The Beth Salem Presbyterian Congregation was founded in 1785 in Oglethorpe County, a mile outside Lexington, making it the oldest Presbyterian Church in the area. In 1822, the congregation had a church built in Lexington. In 1893, the second building on this site was constructed. Until recently, it was the oldest Presbyterian congregation in the state, but membership dwindled over the years. In 2017, the town of Lexington purchased the church and now uses the Gothic Revival building for events.
Patrick Prather built the Tugaloo Church in 1856 near Cross Roads, South Carolina. In 1870, it was moved to its current location near the Tugaloo River. The Presbyterian church was active until 1968.
Bachelor’s Retreat was established by John Verner in 1812. He had three sons, Ebenezer, Limuel, and David, who were bachelors well into adulthood. Ebenezer and Limuel eventually married, but by that time, the community was coined “Bachelor’s Retreat.” The bachelor part was eventually dropped, and the area is now known as Retreat.
Retreat Presbyterian Church is believed to have been started in 1836. some sources list the date as newer. Land was donated in the 1850s to build a house of worship, which was completed in 1860. Despite struggling to maintain members, the church remained active until 1968. The church has fallen into disrepair a couple of times, and it has been restored at least twice. The grounds are well-maintained. I did not venture up the steps of the Greek Revival building.
Built in 1883, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church is in the picturesque town of Bell Buckle, Tennessee. The Gothic Revival church is now abandoned. It is a contributing property to the Bell Buckle Historic District.
The congregation of Bethsalem Presbyterian Church began in 1816. In 1890, the congregation built this new church in Wartrace. It is now known as the Bethsalem Community Chapel and can be rented out for events. It’s a contributing building to the Wartrace Historic District.
Built in 1871, the Fillmore Street Chapel is Corinth’s oldest church. It began as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. From 1906 to 1976, it served as the Fillmore Street Presbyterian Church. It is now a Methodist Church.
It was documented during the Historic American Buildings Survey. The photos below are from the Library of Congress.
