the comfortable old-time homes in the community. The second house was of brick, erected some time in the twenties. This church, while much larger than the first one, was still not large enough to accommodate the large crowds that attended the camp meetings. So a large tabernacle, or shelter, as it was then called, was built large enough to seat several hundred persons. This was used both for camp meeting and for what were called "protracted" meetings when the "camps," or tents, were not used. The present church, as the cut shows, is a neat, well finished, and well lighted frame church large enough to seat 400 persons.

This church celebrated its one hundred and thirty-third anniversary on Saunday, June 10, in a home-coming which was largely attended by friends and former members of the congregation from points far and near. The other churches of the community co-operated nobly in carrying out the home-coming undertaking.

At the 11 o'clock hour, following the usual Sunday school program, an appropriate sermon was delivered by the young pastor, Rev. Hugh Goodpasture, son of the late Rev. J. R. Goodpasture. Brother Goodpasture, who is a product, in great part, of Bethel College, has lately been ordained as a minister and has been called as pastor of this church.

The services in the church being ended, the whole congregation was invited to remain for dinner, which was served on the ground in the form of an old-fashioned barbecue with all the necessary accompaniments of a well-ordered picnic dinner.

Everybody remained, and it is safe to say that everybody was liberally fed. The dinner, with its enjoyable social features, lasted fully two hours, and certainly no gathering of people, regardless of denominational affiliations, ever had a better time together than was enoyed by the nearly 400 men, women, and children assembled at Cloyd's on this, its home-coming day.

After dinner the people re-entered the church, and then followed a program of songs, prayers, and talks befitting the occasion.

The historical facts herein mentioned, with some additional history, were given by Prof. N. J. Finney of Bethel College, who is a great-grandson of Rev. Ezekiel Cloyd. Rev. J. T. Coleman, pastor of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Nashville, gave an enjoyable and very appropriate address on "Home Making," emphasizing the religious aspects of that important subject. A song by Mr. H. P. Cawthon of the Christian Church entitled "The Model Church" was appreciated.

It is a pleasing fact that almost the entire audience remained until the final dismissal, and even then lingered for perhaps a half hour, spending the time in mutual greetings and cordial handshakings. It was 5 p.m. before all had gone.

Thus ended one of the happiest and most interesting days in the long history of Cloyd's Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

[Source: The Cumberland Presbyterian, June 28, 1928, pages 1-3]

1928 (Revised)

One hundred fifty years ago, or in 1795, a year before the State of Tennessee was admitted into the Union and some years before Wilson County was established, a preacher and a layman, Rev. Ezekiel Cloyd and his brother-in-law, John Williamson, established Stoner's Creek Presbyterian Church on approximately the same site as the present Cloyd's Church building.

The two men who organized the church had but recently emigrated from North Carolina, traveling down the Cumberland River from East Tennessee by boat, and settling on Stoner's Creek in what was afterwards to become Wilson County. The immediate ancestors of Rev. Cloyd and John Williamson were of Scotch birth and were driven out of Scotland into North Ireland by religious persecution. They soon fled Ireland for the United States along with hundreds of others of the Presbyterian Faith.

Thus Stoner's Creek was first an orthodox Scottish Presbyterian church, but five years later things began to happen in Middle Tennessee and Kentucky. This was known as the Revival of 1800 which stirred the people as they have never been stirred before. An element in the old Presbyterian Church favoring the revival movement became known as the "Revival Party" and Stoner's Creek allied itself with this group under the leadership of Rev. Cloyd. A great revival was held at this church.

In 1810, almost 100 miles away, two former ministers of the old Presbyterian Church, favoring the revival movement, Revs. Samuel McAdow and Finis Ewing, organized a new Presbyterian group which became known as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This was on February 4, and the 15-year-old Stoner's Creek group some time that same year cast its lot with the new organization as one of its charter units.

