SCOTLAND COUNTY CHURCHES

If you know of a church which should be listed here, or have more information on any of the churches below, please send e-mail to John Slavin at jslavin@marktwain.net. The Map locations refer to the cemetery map located here.

I. Presbyterian.

At one time there were several Presbyterian churches in Scotland County. Most were Cumberland Presbyterian churches (CPC). This denomination broke from the main line denomination in the early 19th century, in 1810, primarily over the issue of whether ministers had to be seminary educated. This wasn't always easy for small churches in the mountainous Appalachians, and as a result the Cumberland movement begain. The movement was led by Rev. McAdow. A few years later, the remaining main line Presbyterian church split as a result of the civil war in 1861. The Cumberlands voted to merge back with the main Presbyterian church just after the turn of the century in 1906, although the merger was not uniformly supported and an unhappy group refused to go along with the merger and formed a new Cumberland Presbyterian denomination roughly half the size just after the merger. Most of the Cumberlands in Scotland County accepted the merger and became part of the original Presbyterian denomination.

The two civil war denomiations finally healed their wounds and merged in 1983 to become the Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). The southern church had been called Presbyterian Church in the United States (PCUS). There remains approximately 8 different Presbyterian denominations, although PCUSA is by far the largest, and to my knowledge all the Presbyterian churches in Scotland County were part of the branches that are now part of the PCUSA. If you're still confused by all these separations and mergers, click here and take a look at the diagram I was given by the Presbyterian Historical Society.

The Presbyterian church is organized at the top level by the General Assembly for the denomination. Here is a link to the PCUSA. The next level is the synod. Scotland County is within the Mid-America Synod located in Kansas City. Here is its link. The level just above the local church is the Presbytery. Scotland County is located in the Missouri Union Presbytery. Here is its link. The archives for the church are located in Philadephia (formerly PCUSA archives) and Montreat North Carolina formerly PCUS archives). Here is a link for the historical society. It is my understanding that they are in the process of sending records involving all Missouri churches to Philadelphia. I saw the file for the Pleasant Hill church (while in Montreat). It consisted of one page. It's possible that the Cumberland church may have some records. I've tried to contact them but have had little success. Here's their link. I believe that the Cumberland churches in Scotland County would have been under the Kirksville Presbytery. Originally, the Kirksville Presbytery was for CPC, but after the merger in 1906, the Hannibal presbytery of PCUSA and the Kirksville Presbytery of the CPC were merged into the resulting Kirksville Presbytery (PCUSA). Click here for a list of the churches withing the Kirksville Presbytery. Click here for a map of the Kirksville Presbytery in 1929. Click here for some selected minutes from the Kirksville Presbytery. Then in 1953 the Kirksville Prebytery was merged into the Kirk Presbytery (PCUSA). And finally with the merger of the southern church in 1983, both were merged into the Missouri Union Presbytery refered to above.

John C. Slavin

1. Pleasant Hill Presbyterian. Map location 1. This church was located in the northwest part of the county approximately half way between Kilwinning and Hitt. It was originally a CPC church, but in 1906 became a PCUSA church. Here is a picture of the Pleasant Hill Church drawn by my sister, Alice Slavin. The church was struck by lightening and destroyed. For a time the congregation met at the Crow schoolhouse which the church bought after the consolidation of the rural schools, but eventually the congregation merged with the Memphis church.

2. Memphis Pleasant Hill First Presbyterian (PCUSA)

3. Memphis Presbyterian (PCUS). I'm not sure at all that this was the name of this church, or where it was located, but in the minutes of the Kirksville Presbytery (PCUSA) in March of 1911, a federation between the PCUSA and the PCUS churches was approved. The two congregations were authorized to worship together and the minister of the PCUS church was authorized to serve as permanent supply minister for the PCUSA denomination.
4. McAdow Church. Map location 11. This was a Cumberland church located about 7 miles southwest of Memphis. It may be located on what at one time was called the Kirksville Road between Memphis and Bible Grove and is only a short distance northeast from the site of the Battle of Vassar Hill. It is named after one of the founding members of the Cumberland denomination. The congregation folded and the structure fell into disrepair. By now it may be gone.

