Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
A religious denomination which originated from the efforts of
the Rev. James McCready, who settled in
Kentucky in 1796 over two congregations in
Logan county, and another at
Red River, just across the line in
Tennessee.
Being a man of great zeal and feeling the need of a revival in religion, he began an effective work.
In July, 1800, he held what is believed to have been the first camp-meeting.
His plan met with rapid success and resulted in numerous camp-meetings, which spread over that part of
Kentucky which was then called
Cumberland country, now
middle Tennessee.
Great numbers professed religion in these meetings, and many new congregations were organized, creating a
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necessity for more ministers.
These the regular Presbyterian Church could not supply upon immediate demand.
Consequently young men from the district who were adjudged most competent to do ministerial work were selected to carry on the work.
These, however, did not meet with the approval of the Presbytery, which held that they were not sufficiently trained either in secular knowledge or in theology.
This resulted in dissension and was the main cause of the formation of the
Cumberland Presbytery, which was established in
Dickson County, Tenn., on Feb. 4, 1810.
The Cumberland Church differs little from other Presbyterian bodies in polity, and claims to represent the medium between Calvinistic and Arminian theology.
In 1900, this body reported 1,734 ministers, 2,957 church edifices, and 180,192 communicants.
A colored branch of this church reported 400 ministers, 150 churches, and 39,000 communicants.
The Cumberland Church is established principally in the States of
Tennessee,
Missouri,
Texas, and
Kentucky.
