Parts of several Presbyterian congregations withdrew over psalmody change to form ARP churches

Context

This passage appears in the History of the Associate Reformed Synod of the South, where the author is analyzing why the ARP church did not grow more rapidly in North Carolina despite favorable conditions. The author argues that a shortage of ministers prevented the ARP from capitalizing fully on discontent over the Presbyterian church’s change in psalmody. Despite this limitation, the passage confirms that partial congregations did withdraw to form ARP churches.

Extract

It is also probable that had the Associate Reformed Church been able to supply the people with the ordinances of God’s house, a considerable number of Presbyterian congregations would have withdrawn and united with the Associate Reformed Church when the change was made in psalmody. As it was, parts of several congregations did withdraw and organize Associate Reformed congregations.

In doctrine and form of worship, all the branches of the Presbyterian Church in North Carolina, prior to the change in psalmody, were identical.

Significance

This extract provides important historiographical evidence for the book’s thesis. A denominational historian writing decades after the events acknowledges two crucial points: first, that “a considerable number of Presbyterian congregations would have withdrawn” had the ARP been able to serve them—suggesting widespread discontent over the psalmody change; and second, that despite practical constraints, “parts of several congregations did withdraw and organize Associate Reformed congregations.” The observation that all Presbyterian branches in North Carolina were “identical” in doctrine and worship “prior to the change in psalmody” underscores that psalmody was the distinguishing factor that created denominational boundaries where none had existed before. This provides a regional overview that complements the individual congregation accounts from Sharon, Bethany, Pisgah, and Providence.