The Mount Denson Cumberland Presbyterian Church is located about three miles north of Springfield, Tennessee, in the Mount Denson Community.
Two elders of the Springfield Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Edward Benton, and Henry A. Cohea, moved to the Mount Denson Community sometime after 1865. They began a mission work in the community which grew steadily. A revival was conducted in a brush arbor in the community by Rev. W. C. Denson, which proved to be very instrumental in getting a new church organized. [source: Mrs. Sanford Murphey, "History of Mt. Denson," Robertson County Times, Springfield, Tennessee, June 18, 1953.]
On August 7, 1880, Rev. S. T. Porter organized the Mount Denson Cumberland Presbyterian Church with seven charter members: Edward Benton, Henry A. Cohea, Emeline Fletcher, Martha J. Porter, Henderson Fletcher, Ellen Fletcher, and M. D. Woodward. The congregation elected the following as elders: Edward Benton, Henry A. Cohea, M. D. Woodward, and Henderson Fletcher. The church was named "Mount Denson" in honor of Rev. W. C. Denson, who conducted the revival previous to its organization. The church joined the Nashville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. [source: "Minutes of the Session of the Mount Denson Cumberland Presbyterian Church," Book I.]
First building.
The land of the
Mt. Denson Cumberland Presbyterian Church was given by John Woodward,
Jr., grandson of Thomas and Winifred Woodward and nephew of the
late Judge John Woodward of Nashville. . . . The first building
was not substantial and was torn down by ice and snow before the
1900's. [source: Mrs. Sanford Murphey, "History
of Mt. Denson," Robertson County Times, Springfield,
Tennessee, June 18, 1953.]
Second building. About, 1893, a one room framed building was built on the same site of the first building. [source: Mrs. Sanford Murphey, "History of Mt. Denson," Robertson County Times, Springfield, Tennessee, June 18, 1953.] It was remodeled in 1947, and Sunday school rooms were built on the back of the building. The old Mount Denson schoolhouse was added to the grounds for additional Sunday school rooms and social activities. In 1950, gas heat was installed in the church, and an electric organ was purchased. In 1952, stained glass windows replaced the old ones and the interior of the church was redecorated. [source: Mrs. Sanford Murphey, "History of Mt. Denson," Robertson County Times, Springfield, Tennessee, June 18, 1953.]
The manse. In 1949, a modern six room manse was built on a plot of ground adjoining the church. This was a gift of the heirs of Mrs. Bertha Sprouse Kemper. The manse was dedicated in the fall of 1949 by Rev. J. P. Bright. [source: Mrs. Sanford Murphey, "History of Mt. Denson," Robertson County Times, Springfield, Tennessee, June 18, 1953.]
In September, 1949, the Mount Denson church employed a full time pastor. Prior to that time, the Mount Denson and Mount Sharon churches had shared a manse in Springfield with the same pastor serving both churches half-time each. [source: Mrs. Sanford Murphey, "History of Mt. Denson," Robertson County Times, Springfield, Tennessee, June 18, 1953.]
The following ministers have served the Mount Denson Cumberland Presbyterian Church: S. T. Porter, 1880-1898; [source: Mrs. Sanford Murphey, "History of Mt. Denson," Robertson County Times, Springfield, Tennessee, June 18, 1953.] J. A. Dorris, 1899-1900; V. B. Costellow, 1902-1909; S. A. Sadler, 1910-1911; A. H. Sykes, 1912-1913; A. W. Clinard, 1914-1919; A. L. Thomas, 1920-1932; J. T. Coleman, 1933-1935; Z. N. Clinard, 1936-1941; J. W. West, 1942; James W. Elder, 1943-1947; J. P. Bright, 1949-1951; Charles Shelton, 1952; and James Talley since 1953. [source: Minutes of the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly 1899-1955, (statistical tables)]
The Mount Denson church has been a member of three presbyteries: Nashville, Lebanon, and Clarksville. The church joined Nashville Presbytery immediately after it was organized in 1880. [source: "Minutes of the Session of the Mount Denson Cumberland Presbyterian Church," Book I.] In 1884, it was listed on the roll of Lebanon Presbytery. [Minutes of Lebanon Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church Fall, 1884.] In 1899, it was dropped from the roll of Lebanon Presbytery and became a part of Clarksville Presbytery. [source: Minutes of Tennessee Synod of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, October 17-20, 1899, pp. 47-48.] Since that time Clarksville Presbytery has met with the Mount Denson congregation on the following dates: October 15, 1907; [source: Minutes of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, October 10-12, 1911, p. 25.] October 10-11, 1916; [source: Minutes of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, March 12-14, 1918, p. 16.] October 3-4, 1922; [source: Minutes of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, October 3-4, 1922, p. 5.] September 27-28, 1927; [source: Minutes of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, September 27-28, 1927, p. 1.] September 26-27, 1933; [source: Minutes of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, September 26-27, 1933, p. 1.] September 24, 1940; [source: Minutes of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, September 24, 1940, pp. 1-2.] September 26, 1944; [source: Minutes of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, September 26, 1944, p. 20.] March 28, 1950; [source: Minutes of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, March 28, 1950, p. 1.] and September 28-29, 1954. [source: Minutes of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, September 28-29, 1954, p. 9.]
[Source: Ollie Newsome Harvey. "A History of the Existing Churches of Clarksville Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church." B.D. Thesis. Cumberland Presbyterian Theological Seminary, 1956, pages 103-107]