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Origin of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Lewisburg Tn,

First Church's roots go back to the very early settlements in Marshall County.  The second great awakening at the turn of the 19th century was spread by circuit riding preachers covering large distances on horse back and preaching to small settlements.  In the mid 1830's Rev. Andrew Smith from the "Bear Creek" Cumberland Presbyterian Church , Mooresville Tn.  (1814 one of the oldest and largest churches in the county during the 1800's)  held "brush arbor meetings" at  Col. Levi Cochran's.   He was followed by the Rev. Willis Burgess.

Rev. Willis Burgess

This sketch of Rev. Burgess, organizing Pastor, was pasted in the minutes of the Church Records

Since 1841 as a Constituted Congregation

Three
Organizing Elders

James Bowden,  William Fisher, Elisha Hurt

Moving from the brush arbors to the Court house,  the congregation continued to grow with the increasing population.   In June 1841,  Rev. Willis Burgess, William Fisher and  Elisha Hurt met with James Bowden in his home to formally organize the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Lewisburg.  Although the original plot of the town cedes a corner of what is now 3rd avenue and West Commerce to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,   the first building was not erected there.  The congregation worshipped in the Court house until 1844 when Dr. A. G. Haywood deeded the Church a parcel of land on a little knoll right off the square.  The first Church building was erected that very year.   Today the street  is lined with buildings and known as West Commerce Street  but the first building has long been demolished. 

52 Years on West Commerce

The congregation erected its first meeting house in 1844 in a shared partnership with the Odd Fellows fraternity.  The Church built up to the second story.  The Odd Fellows built up to the roof and then both shared the cost of the roof.  This structure was a large two story brick and was used until the congregation relocated in 1896.   At the turn of the century it had the largest membership  of any  church in Lewisburg.

Since 1896 on Second Ave.

The congregation, in 1996,  celebrated "100 Years on Second Ave." marking the century old sanctuary.  Since the erection of the sanctuary the Church has added an annex; an educational wing, a large parking area and a  6,000 sq. ft. Family Life Center.