Transylvania Presbytery
Encyclopedia
Transylvania Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
, as it was established in 1786 from part of Abingdon Presbytery
, encompassed all of Kentucky
, settlements on the Cumberland River
in Tennessee
, and later the settlements on the Great Miami River
and Little Miami River
in Ohio
.
The presbytery
grew rapidly and in 1799 was divided into three smaller presbyteries
:
In 1802, these three presbyteries were formed into the Kentucky Synod
, separate from the Synod of Virginia
. One of the first actions of the Kentucky Synod
was to form Cumberland Presbytery
from the portion of Transylvania Presbytery south of the Salt River
.
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
The Presbyterian Church , or PC, is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination in the United States. Part of the Reformed tradition, it is the largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S...
, as it was established in 1786 from part of Abingdon Presbytery
Abingdon Presbytery
Abingdon Presbytery is a part of the Presbyterian Church and within the Synod of Mid-Atlantic. Many of 55 churches are small, with less than 100 members. The entire presbytery has approximately 4,500 members and almost 50 ministers. The presbytery is named after a region in southwestern Virginia...
, encompassed all of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, settlements on the Cumberland River
Cumberland River
The Cumberland River is a waterway in the Southern United States. It is long. It starts in Harlan County in far southeastern Kentucky between Pine and Cumberland mountains, flows through southern Kentucky, crosses into northern Tennessee, and then curves back up into western Kentucky before...
in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, and later the settlements on the Great Miami River
Great Miami River
The Great Miami River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in southwestern Ohio in the United States...
and Little Miami River
Little Miami River
The Little Miami River is a Class I tributary of the Ohio River that flows through five counties in southwestern Ohio in the United States. The Little Miami joins the Ohio River east of Cincinnati. It forms parts of the borders between Hamilton and Clermont counties and between Hamilton and Warren...
in Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
The presbytery
Presbyterian polity
Presbyterian polity is a method of church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply...
grew rapidly and in 1799 was divided into three smaller presbyteries
Presbyterian polity
Presbyterian polity is a method of church governance typified by the rule of assemblies of presbyters, or elders. Each local church is governed by a body of elected elders usually called the session or consistory, though other terms, such as church board, may apply...
:
- Transylvania Presbytery retained the area to the south and west of the Kentucky RiverKentucky RiverThe Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, long, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The river and its tributaries drain much of the central region of the state, with its upper course passing through the coal-mining regions of the Cumberland Mountains, and its lower course passing through the...
in central KentuckyKentuckyThe Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. - West Lexington PresbyteryWest Lexington PresbyteryWest Lexington Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church was formed from Transylvania Presbytery in 1799. It covered the area of Kentucky between the Kentucky River and the Licking River...
covered the area of Kentucky between the Kentucky River and the Licking RiverLicking River (Kentucky)The Licking River is a tributary of the Ohio River in northeastern Kentucky in the United States. The river and its tributaries drain much of the region of northeastern Kentucky between the watersheds of the Kentucky River to the west and the Big Sandy River to the east.-Origin of name:The Native...
. - Washington PresbyteryWashington PresbyteryWashington Presbytery, of the Presbyterian Church is the association of PCUSA churches in Washington and Greene counties in Pennsylvania. It contains 65 churches and has a membership of about 12,000....
comprised the area northeast of the Licking River and north of the Ohio RiverOhio RiverThe Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
In 1802, these three presbyteries were formed into the Kentucky Synod
Kentucky Synod
In the history of the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition in the United States, there have been a number of judicatories named Kentucky Synod.- Kentucky Synod, PC :...
, separate from the Synod of Virginia
Virginia Synod
The Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the geographical synod consisting of the entire state of Virginia, except for several counties and cities in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod....
. One of the first actions of the Kentucky Synod
Kentucky Synod
In the history of the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition in the United States, there have been a number of judicatories named Kentucky Synod.- Kentucky Synod, PC :...
was to form Cumberland Presbytery
Cumberland Presbytery
In the history of the Presbyterian and Reformed tradition in the United States, there have been a number of judicatories named Cumberland Presbytery.- Cumberland Presbytery, PC 1802-1806:...
from the portion of Transylvania Presbytery south of the Salt River
Salt River (Kentucky)
The Salt River is a river in Kentucky that drains . It begins near Danville, Kentucky, rising from the north slope of Persimmon Knob south of KY 300 between Alum Springs and Wilsonville, and ends at the Ohio River near West Point...
.
Sources
- History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Kentucky to 1988, by Matthew H. GoreMatthew H. GoreMatthew H. Gore is a British historian, popular culturist, and educator residing in Memphis, Tennessee. He is best known for his book The History of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Kentucky to 1988 , but has published on a variety of topics as diverse as The Origin of Marvelman , the...
, Joint Heritage Committee of Covenant and Cumberland Presbyteries. Memphis, Tennessee, 2000.