5. Middle Fabius (Campground) Presbyterian. Map location 10. This Presbyterian church is located in the west central part of the county just west of where the Middle Fabius post office was located. It was originally a CPC church. It is one of the oldest Presbyterian churches in the county. Reportedly, camp ground meetings, which were popular in both the Methodist and Presbyterian faiths, where held here. It was severely damaged by a windstorm just after Mr. Fountaine (a neighbor) started to restore it and he had to start all over. No church congregation meets there however. There is a picture of the church here (Thanks Joanne Alyward).
6. McGready (McGrady) Presbyterian. Map Location 58. This was originally a CPC church. Although the Presbytery supported the merger with PCUSA, according to a letter I received from the Presbyterian Historical Society, (PCUSA) this church split with the PCUSA after the merger and associated with the new CPC, but was dissolved in 1970. It's located in the far southwest corner of the county.
7. Bethel Presbyterian. This was originally a CPC church. I am suspicious that it may have been at location 37 since that cemetery has the name Cumberland in it. The Kirksville Presbytery record in September 1918 indicates that this church was dropped from the roll of churches at that time. It's pretty much in the north central part of the county.
8. Gorin Presbyterian. Not sure where this church as located. According to the letter I received from the Presbyteran Historical Society (PCUSA), in 1907 this congreations split into a Cumberland congregation and a PCUSA congregation. The CPC congregation was dissolved in 1914. The letter actually calls it "The Gorin, MO, Arbela CPC church", so I'm not sure if it was in Gorin or Arbela. The records of the Kirksville Presbytery of the PCUSA church indicated that it dropped the church from its rolls in September 1918. I believe that orginally the Methodists and the Presbyterians built a church together and that was later sold to the Baptist congregation
9. Granger Presbyterian. This church would have been located in Granger. According to Missouri Union Presbytery records, it was dissolved by the PCUSA on October 29, 1967. According to the 4 county history book, this church was organized as a PCUSA church. That is confirmed by the Kirksville Presbytery minutes which show it coming into the Presbytery in 1906, the year of the merger. Granger, Etna and Memphis appear to be the only communities with PCUSA churches, up and till the merger in 1906.
10. Rutledge Presbyterian. This church was of course located in Rutledge. According to the letter I received from the Presbyterian Historical Society (PCUSA) this church split from the PCUSA church right after the merger in 1907 and was dissolved by the CPC in 1917.
11. Unity Presbyterian. This church was orginally a CPC church. According to the Kirksville Presbytery records, this church was founded in 1830, making it one of the oldest congregations in Scotland County. I'm not sure where it was located. It clearly did exist as the Kirksville Presbytery of the CPC met there in April 1867. The minutes of the Kirksville Presbytery of the PCUSA church voted to drop it from its rolls in September 1918. Joanne Alyward speculates that it may have been located in the area of South Bethel in Section 21 T 64 R11. She observes, "In the story from the four-county history, it says "services held in a schoolhouse until the present frame building was erected, in conjunction with a society of the Methodist Episcopal Church South." I'm wondering if that M.E. Church South was South Bethel, since Samuel Witt, one of the founders of the Unity Church, is buried there. Don't find any of the other original members listed in the cemetery records for South Bethel. One of the them, Sophia Bishop, apparently married Lorenzo Highfill and they are buried at Prairie View. One of their children is buried at Concord, no dates. I don't find Unity church listed in any of the other history books."
12. Round Grove Presbyterian. This church was originally a CPC church. At this point, I don't know much about this church. It is decribed as being approximately 12 miles southeast of Memphis in the four county history book. The schoolhouse by that name appears to have been located in Sec. 29-65-10, Thomson Twp., not far from Etna. Joanne Alyward thinks it would seem likely that the church would have been located in that vicinity. The founders of the church as identified in the 4 county history book were James Gordon and Hayden. I tend to think it may have been located closer to Gorin. I just don't know.
13. Etna Presbyterian. According to the 4 county history book, Etna, organized 1856; "in 1880 membership of church, with some exceptions, was moved to Granger, where a union church was erected. Joanne Alyward say another source notes that a Southern Presbyterian Church was organized at Etna 1856. In 1880 the church [building] was moved to Granger and soon after merged with the CP church. Query, I thought the Granger church was PCUSA. Does that mean a CPC was also located in Granger?
14. Downing Presbyterian. This church was not actually in Scotland County, but since Downing is within a half mile of Scotland County, there were certainly Scotland County residents that were members of this church. According to the letter I received from the Presbyterian Historical Society (PCUSA), this church was a CPC church that split from PCUSA after the merger and was dissolved by the CPC in 1928. I remember the physical building existing into the 1970s if not 1980s, but it has been torn down.

