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"HISTORY OF PLEASANT VIEW CHURCH"
"Presbyterian Church Histories of the
Synod of Alabama, East Alabama Presbytery"
Compiled by Rev. C.H. Rogers, 1889-1920, pages 47-49.
No corrections made to punctuation, spelling, or grammar
Pleasant View Church situated seven
miles southeast of Clayton, the
county seat of Barbour County, Alabama, was organized by a commission of
East Alabama Presbytery on the first Sabbath of June 1846 composed of the
following original members: viz,
Catherine Crews, Alexand Gillis, Neill Gillis, Sarah
Martin, Daniel
Morrison, Catharine Morrison, Flora Morrison, Mary Morrison, Malcom
McCraney, Arabelle McCraney, John McGiloray, Margaret McGiloray, Mary
McGiloray, Hugh McLean, Margaret McLean, R. C. McSwean, Mary McSwean, Nancy
McSwean, Caroline McSwean, Nancy Walker.
Daniel Morrison, R. C. McSwean and Malcom McCraney were
elected and
installed at the organization of the church as Ruling Elders. Daniel
Morrison was removed by death in December, 1847. Gilbert McEachern was
received on certificate from Pea River church and was elected to the office
of Ruling Elder in August, 1857 at the same time Daniel McEachern and Lewis
Walker were elected the the office of Deacon, Rev. Malcom A. Patterson
ministered to the church as S. S. from its organization until 1859 or 60,
when he removed with his family to the State of Arkansas where he resided
until his death. He served this church in connection with Pea River and
Union Churches, the latter situated in Dale County.
The next minister who preached at this church was the
Rev. A. D.
Campbell who came to Alabama from North Carolina and took charge of Pea
River Church and Pleasant View. He commenced his work at this church in
the
spring of 1860 and served the church about two years when failing health
compelled him to cease regular preaching. The churches were then vacant
until January 1863 when Rev. C. A. Baker, now pastor at Opelika, took charge
as stated supply and served in
that capacity until the close of the year, 1865.
Rev. James A. Wallace next supplied this church in
connection with Pea
River and Palmyra Churches, taking charge in the summer of 1866. He served
the churches as stated supply until the close of the year, 1869 when he gave
up the care of Pleasant View and Pea River, continuing to supply Palmyra and
Bethel Church, the latter situated in Bullock County. It should have been
stated in the proper order that R. C. McSwean and Elder in this church died
in the year 1863. Daniel McEachern was elected, ordained and installed to
the office of Ruling Elder in the Spring of 1863.
After the removal of Rev. James A. Wallace this church
was without
preaching for the space of nearly or quite a year, when it was visited by
that consecrated man of God, Rev. Robert Nall, who came and commenced a
meeting on the 24th day of December, 1870, which continued 8 days during
which time the church was blessed in the addition of a goodly number to her
membership.
In June following this meeting Rev. J. C. Sturgeon (now
of Troy) then a
licentiate took charge of this church in connection with Pea River and
Union. He continued his ministry with this field until the close of 1872,
when he resigned the pastorate of Pea River Church, which terminated his
work at this church. His ministry with us was a happy period in the
history
of Pleasant View Church. Rev. James L. Reed (now of Charlotte, N. C.) took
charge of the same group upon the removal of Bro. Sturgeon. He served the
churches as stated supply until the fall of 1874, when he was called as
Pastor and was installed for one fourth of his time over this church, one
half at Pear Riber and one fourth at Union, being the first Pastor the
church ever had. This pastor continued until the close of 1879 when
Pleasant View Church with the consent of Presbytery withdrew from the group
composed of Pea River, Union and Pleasant View, and united with Clayton and
Palmyra in the support of a minister. Thus terminated for the time being
of
a group of churches which had existed for many long years. Bro Reed's
ministry with Pleasant View was a happy one indeed. It was his custom to
hold protracted services once a year at which the church received many
additions. During his pastorate in the year, 1874, Daniel McCraney and
James F. Walker were elected to the office of Ruling Elder and were duly
ordained and installed.
Pleasant View Church was next supplied by Rev. Baxter,
D. D. Greer,
then a licentiate, who took charge as above stated in connection with
Clayton and Palmyra Churches. Mr. Greer was installed as Pastor over said
group in October, 1882. Brother Daniel McCraney, a Ruling Elder, died July
1, 1883, whose death was a severe affliction upon the church. John L.
Stewart was elected to the office of deacon in August, 1883.
Brother Malcom McCraney, Ruling Elder, died January
30th, 1885, another
sore trial to this little church. Brother Greer resigned his Pastorate at
the spring meeting of Presbytery, 1885.
Pleasant View Church was again united in a group with
Pea River and
Union, and in December, 1885, Rev. C. M. Shepperson, D. D. of Washington,
Kentucky, accepted an invitation to supply the three churches.
On the 3rd day of February, 1889, John D. McCraney was
elected to the
office of Ruling Elder in this church and on the same day James R. Martin
was elected to the office of Deacon. These Brethren were both duly
ordained
and installed.
Dr. Shepperson continued to supply the church until
February, 1891 when
he accepted a call to the pastorate of the Presbyterian Church of
Somerville, Tenn., since which time we have been without the Preached
gospel.
Written by James F. Walker, Clerk of
Session
October 26, 1891
P. S. Session at Present composed of Daniel C. McEachern, J. D. McCraney and J.
F. Walker
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