Bishop's departure from ARP to Presbyterian Church as evidence of psalmody convictions

Source: history-of-the-associate-reformed-synod-of-the-south-to-which-is-prefixed-a-history-of-the-associate-presbyterian-and-reformed-presbyterian-churches
Page: 254
Type: quote
Confidence: medium
Date mentioned: 1819
Topics: psalmody-controversy denominational-movement communion-controversy
People: robert-bishop adam-rankin robert-lathan
Places: Kentucky
Institutions: Associate Reformed Church Presbyterian Church Presbytery of Kentucky

Context

This passage follows Lathan’s discussion of the Bishop-Rankin difficulty (1812-1818), a prolonged dispute within the ARP Presbytery of Kentucky. Lathan has just explained that “psalmody and communion” were the “real cause” of the conflict between the two ministers. He then notes Bishop’s subsequent departure from the ARP.

Extract

It is highly probable that the psalmody and communion question was the main factor in the Bishop-Rankin difficulty. Mr. Bishop and Mr. Rankin held antagonistic views on those subjects.

In 1819 Mr. Bishop left the Associate Reformed Church and joined the General Assembly Presbyterian Church. This shows that he either had no conscientious scruples about psalmody and communion, or that he acted contrary to the convictions of his conscience.

Significance

This extract illustrates denominational movement in the opposite direction from Rankin—from an exclusive-psalmody church (ARP) to one that used Watts (General Assembly Presbyterian). Key observations:

  1. Confirms psalmody as a sorting mechanism: Lathan interprets Bishop’s transfer as evidence about his psalmody convictions (“had no conscientious scruples”)—showing that contemporaries understood denominational affiliation as a marker of worship practice preferences.
  2. Demonstrates bidirectional movement: While the thesis focuses on those joining exclusive-psalmody denominations, this counter-example shows the pattern worked both ways—people moved toward churches matching their worship preferences.
  3. Reveals interpretive framework: Lathan assumes psalmody convictions should constrain denominational choices. Bishop’s departure is noteworthy because it implied something about his beliefs.
  4. Complements Rankin’s story: Bishop and Rankin represent opposite poles—one moving toward Watts-using churches, one moving away from them—with the ARP Presbytery of Kentucky as the battleground.