II. Methodist.

1. Trinity Methodist Episcopal. This church was located at Map location 5 at the end of Route DD in Section 28, T67 R12 in the far northwest part of the county.
2. German Methodist Episcopal. Click here for a picture of this church. It was located in Etna.
3. Gorin Methodist. The Methodists and Presbyterians built a church together ca. 1870 at the location of the Pleasant Grove Cemetery. Whoever gave the biggest contribution was tohave the building dedicated to their denomination. The Methodists earned that honor. The Methodists sold the building to the Baptists in 1866 [another story says 1886] but continued to hold services there. The site of the present Meth. church was purchased in 1891.
4. Kilwinning Methodist. This would have been close to Map location 28, although in the village of Kilwinning.
5. United Methodist Church. This church is located in Memphis. I'm guessing that this is not it's formal name. The congregation still meets. According to Joanne Alyward, its located in Lot 7, Block 2 in Cecil's 1st addition. It was used for a time during the Civil War by the army as stables and barracks.
6. Barker Methodist. Map location 3. This congregation was formed as a United Brethren church. The congregation still meets. It's in the far northwest corner of the county.
7. Prairie View Methodist. Located about 2 miles west of Azen. Essentially located the same place as Providence Baptist. It's slightly west and south of where Providence was. There is a picture of the church here (Thanks Joanne Alyward).
8. Memphis African Methodist Episcopal.I know nothing about this church, however it is shown in the 1898 plat set on the plat of the city of Memphis. If any of you have an additional information, I'd love to hear about it.
9. Memphis Methodist South. Again, I have no information about this church, but it is shown in the 1898 plat set on the plat for the city of Memphis. I suspect that it eventually merged with the other Methodist church in Memphis, but I don't know that for a fact.
10. Conyers Methodist. Located about 4 miles northeast of Memphis It was a Methodist Episcopal South church, although the 1898 plat map indicated it was a United Brethren Church (UB merged with the Methodists). Joanne Alyward says she has seen this church referred to as Prairie Gem.
11. Hickory Grove Church. This church is still standing about a mile west of Arbela. It was organized as a Methodist Church South church.
12. Concord (or Concordia) Methodist. This church was located south of Memphis in S 32 T65 R11. It looks to me to be in the middle of what is now a field. I don't know if there is any way to get there.
13. Mt. Olive Methodist. This church was located about a 1/2 mile south of the Iowa line in S 23 T67 R11.
14. Mt. Hermon Methodist. This church was located about 4 miles northwest of Arbela, in S29 T66 R10. It was organized in 1890 and the building was sold in 1918.
15. Mt. Horeb Methodist. Located in S 14 T 66 R 10, northeast of Prospect Grove on the 1898 plat map. However, Joanne Alyward believes it may have been in section 15 or 22.
16. Mt. Moriah Methodist. Located northwest of Prospect Grove in section 9 T66 R 10. According to Joanne Alyward, this church grew out of the Prospect Grove Class, organized in 1861 as a Mothodist Protestant class. About 1866 was organized as the Mt. Moriah Church, now United Methodist. Still in service. Here is a picture of this church (thanks Ken Kothe).
17. Bethel Methodist. Located in Section 21 T66 R11 northeast of Memphis.
18. South Bethel Methodist. This church is located in Section 21 T 64 R11 in the southeast part of the county. It is on the south side of a gravel road just west of State Highway Route M which goes to Rutledge.
19. Union Methodist. This church is located in Section 26, T65 R11 on the west side of State Highway Route U (the Gorin road) which runs south from highway 136 about halfway between Memphis and Arbela. The four-county history (LCKS) says it was a Methodist Episcopal South. The Methodist Society owned about 1/3 interest in the building, balance owned by other denominations (not named).
20. Sand Hill Methodist. The four county history book notes the following: Methodist Episcopal Church was on land deeded Aug 1871, lot 10, block 9 of Sand Hill. The book also makes reference to the Sand Hill Methodist Episcopal Circuit, which says it has two churches: Bethel, located near the center of SandHill Twp., and the other in the village of SandHill.
21. Arbela Methodist. This church is shown on the 1898 plat map for Arbela. From Joanne Alyward, Arbela United Methodist Church traces its roots to the United Brethren Church on the "hill south." The Methodist Society was organized about 1880 and held its meetings at the United Brethren Church. The congregation of the United Brethren Church dwindled and the building was purchased by the Methodist Society in 1888. The story says the Methodist Episcopal Church was practically rebuilt in 1893. (From bicentennial history).
22. Arbela United Brethren. See above.
23. Rutledge Methodist Episcopal South. Don't know anything about this church, but it on the 1898 plat map for Rutledge.
24. Price Chapel Methodist Episcopal. According to Joanne Alyward, it was located 6 miles west of Memphis, organized after the Civil War; Elizabeth (Mrs. John) Price gave estate to build church ca.1882. There is a church located in the northeast corner of S17 T65 R 12 on the 1898 plat in Vest Township. I'm guessing this was that church.
25. Oaklawn UB. Know nothing about this church.
26. White Chapel UB. Likewise, help!
27. Brock United Methodist It was located just east of Brock on the north side of the road. It was just recently closed. It began as a Methodist Episcopal church.
28. Granger United Methodist. It's located in Grander and is still and active chruch.
29. Downing Methodist.This church was located in Schuyler county, but due to its close proximity to the western boundary to Scotland County, undoubtably some folks from Scotland County went to church there.
30. Upton Methodist. This church was located just over the line in Iowa in Upton. Apparently it was a Methodist Episcopal. The cemetery lies back to the west. (Thanks Joanne Alyward)
31. Bethlehem Methodist. Barely over the line in Clark Co. Joanne Alyward indicates that she has found evidence that some Scotland Co. residents in the extreme northeast corner of the county attended that church. Not sure of the denomination, but she thinks it was a Methodist of some description.