Exactly 100 years after its organization as Stoner's Creek Church, Lebanon Presbytery, to which it has belonged since its organization, suggested that the name be changed to "Cloyd's," in honor of its co-organizer and first pastor, Rev. Ezekiel Cloyd, who served as its spiritual leader more than 15 years. Thus this is the 50th anniversary of Cloyd's as well as the 150th anniversary of the original church. The J. W. Williamson who is recorded as clerk of the session from 1892 until 1907 was a descendant of John Williamson, co-founder of the church.

Stoner's Creek was one of the many "camp meeting" churches of the early days. Its first camp meeting was held in 1814 and its last in 1857. Many hundreds of people were converted and added to the Church between those dates as a result of the great camp meeting revivals. Entire families moved to cabins and tents on or near the church grounds and lived during the two or three weeks of the meeting. This accounts for the large size (seven acres) of the present church grounds. Late July and August were the "camp meeting" time of the year.

Church buildings in those early years were constructed to accommodate the large revival crowds rather than those who came to the monthly services. Stoner's Creek's first building was constructed of hewn cedar logs and was much too small for the "big meeting" congregations. Incidentally these same cedar logs are now a part of the Bradshaw home near the church. Several years ago gavels were carved from one of these logs and presented to Presbyterial and Synodical officers.

Sometime in the 1820's a second house, of brick, and much larger was constructed on a section of the grounds in front and to the left of the front of the present church. Even this building was not large enough for the "camp meetings," known later as "protracted meetings," and a large wooden "tabernacle," sufficient to seat several hundred, was built and stood until after the last camp meeting in 1857.

The present frame church, larger than either the brick or the cedar log buildings, was built in the 1880's and remains until the present day in splendid condition due to the diligence of the members in keeping it repaired and painted.

During the pastorate of the Rev. Hugh L. Goodpasture excavation was begun for a basement under the church. When completed this has afforded room for six Sunday School classes and for a modern heating plant.

In 1938, under the leadership of Rev. James W. Dancer, a manse was built and is one of the best residences of its type and size in Mt. Juliet. It is valued at $2500.00 and was dedicated in 1944.

While Bro. Goodpasture was pastor, Cloyds held an anniversary service and homecoming which was largely attended. Following a sermon at 11 o'clock by the pastor and a lunch, a history of the church was read by Prof. N. J. Finney, a great-grandson of the co-founder, Rev. Ezekiel Cloyd.

A history of Mt. Juliet schools, written by Mrs. Jesse Will Bradshaw Lane, contains the interesting information that the very first school of real importance was taught in the Stoner's Creek brick church by William C. (Clint) Davis, of Laguardo. The records are not clear but this teacher may have been a Cumberland Presbyterian minister and pastor of the Laguardo Church.

It is to be regretted that it is impossible to give a list of all the pastors who have served Stoner's Creek and Cloyd's and all the laymen who have held such offices as Sunday School Superintendent and Clerk of the Session. The best we can do is to begin in 1885 - 60 years ago - and draw on the records contained in the General Assembly Minutes now in the possession of Rev. Wayne Wiman, clerk of the General Assembly, at the Cumberland Presbyterian Publishing House in Nashville. It has been truly a labor of love for your present pastor to go over these records and get all available information about these leaders of the past 60 years. This period, however, is sufficient to bring in the names of practically all men known to the oldest present members of Cloyd's Church.

As was stated in the first paper read, Rev. Ezekiel Cloyd and layman John Williamson organized Stoner's Creek Church in 1795 and existing records reveal that he remained as pastor until after the congregation became a Cumberland Presbyterian Church in 1810. We know that he was a strong revivalist and "camp meeting" gospel evangelist, as well as a good organizer and pastor. The fact that 100 years later he was so well remembered that the name was changed to "Cloyd's" church attests to the reputation and respect that he left behind him.

Unquestionably preachers of the same type, if not of equal ability, served as pastors and leaders for the following 75 years, until our General Assembly Minutes records came into existence.

