We are located in the heart of Fredonia, Ky. Our Sunday morning worship attendance averages about 120, with about 70 regularly attending Sunday School. We offer Sunday night worship as well as a Wednesday Night Bible Study. Adults also have the availability of monthly meetings of CPWM, (women), and This Man, (men). For the youth, we have weekly meetings on Wednesday nights as well as being heavily involved in summer youth camps and a fall retreat. We are a well blended congregation representing Caldwell, Crittenden, and Lyon counties.  

A History of The Fredonia Cumberland Presbyterian Church

The Fredonia congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized October 18, 1845, by a provision made by the Princeton Presbytery. Services were first held in a log cabin, and first pastor was Rev. William C. Love.

In 1850 the log cabin was replaced by a beautiful red brick structure, which was completed a year later. (This is the brick church on Highway 91N.) The bricks for the building were burned near a pond on the Jake Crider farm - now owned by Mr. & Mrs. Wilford Baker.

With the union of 1906, the Presbyterian Church of the USA took control, and part of the congregation, loyal to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, chose to leave. They meet for three years in each others homes, during which a board of elders was elected.

The Kelsey Methodist Denomination owned a white frame church on the corner of what is now Shelby and Dorroh Streets, which was dedicated July 9, 1893, but do to the lack of Methodist congregants in the area, it failed to organize into a sustainable community of faith. So, on July 10, 1909, the Cumberland Presbyterian elders purschased the church and lot for the sum of $400.00. It was dedicated to the Lord the following day. Reverend J. L. Price was the first pastor. The first revival took place in 1910, with Reverend W. T. Oakley as the evangelist. It was a wonderful revival with 120 souls being saved. Reverend Oakley followed Reverend Price as the pastor and preaching one Sunday a month, received $150.00 a year.

Other ministers at the white frame church were Reverends: G. L. Woodruff, B. B. Loyd, Virgil Stone, O. D. Spence,F. L. McDowell, H. H. Hunter, Russell Tatum, S. B. McNeely, Lacy Baird, G. H. Austin, J. K. Patterson, Arleigh Matlock, Archie Smith, G. F. Phelps, C. M. Womack, and Charles Hendricks.

Elders in years past were: T. W. Moore, J. S. G. Green, Luther Elder, T. W. Young, James Stevens, F. G. Lowery, T. A. Bugg, E. Grant Bugg, R. C. Crow, J. M. Patterson, W. Edd McNeely, Ernest Hearod, J. B. Ray, Sr., Mitchell Lowery, and Ray Blackburn.

Deacons were: Frank S. Loyd, T. Gid Maxwell, J. B. Ray, Sr., Alfred Canada, Guy Moore, and W. F. Deboe. Mr. Loyd, familiarly known as "Daddy Loyd", and the "Father of the Church", had a favorite caned-bottomed chair where he sat beside the old black coal stove (in winter) and chewed tobacco. "Daddy Loyd" was faithful in attendance and generous with his Civil War pension. Guy Moore was later called to the ministry. Mr. Deboe, another "Father of the Church", known familarly as "Poppsie", and Mr. J. B. Ray Sr., had a little difference of opinion over some church matters and used their walking sticks until they were separated.

A partial list of Sunday School Superintedents includes: R. C. Crowe, J. M. Patterson, F. G. Lowery, and Ray Blackburn. Mr. Blackburn served as Sunday School Superintendent and also as elder at both the old church and the present building.

Mr. Ruben Ray, who united with the church November 14, 1909, is the only charter member.

The first clerk was Mr. Grant Bugg, who served for a number of years. Others were: Mr. Grant Lowery, Mitchell Lowery, Mrs. Katy Perkins (25 years), Faye Phelps, and Sharlon Wigginton, the present clerk.

