CLAYTON PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BARBOUR COUNTY
Presbyterian Church Histories of the Synod of Alabama, East
Alabama Presbytery"
Compiled by Rev. C. H. Rogers, 1889-1920, pages 17-18
Transcribed from a typed transcript copy located at the Alabama
State
Archives, Montgomery, Alabama. No corrections made to punctuation, spelling, or
grammar
The Clayton Presbyterian Church,
located at Clayton, Barbour County,
Alabama, was organized in May 1874 by Evangelist G. R. Foster and under his
care of the Presbytery of East Alabama, afterwards, when this Presbytery
became a part of the Presbytery of South, Alabama, it was connected with
that Presbytery, under the care of which it remained until November 1898
when the Presbyterial boundaries, being again changed, it became a part of
what is now called, The
Presbytery of East, Alabama.
The building in which this congregation worship is a
frame on erected
in 1881 at a cost of about twenty-four hundred dollars ($2400). The first
services in it were held on the 3rd Sabbath of 1882, and it was dedicated
on the 5th Sabbath of October the same year, the services being conducted by
the Rev. S. K. Winn, who preached from Isaiah the 11th Chapter and 5th
verse.
There were seven charter members of this church and
Drs. J. C. McNeil
and Jas. J. Winn were its first Ruling Elders. Dr. McNeil served the
church in the capacity until his death and Dr. Winn is still one of its Ruling
Elders.
Farquhor McKay was ordained and installed Ruling Elder,
April 6th,
1884, serving in this capacity until his removal to Eufaula, Alabama, in
February, 1891. A. L. Martin, one the present Ruling Elders was installed,
October 13th, 1889.
Fred Norman, the first Deacon of this church was
elected in the Fall
of 1885, and served until his removal to Columbus, Georgia in the fall of
1894. Chas. A. Morrison, the present Deacon was installed October 13th, 1895.
Rev. Malcolm McNair McKay, now of Fort Smith, Arkansas,
was the first
regular supply of this church, serving in this capacity for about twelve
months.
Rev. Baxter D. D. Greer, having supplied this church
from June, 1880
to October 1882, was on the 14th of that month installed as its first Pastor
by a commission of Presbytery consisting of Revs. G. R. Foster and G. W.
Maxson. In the spring of 1885, he removed to another field of labor.
Rev. P. P. Winn was the second pastor serving from
March 1886 to April
1891, at which time he removed to Talladega, Alabama, as President of sbell
College.
Rev. J. T. Bruce, supplied this church one Sabbath in
each month from
March to November 1893.
The present pastor, Rev. E. H. Gregory, supplied the
Church from May,
1894 until November of that year, on the 25th of which month he was
installed as pastor by a Commission of Presbytery, consisting of Reverends
W. H. Thompson and J. F. Venable.
At no period since its organization has the membership been very
large.
There have been enrolled 84 members, but owing to deaths and removals, the
present membership is only (50) fifty.
Joseph J. Winn, Clerk,
By E. H. Gregory
From 1874 To 1899