We know that in 1885, and probably for several years previously, the Rev. S. H. McElvain was the pastor and that Stoner's Creek took an offering for home missions amounting to $10 on some sort of "anniversary." He was succeeded in 1886 by Rev. J. A. Longbottom, who was paid an annual salary of $300, liberal for that day. In 1887 and 1888, it was J. B. Alloway, who moved to Rural Hill and later to Nashville. In 1889, and probably 1890 and 1891, Rev. E. L. McWilliams served as pastor.

The records for 1892 reveal Rev. G. M. Oakley as pastor and in this year appears the name of J. W. Williamson, who lived at Green Hill, as clerk f the session. Apparently he held the office of session clerk until 1907, or 15 years, and possibly the longest period of any session clerk. At this time, Stoner's Creek had about 140 members and the church building was valued at $2000. During the 60 year period, reported valuations of the church has varied from $1500 to $4000. At this time Suggs Creek had an every larger membership of about 160.

The records as to pastor for 1893 was not turned in, but in 1894 the pastor was Rev. J. L. Wyatt and in 1895 it was Supt. R. P. R. Tate. It was in this year that Lebanon Presbytery with the full approval of the local session changed the name to Cloyd's.

The 1896 record indicates the church had no pastor at the time the report was turn in, but in 1897 the Rev. E. L. McWilliams had returned to serve two years and it is indicated that he preached full time on a salary of $100. It is suggested that he engaged in farming or school teaching at the same time. In the following year of 1899, the Rev. J. L. Alexander was called and served for three years, but on a half-time basis only. He was succeeded in 1902 by Rev. T. N. Hunt and he, in 1903, by Rev. T. A. Mitchell. The church had 136 members and paid Bro. Mitchell $136 for the years work.

For some unexplained reason, under Rev. Mitchell the church membership dropped from 136 to 92 and the salary from $136 to $70 before he left in 1904 or early in 1905. Rev. J. B. Wilhoite, serving only one Sunday a month, was pastor in 1905 and was paid $70.

In 1907, the Rev. W. T. Dale, well known as the Church's hymnal and song book publisher and writer, was called as pastor and seems to have served two years. In 1907 the long period of service of J. W. Williamson as session clerk ended and John S. Griffin was elected. He served for the following five years.

Rev. W. W. Suddarth Jr., now at Shops Springs and first of the pastors now living to enter the record, was called and remained as pastor for at least three years. From 1913 to 1917 there is an unexplained break in the records.

The next pastor of record is one of Cloyd's most beloved of all time, the Rev. Joe H. Barbee, who came in 1917 or 1918 and remained about 10 years. He found the church with probably the smallest membership in its history and paying $10 per Sunday for one-Sunday-a-month preaching. During his period of service he doubled the membership and increased the annual salary to 3 times what it was when he came. During his pastorate he did much to restore the old-time evangelistic zeal of the membership and a number of good revivals were held. He is still best loved pastor of many of the oldest members.

In 1928, to succeed Bro. Barbee, Cloyd's called the Rev. Hugh Goodpasture of Nashville, and he served with much success through 1931. During this time the membership increased to 74 and the annual salary was advanced to $600. Construction of the basement Sunday School rooms was begun and the church celebrated its 135th anniversary. J. C. Eshman, serving as clerk of the Session under Rev. Barbee, was succeeded by A. A. Alexander.

One of Cloyd's well-remembered pastors is Rev. George Burroughs who came in 1932 and served two years. At this time the church had 80 members and an annual salary of $360.

The late Jamie McLeskey, son of Rev. W. H. McLeskey, long-time editor of our Sunday School literature, came in 1934 and served one year, being succeeded by Rev. J. Howard Scott, who remained until 1937. During the pastorate of Bro. Scott the Church's financial system was revised and the annual salary was advanced to $800.

Rev. J. W. Dancer came in 1938 and remained until 1940, leading the church in the construction of a manse. The records show that the church had no regular pastor in 1941, but in 1942 Rev. Howard Haworth was called and served for two years when his health caused his resignation and temporary retirement from the ministry. After Rev. W. R. Johnson served for several months in 1944, the Rev. P. R. Russell was called and served more than two years. W. M. Denny was elected Session Clerk in 1941 to succeed A. A. Alexander.