III. Baptist.

1. Providence Baptist. Located about 2 miles west of Azen Church has been razed. One book says originally called New Salem. There is a picture of the church here (thanks Joanne Alyward).
2. Dover Baptist. Map location 9 approximately 7 miles west of Memphis. This church stood into the 1980s, but has since been torn down. Here's a picture of this church (thanks Joanne Alyward).
3. Pleasant Grove Baptist. This church was located in Gorin.
4. Edinburg Baptist. Map location 13, a few miles south of Memphis.
5. Richland Baptist. This church is located at Hitt at Map location 4 in the northwest part of the county. The congregation still meets there.
6. First Baptist. This church is located in Memphis. The congregation still meets.
7. Indian Creek Baptist. This church was located a couple of miles north of Rutledge along the west edge of Section 13, T64 R11.
8. Lawn Ridge Church. Map location 23 northeast of Memphis. Joanne Alyward notes: Although it was organized by a Disciples of Christ minister, I think it was considered non-denominational. We'll track this one down.
9. Black Oak Baptist. Located just north of Granger in section 26. Constituted as Zion Baptist in 1858, in later years was renamed Black Oak (thanks Joanne Alyward.)
10. Granger Baptist. This was located in the town of Granger. Interestingly, the church was torn down and moved over west of Azen. In a story in the Scotland Co. sesquicentennial book, there is a story about the Providence Baptist Church west of Azen. It was destroyed by fire in April 1930 and was replaced by an unused Baptist Church building from Granger. The Granger Baptist Church was disassembled, moved, and reassembled at the site of the original Providence building. Dedicated the first Sun. of October 1930. (thanks Joanne Alyward)
11. Mt. Zion Baptist. According to Joanne Alyward, Arbela Baptist Church was organized 1880 in the country. First located 3 m. south and west of Arbela and called MT. ZION. Probably the church located in the 1898 map series in the southeast corner of S 20 T65 R10 (Thomson Township). Church was moved to Arbela in 1897 or 98. In 1905 name changed to First Arbela Baptist Church.
12. First Arbela Baptist. See entry above re Mt. Zion Baptist
13. Oakridge Baptist.. This Church was located on the so-called Ridge Road (now State Highway MM, just a few miles southeast of Memphis, just passed the point where the State highway ends and at the point where the road turns south to cross the Fabius River. Bicentennial history mentions that the Lutheran congregation of Memphis organized in 1962 and their first services were held at the Oak Ridge Baptist Church.
14. Rutledge Baptist. Don't know much about this church, but it's located on the 1898 plat map for Rutledge.
15. Friendship Meeting House. This church was located on the hill north.overlooking Crawford. I'm not sure of it's denomination Joanne Alyward said the believes this was a baptist church and was known as Little Zion Baptist. However, in sesq. book they are listed separately, it that's so, I don't know where Little Zion Baptist was located. Let us know if you have any more information.
16. Harmony Grove Baptist. This church is actually in Knox County, but was organized in Scotland County three miles east of Sand Hill, but later moved across the line to Knox County. It is said to be the first church organized in Scotland County. Ella Ewing was buried there.
17. Downing Baptist. This church would have been located in Schuyler County, but due to its proximity to the western boundary of Scotland County, undoubtably some folks from Scotland County, went to church there.
18. Greensburg Baptist. This church would have been located in Knox County, but due to its close proximity to the southern boundary with Scotland County, undoubtably some folks from Scotland County went to church there.

