A History of Wilmore Presbyterian Church 1885-2000

The Wilmore Presbyterian Church is of Particular interest in a consideration of the history of Jessamine County because it represents the first church building to be erected in Wilmore.

A flourishing "Sabbath School" had been maintained for many years by Mr. William G. Woods, an elder of the Nicholasville Presbyterian Church, first in the Pekin Schoolhouse and later in what was known as Fisher Schoolhouse. For several years, services were held frequently in connection with the Sabbath School and the success of these services revealed the fact that there was an opening in this part of the county for a Presbyterian Church.

There was no church of any denomination within two or three miles of Wilmore. Because of the interest of Rev. Russell Cecil, pastor of the Nicholasville Presbyterian Church, and many others, it was proposed to build a chapel in Wilmore. Property was purchased from E. S. Scott and the chapel was finished and dedicated November 16, 1884. Rev. Cecil held services twice a month. In the spring of 1885, the Sabbath School, which vas formerly held at the schoolhouse, was re-organized in the chapel with a large increase in members.

In July, 1885, Dr. E. O. Guerrant, state evangelist of the Synod of Kentucky, came to the church to assist Rev. Cecil and Rev. Simrall, pastor of the Troy Presbyterian Church, in a protracted meeting. There was a great outpouring of God's Spirit and the conversion of fifty-five persons. Dr. Guerrant, who served as the first pastor from 1886 to 1901, organized the church on Friday night, July 17, 1885. He divided his time between Troy Presbyterian and Wilmore Presbyterian. In 1901, he left to take up further work in the mountains of southern Kentucky to do evangelistic work.

The first prayer meeting was organized on a Wednesday night in August 1885, and the decision was made to have a prayer meeting every Wednesday night. An auxiliary was also organized which worked to help support a foreign missionary and a scholarship in the mountains.

The second pastor, Rev. Charles Logan served from 1901 until 1903 when he went to Japan as a missionary. The third pastor, Rev. S. M. Logan, came to the church in 1903 and served until 1912 to answer a call at Midway Church. During his tenure the first manse (1903) was erected on North Lexington Ave. In the 1931 church history it says, We became a member of the West Lexington Presbyterian Auxiliary about 1907 with something like fifteen or twenty members. We have labored faithfully to keep in line with the requirements of the Presbyterial, but yet feebly."

Rev. A. H. Doak served from 1913 until 1921. In 1918, the committee, Mr. and Mrs. Doak, Mrs. E. O. Guerrant, and Mrs. John Jewell, were appointed to select those same windows for the church that we have today. In 1920 we purchased a new manse on Maple St. (Gullette's home today).

Rev. Charles L. Lynch was pastor from 1921 until 1924. The addition of Sunday school rooms was started in 1923. Because of the indebtedness, the members sold 30 feet on the east side of the church to the city for a courtroom, jail and fire department for $1,200.

From July 1, 1925 until July 1, 1931 George M. Hollingsworth was pastor. When lie left in 1931 S. M. Logan served as supply pastor until 1936. Rev. Paul Watson was called in 1936 until 1938. In 1937 Mr. Lareir Carver went to India as a missionary from the church.

Rev. William W. Travis was pastor from 1939 until 1942. In and it was 1939 an offer of $6,000 was made for the manse on North Maplesold. The existing manse was built. Rev. Travis moved in November 23, 1939. During this construction period they also built the portico on the front of the church. Total cost $5,566.01.

Rev. C. G. Lynch returned as pastor from 1942 until 1949. In 1950 Dr. Jesse O. Van Meter was installed as pastor. He served until his death in 1954. Rev. William H Winch was pastor from 1954 to 1955. Rev. George Fletcher served the church from 1956-1960. Rev. Murphy Miller was pastor from 1961-1963. Stephen Fazekas served from 1964 until 1966. In 1967 Rev. Charles E. Mount, DD served until 1971.

In 1972 Rev. Alan Meenan, a native of Northern Ireland was pastor. He inspired many Asbury College and Asbury Seminary students to take part in the choir and worship service. He left in 1974. Rev. Roy M. Pope, Jr., a native of Harlan, KY came from Pasadena, CA in 1975 until 1978. He incorporated children's moments into the service.

Rev. Warner F. Davis became the pastor in 1978 thru 1987. We held our first annual mission conference in 1983, Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse and World Medical Mission came and spoke during that mission conference. We started pledging for missions and the first pledge was $8,797. We made a commitment to missions during this time, which continues on today. The rotating system was adopted June 9, 1985 for elders and deacons and included women on these boards. Rev. David Watters was interim pastor from 1987 until October 1988.

Rev. Rich Fifield was installed as pastor in 1988. We decided we wanted to take a more hands on approach to our mission ministry. A group of people went to John's Island, SC to an immigrant farm workers camp. They did repairs on the housing facilities and led Bible School. Our first youth mission trip was in 1993 in Lucasville, OH. In 1994 it was decided to start a similar project at home--the Bluegrass Mission Project, a home mission which we organized and opened to groups from other areas to come and work on homes in Jessamine Co. In 2000 we decided to downsize the project and invited only churches within the community to participate. In the past 8 years we have completed about 10 projects a year in our county. The first foreign mission trip was taken in 1996 to Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Rev. Fifield accepted a call from the First Presbyterian Church, London, KY in January 1997. Rev. Winston Smith served as interim pastor from January to November 1997.

Rev. Katherine Redmond was ordained and installed in our church on December 7, 1997, and served until January 15, 2005. In 1998 we went to the unicameral system, with a body of 12 elders divided into three classes of four to be elected to serve as session. At the end of that year it was decided to have only 9 session members. After 27 years of serving as organist and choir director, Lynn Smith retired from active service, although she still substitutes and helps with special music. We had combined youth groups with Troy Presbyterian Church from the fall of 1998 thru the spring of 1999. Todd Adams was hired as youth director during this time. In 1999 we sent a group to Honduras on a mission trip. Kids Club, a primary grade youth group, was started, along with a senior high group. In April 2000, the Senior High Youth went to Chicago, IL during spring break with groups from Hunter Presbyterian Church, Lexington and Morehead Presbyterian Church. They did painting for "Good News Partners". We sent another group went back to Honduras in June. In May we purchased bells and started the bell choir.

The session voted in July to hire Dan Phelps as music director, and assistant to the pastor. He also works with Cindy Hahn as co-director of Kids Club. For many years this church has cooperated with Asbury Seminary's supervised ministry program. In recent years Todd Adams, Matt Ferrell and Yuko Nomura have completed supervised ministry with this church. In October, 2000 a new handicap ramp was installed at the side of the church to allow people access to the restrooms and Sunday school rooms located behind the sanctuary.

Please click here to send an email to Pastor Beth.
Please e-mail the Web Servant with any Web related questions.
Copyright 2003-2008 Wilmore Presbyterian Church