During the 60 years from 1885 to 1945, a revival meeting was held nearly every year and some of the ablest of the Cumberland Presbyterian ministers brought the gospel messages. During the pastorate of Bro. Dancer, the evangelist was Judge E. E. Earthman, of Murfreesboro, who served in the U.S. Congress in 1945.

For a number of years Cloyd's used the Cumberland Plan of financing, a single offering each Sunday through the Sunday School for all purposes. The bookkeeping for this system was for several years under the direction of the Board of Deacons.

1956

Cloyd's Church, Mt. Juliet, Tennessee, is now 140 years old, having been organized in 1795 by Ezekiel Cloyd and his brother-in-law, John Williamson, both Scotch-Irish Presbyterians. They had but recently emigrated from North Carolina and settled in the waters of Stoner's Creek in what is now Wilson County, Tennessee. The immediate ancestors of both men were of Scotch birth, but were driven out of Scotland into the north of Ireland by religious persecution in the former country.

This Church, first known as Stoner's Creek Presbyterian Church, belonged to the revival party during the religious struggles connected with the great revival of 1800. When the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in 1810, it immediately became a part of the new organization and now, in its one hundred and fortieth year, it still maintains an existence as a Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It belongs to the Lebanon Presbytery, which many years ago changed the name to "Cloyd's Church" in honor of the Reverend Ezekiel Cloyd, one of the founders of the Church. Ezekiel Cloyd, after the organization of the Cumberland Church, entered the ministry of that Church and was for many years pastor of the Stoner's Creek Church. This was one of the many camp meeting churches of early days. Its first camp meeting was held in 1814 and the last in 1857. Many hundreds were converted and added to the Church between those dates as a result of the great camp meeting revivals.

The first church building was a hewed cedar log house, but soon became inadequate to meet the demands of the growing congregation. The log house still exists as a substantial part of one of the comfortable old time homes of the community. The second house was brick and was erected sometime in the twenties. This Church, while much larger than the first one, was still not large enough to accommodate the large crowds that attended the camp meetings. Therefore, a large tabernacle or shelter, as it was called, was built large enough to seat several hundred persons. This was used both for camp meetings and for what were called protracted meetings when the camps or tents were not used. The present church is a neat frame building, well lighted, and large enough to seat four hundred people and was erected sometime in the eighties.

This Church celebrated its one hundred and thirty-third anniversary Sunday June 10, 1928 in a homecoming, which was largely attended by friends and former members of the congregation from points far and near. At the eleven o'clock hour, following the usual Sunday School program, an appropriate sermon was delivered by the pastor, the Reverend Hugh L. Goodpasture. After a bountiful old-fashioned barbecue dinner, services were held consisting of talks, songs and prayers. The history of the Church was given by Professor N. J. Finney, a great-grandson of the Reverend Ezekiel Cloyd.

During the pastorate of the Reverend Goodpasture, excavation was started for a basement. This runs the entire length of the Church and when completed contained six class rooms and a furnace room, which is equipped with a splendid heating plant. Three of the class rooms can be thrown together for a dining room when needed.

The Reverend G. W. Burroughs following the Reverend Goodpasture as pastor of Cloyd's, following him was the Reverend James McLeskey. Our pastor now is the Reverend Howard Scott who has recently moved into our community. We have a loyal membership of seventy-eight, and we have an active Young Peoples' Society and also an active Ladies Missionary Society. We are looking forward to a fine years work.

The above report was sent to me by Miss Nellie D. Bradshaw, who is a member of the church. I felt that this report was so good that I would probably do damage to it if I tried to rewrite it. I render my appreciation to Miss Bradshaw.

[Source: Gholson, Louis E. Historic Congregations in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. B.D. Thesis, Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 1935, pages 20-22]