IV. Catholic.

1. Saint John's Catholic. This church is located in Memphis. The congregation still meets.
2. Sacred Heart Catholic.. It's been gone for a very long time. It was located where the Catholic cemetery is now located at Map location 2 in the very northwest corner of the county. Sometimes referred to as the Mudd Settlement. A Mr. Mudd who attended this church was a proprietor at the Hitt Store.
3. Adair Catholic. This church was not in Scotland County and is roughly 4 miles south of the southwest corner of the county. However this was a large congregation and it is likely that if there were any catholics in the southwest corner of the county, that they attended there. This is a quite wonderful church and I encourage anyone in the area to drive by there (It's on Highway 11 between Kirksville and Baring). A congregation no longer meets there, but the building is owned by the historical society.

V. Lutheran.

1. Saint Paul Lutheran. This church still exists and is located in Memphis.
2. German Lutheran. I don't know anything about this church, but it's on the 1898 plat in section 32 T65 R10, just north of Rutledge. Joanne Alyward notes the following: This is near location of the Stull Cemetery (no one named Stull buried there, so I assume it was located on land owned by Stulls). Some good old German names--Bergthold, Faass, Klingler, Riekeberg in cemetery. One stone written in German. Most burials late 1880s. I would say it's highly likely there was a German Lutheran Church there at one time.

VI. Assembly of God.

1. Assembly Of God. I'm not at all sure that this is the formal name for this church. I believe the congregation still meets.

VII. Christian.

1. Gorin ChristianThe Gorin Christian Church met in homes and Presb. church till church was organized in 1898 and church built in 1900. (thanks Joanne Alyward)
2. First Christian. This church is located in Memphis. The congregation still meets.
3. Antioch Christian Map location 62, located in the southeast quarter of Section33 T 65 R12, just a few miles southwest of Memphis.
4. Salem Christian. Not sure about this one. There is a church located east of Memphis in Section 14, T65 Range 11 on the 1898 plat map. According to Joanne Alyward, there was a Salem Church somewhere in that vicinity. Rice's history refers to it as a Christian church.
5. Lebanon (Bible Grove) Christian. Still in use. Located in Bible Grove. This church is identified on the 1856 county map.
6. Azen Christian ChurchAccording to Joanne Alywrd it was organized about 1902. Azen Christian Church was located right in Azen, on the west side of the road, just north of the house that sits there.
7. Rutledge Christian. I don't know anything about this church, but it on the 1898 plat map for Rutledge.
8. Crawford Christian. This was located on the hill to the south overlooking Crawford. My mother reports that Richard Webber tore down this church in order to build his house.
9. Arbela Christian.The sesq. book referred to a Christian church in Arbela. Joanne Alyward interview her mother reminded her that there are remnants of steps in Arbela, east of the Post Office, from another church.
10. Pleasant Ridge Christian. This church is not located in Scotland County, but is several miles due west of Greenburg, which would put it just south of the southwest corner of Scotland County. Undoubtably, some folks from Scotland County went to church there. I believe it was of the Christian denomination.
11. Granger Christian. I don't know much about this church but Bonnie Wilson indicates that her mother remember that this church existed (Thanks Bonnie).
12. Greensburg Christian. Likewise, this church is in Knox County, but due to its proximity to the southern line of Scotland County, there is little doubt that some folks from Scotland County went to church there.
13. Coffey Christian. This church is located just west of the southwest corner of Scotland County, in Schuyler County. It is essentially due west of the McGrady church. It is located within 2 miles of the county line, so it's likely that at one time or another some folks from Scotland County worshiped there. It is located on State Highway Route A which goes south of Downing and at the intersection with the State Highway coming from Scotland County.
14. Stiles Christian. This church is located across the Iowa line from the northwest corner of the County. It is possible that some people attended this church. There may have been other churches in Stiles, but this one remains active.
15. Downing Christian. This church is located in Schuyler county, but due to its proximity to the western boundary of Scotland County, undoubtably some folks from Scotland County went to church there.

