History

Beech Cumberland Presbyterian Church

3216 Long Hollow Pike
Hendersonville, Tennessee 37075
(615) 824-3990

The date was February 4, 1810. The place, Dickson County, Tennessee in what is now Montgomery Bell State Park.

Rev. Samuel McAdow, a Presbyterian minister in failing health, had moved to Dickson County, weary of the bickering brought about by a disagreement in the Presbyterian Church over the Great Revival. Cumberland Presbytery had been dissolved by Kentucky synod of the Presbyterian Church. Finally, only four ordained ministers were left to carry on the work of the Revival. Rev. Samuel King, Rev. Finis Ewing, Rev. William McGee and Rev. Samuel McAdow struggled with the decision of whether or not to constitute a new Presbytery. Three ordained ministers are required for this to occur. McGee could not bring himself to join with Ewing and King in such an act, though he was an avid supporter of the Revival movement. Samuel McAdow, now living sixty miles away, was far removed from the scene around Logan County Kentucky and Sumner County Tennessee.

And so, in desperation, on February 3, 1810, Samuel King, Finis Ewing, and a licentiate, Ephriam McLean, a brother-in-law of Ewing, resolved to seek McAdow's help. They endured the long hours of difficult travel in the bitter cold and arrived at McAdow's home, pleading for his assistance in constituting a new Presbytery.

McAdow was unsure of such a drastic step. He retired from his visitors and spent the night of February 3rd agonizing in prayer, seeking Divine guidance. It was a long and anxious wait, as his weary visitors offered prayers of their own... and Then Came Morning!

In the early morning hours of February 4, 1810, McAdow returned from his prayer vigil to report that he had received Divine assurance that such a step was necessary. Cumberland Presbytery was then constituted with McAdow serving as Moderator. The first act of the new body was to ordain Ephriam McLean.

The constituting of Cumberland Presbytery was not intended to result in the organization of a new denomination. It became clear, however, as the months passed, that such an action was the only way to continue their ministry on the frontier.