Kentucky churches 'torn and convulsed for years by disputes on Psalmody'

Source: history-of-the-presbyterian-church-in-the-state-of-kentucky-with-a-preliminary-sketch-of-the-churches-in-the-valley-of-virginia
Page: 95
Type: quote
Confidence: high
Date mentioned: 1792
Topics: psalmody-controversy congregation-level-impact kentucky-presbyterians infidelity-crisis
People: adam-rankin robert-marshall
Places: Kentucky, Lexington, Paris, Paint Lick, Silver Creek, Providence, Harrodsburg, Bethel
Institutions: transylvania-presbytery

Context

Davidson concludes his account of the Rankin schism by describing its wider impact on Kentucky Presbyterianism. This section moves beyond Mount Zion to show the controversy affected congregations throughout the region.

Extract

The churches were torn and convulsed for years by disputes on Psalmody. When Mr. Rankin seceded in 1792, he carried with him the majority of his congregation, and retained possession of the church edifice. The portion adhering to the Presbyterian communion were compelled to erect a new building adjoining the public square; and in 1795, they called the Rev. James Welch to the pastoral charge. There was scarcely a congregation that was not distracted by these dissensions. Fundamental doctrines and vital piety came to be regarded as subordinate matters. Obedience to the will of God was narrowed down to a single point, and in the shibboleth of a party was wrapped up the faith once delivered to the saints.

“While these things were going on,” observes Mr. Marshall, “other denominations took advantage of them, and gained ground.” But this was not the worst effect. Infidelity was just beginning to come in like a flood, and the sacramental host, instead of rallying round the standard, were wasting their energies in intestine feuds.

[From footnote:] Paris, Paint Lick, and Silver Creek Churches suffered. Marshall’s MS. Hist. of Bethel Church, p. 2. The Lexington Church suffered severely. In 1808, at the time of Mr. Cunningham’s installation, there were not forty communicants.

Significance

This extract provides evidence of widespread congregational impact:

  1. Named congregations affected: Paris, Paint Lick, Silver Creek, Lexington, Providence, Harrodsburg, Bethel - “scarcely a congregation… not distracted by these dissensions”

  2. Property dispute: Rankin “retained possession of the church edifice” while Presbyterian loyalists had to build new

  3. Long-term damage: Lexington Church had only “forty communicants” by 1808 - sixteen years after the schism

  4. Wider losses: “Other denominations took advantage of them, and gained ground” - the controversy benefited competitors

  5. Davidson’s theological critique: The dismissive phrase “shibboleth of a party” and claim that “fundamental doctrines and vital piety came to be regarded as subordinate matters” reveals how the Presbyterian establishment viewed exclusive psalmody - as a trivial issue that distracted from real religion

  6. Context of infidelity: Davidson places the psalmody controversy against the backdrop of rising “Infidelity” - suggesting the internal fighting weakened Presbyterian resistance to Enlightenment skepticism

This is valuable evidence that the Rankin case was not an isolated incident but the epicenter of region-wide psalmody conflicts that “torn and convulsed” Kentucky Presbyterianism for years.