VIII. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

1. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.. According to the prior County Coordinators, this church was (is) located in Memphis. It may have a more precise name.

IX. Holiness.

1. Rutledge. I don't know anything about this church, but it located in the 1898 plat set for Sand hill Township in section 25. If anyone knows anything about this denomination or this church, let me know.

X. Congregational

1. Memphis. This is another one of these congregation I know nothing about. However, these is mention made that the Presbyterian church met with the Congregationalist for a time. The 4 county history book says it was founded in 1866.

XI. Campellite

I don't know anything about this denomination or even if there were any churches of this denomination located in Scotland County. However, in the McAdow records at least one members shows their membership transfer to a Campellite church. Moreover, in a letter from my ancestor, Crawford McWilliam to his relatives in Ireland he described Unionton (Kilwinning) and notes that there is a Methodist church being constructed there and that a Campelite congregation is forming as well. Joanne Alyward had these observations about this denomination, "Founded by Thomas Campbell, they were an offshoot of frontier Presbyterianism. They were affiliated with a Baptist Assn. for a short time, ca. 1813-1827 under the leadership of Alexander Campbell. As I remember, the movement grew out of the need for ministers to serve in the frontier churches in a more unstructured and informal environment."

XII. Church of Christ

1. Bible Grove Church of Christ. Still in use. Located in Bible Grove.

XIII. Pentecostal

1. Memphis Pentecostal. According to Joanne Alyward, it sits on the site where African Methodist Episcopal Church once stood, North Adams St. Pentecostal was first known as the Full Gospel Church when it was organized in the 1930s.

XIV. Menonite.

1. Indian Creek Menonite. It is located just south of Memphis on Highway 15. It would be in the northwest quarter of S25 T65 R12 (Jefferson Township). This is an active congregation.
2. Edinburg Janet (Ewing) Deaton indicates that there is a congregation meeting in the old Edinburg church. (thanks Janet).
3. North View Menonite. It is located in Sec. 15-66-10, Johnson Twp.

XV. Non Denominational or Unknown Denomination.

1. Middle Fabius.This is a different church from the Campground church and is plainly apparently from the 1876 plat map (Map 9). Don't know right now what the denomination was.
2. Ft. Donaldson. Don't know anything about this church. Help! It may have been the church located in S 22 T64 R12 in Tobin Township on the 1898 plat map.
3 . Greensburg. In a interview I recently had with Earl Kapfer who attends the Baptist church in Greenburg, he indicated that in addition to the Baptist and Christian churches in Greensburg, that there was a 3rd church there when he was a kid, but doesn't remember the denomination. While this church is in Knox County, it is certainly likely that some Scotland County folks attended this 3rd church, whatever the denomination (In addition to the other 2 Greensburg churches that are identified with their denomination.
4. Northeast Schuyler County Church. This church was located west of the northwest corner of Scotland County. It was west on what is now a blacktop road. I include it here bacuse my mother, who grew up in the Barker community, reports to me that some of her friends attended this church.
5. Bethel Church. According to the prior County Coordinator, this church was located in Greenburg, which would be in Knox County. Not sure however. This probably was the formal name of one of the three churches located in Greensburg.

Note:If any of you have any addition information about any of these church, or are willing to write a more detailed description of the denomination, or have information concerning churches that are missing, please let me know by writing me at jslavin@marktwain.net.

Last updated July 15, 2001.

Return to Scotland County