Found among Sunday School records were:

April 23, 1933

S.S. Supt.                           Mr. Grant Lowery

Secretary                            Geneva Moore

Class # 1 Teacher              Kitty Harmon

Class # 2 Teacher              Mrs. Raymond Moore

Class # 3 Teacher              Mrs. Allie Bugg

Class # 4 Teacher              Mrs. E. D. Beavers

Class # 5 Teacher              W. T. Moore

Members present 29        Offering $1.35

April 20, 1969                20 years later

S. S. Supt.                           Charles Dean Akridge

Assistant                              Darryl Phelps

Secretary                              Vickie Riley

Assistant                               Kathy Phelps

Pianoist                                Nancy Tabor

Organist                              Mrs. Kitty Quertermous

Song Leader                         Bruce Perkins

Class # 1 Teacher                Nancy Tabor

Class # 2 Teacher                Sharlon Wiggington

Class # 3 Teacher                Becky Blackburn

Class # 4 Teacher                Vivian Phelps

Class # 5 Teacher                 Katy Perkins

Class # 6 Teacher                 Charles Baker

Class # 7 Teacher                 Kitty Quertermous

Class # 8 Teacher                 Ruth Paris

Class # 9 Teacher                 Dan Bugg

Number Present 98              Offering $27.40

During the depression years, (the late 1920's & early 1930's) the church had no pastor and at times it seemed almost impossible to continue. At one time there was no S. S. Supt., and Mrs. Rosalie Akridge assumed these duties. The treasurer, Mrs. Belle Ray and some other ladies were willing workers, and got money through subscriptions to help with finances.Ray and Vera Blackburn united with the church, and Ray became S. S. Supt. Church attendance and interest began increasing.

The first discussion of a new building was March 15, 1947, when the session meet at the home of Mr. Ray Blackburn with Rev. Charles Hendricks as moderator. Two years later, May 23, 1948, Rev. Ray Wiggington and Ray Blackburn acted as a committee to sell the old frame church to the Methodist conference. The building was moved one block east on Shelby and Grove Streets. Services were held occasionally by the black congregation, but today, the church is no longer used, and is very dilapidated.

A building committee consisting of C. A. Wilson, J. D. Bugg Sr., and Aubrey Litchfield was appointed. A deed from Loyd heirs was obtained and the church was sold to the highest bidder. It was purchased by Mr. Henry Prowell who owned the adjacent lot. This lot noe belongs to Billy Joe Traylor. In the autumn of 1948 a very impressive ceremony was held when the cornerstone for this building was laid.

Hixton Contractors of Fulton, Kentucky were secured to erect the building. The present lot was purchased from the Caldwell County School Board. Financial aid, labor and materials were given by members of all denominations of this area. Some who gave did not belong to any church, but wished this to become an active growing center in which God's word would move forward. During construction the winter services were held in the school gymnasium. Rev. Ray Wiggington, pastor, kept encouraging the work along, backed by the most loyal session any church could possess. When finances were exhausted, the session would supply the necessary funds from their own personal accounts. All members of this building committee have either passed on to their reward, or have been replaced by youger, active men. The building was completed in 1949, and all day services were held that first Sunday in May.

The pews were later purchased by individuals, at a cost of $80.00. Mr. Johnson Wiggingtons' sister, Mrs. Sarah Custer of Colorado, painted and donated the beautiful oil painting that now hangs in the fellowship hall. Rev. Ray Wiggington's sister, Mrs. Lucille Scott, donated the pulpit furniture. Some years later, Rev. Alfred Bennett gave the flood lights and the cross.

A thousand dollars was donated by the Ladies Aid for the carpet. They sewed the seems and it was laid for the first wedding - that of Bonnie King and R. B. Wiggington in January, 1950.

The first funeral was Mr. C. W. Moores', December 30, 1949. Mr. Moore had served as janitor of the old church for a number of years. A cherry lexion, (pulpit stand), now in the basement, was built by Rev. Glendal Sullivan.

This information was provided by the late Miss Bingi Baker.

Around 1975, Sunday school rooms and a fellowship hall was added to the back of the church, as the need for expansion pressed. The church experienced years were worship attendance fluctuated between 80 and 120.

to be continued....