Our History

Our church was first church established in Somerville and is the oldest Presbyterian church in Fayette County. On the first Monday in December 1824, Fayette County was organized at the house of Robert G. Thornton and the land, comprising about 50 acres, where the city of Somerville is now located was donated to the county by George Bowers and James Brown. The town was named for Lieutenant Somerville who, was killed in the Creek War in 1814 while serving with General Andrew Jackson. The lot upon which our first church was built was sold by John Wirt for $400 to the Trustees of the Presbyterian Church of Somerville.

Our church was organized on October 28, 1829, and the first pastor of the church was Dr. Alexander Augustus Campbell, who came to Somerville after a few brief pastorates in Alabama. Dr. Campbell was both a medical doctor and an ordained Presbyterian minister. At one time Dr. Campbell was a self- professed infidel, but  was converted to the Christian Faith during a near-fatal bout with yellow fever. He was ordained in 1823 and served as our church’s first pastor during 1829 and 1830. (He is not to be confused with the Alexander Campbell who organized the Disciples of Christ Church.).

 The first church building was built of hewn logs, and split logs were also used for benches. The second church building was a brick structure and was built in 1840. During the Civil War, Federal troops passed through Fayette County many times, and frequent engagements and skirmishes were fought in and around Somerville. Regular services were not held in the church until the conclusion of the war. The pulpit was vacant during most of this time; however, the building and congregation came through the war unscathed.  In 1895 our present church, the fourth unique building with the Norman Tower, was begun and the first services held in late 1897 or early 1898.

One of the pastors of this era was the Rev. F.M. Howell, who was the pastor at the time that the yellow fever epidemic befell Somerville. While families were swept away and brave men who once laughed at danger in the heat of battle fled to country homes and places of seclusion and safety, Rev. Howell remained at his post of duty, visiting the sick and distressed, speaking words of comfort to the dying and helping to bury the victims of the yellow peril, until the day that the fever claimed him as its prey.

In 1929 a two story addition was added to the west side of the building and An addition consisting of a nursery, kindergarten, and primary department of the Sunday School, a church parlor, a kitchen, and a powder room was built on to the church in 1960.   An even larger addition was completed in 1986 which contains our fellowship hall, the cloister on the south side of the building, and numerous class rooms.  Ever mindful of the future, the building was designed in such a way that a second story can be added later if needed.

Ministers in the last sixty years have included: Jim Nash, Scott Phillips, Christy Morgan, Randy Welcher, John Lodge, Mike Krech, and Ted Dennis . Although this brief history lists a number of  ministers who have served as pastor, dedicated lay men and women have provided strong leadership essential to the development and implementation of ministry of our church. Throughout its history this church has provided a strong voice for the Reformed Christian faith in Fayette County.

Now under the experienced leadership of Dr. Thomas F. Pickering, who moderates Session and preaches twice a month.  Tom Sauer preaches most other Sundays.
    
Mission and Ministry are why Christ calls churches into being.  We recognize not only the need to minister to others, but also the truth that we must first minister to ourselves and grow spiritually in Christ before we can effectively reach out.  The church at its best is like an extended family. We have been called to nurture children and families as well as the newcomer and the lonely.  It is our hope that through the presence of the church in our community, people will come to know  Jesus Christ and be ministered  to at the point of their needs.  Through the Presbytery and the Synod (governing bodies of the Presbyterian Church) as well as through our own missions program