Londonderry Presbytery left ARP for Presbyterian Synod of Albany over psalmody insubordination

Context

This passage from the History of the Associate Reformed Synod of the South describes the departure of an entire presbytery from the ARP over psalmody and communion practices—but in the opposite direction from most documented cases. The Presbytery of Londonderry (also called Presbytery of New England) wanted to use Watts’s Psalms and Hymns, while the ARP Synod maintained stricter standards. After years of conflict, the Synod disowned the presbytery in 1801, and in 1809 the presbytery joined the Presbyterian Synod of Albany.

Extract

The congregations in connection with the Presbytery of Londonderry were all, or nearly all, disaffected congregations, received into the Associate Reformed Synod from other denominations. The majority of these never were in full accord with the principles and practices of the Associate Reformed Church. The result was, that in 1801, the Presbytery of Londonderry was, “on account of defections from the principles of the Church, and insubordination to the Synod, declared to be no longer in connection with the Associate Reformed Synod. At the same time the Associate Reformed Synod “disclaimed all responsibility for any of its transactions.”

In this insubordinate state the Presbytery of Londonderry continued to have a nominal connection with the Associate Reformed Synod until 1801, when the Synod declared itself no longer responsible for any of its acts. In 1809, the Presbytery of Londonderry, after an existence of mongrel independency for about eight years, was received into the Presbyterian Synod of Albany.

Significance

This extract documents bidirectional movement based on psalmody convictions—an entire presbytery leaving the ARP not because they objected to Watts, but because they wanted to use Watts and the ARP wouldn’t let them. This is crucial evidence that psalmody preferences genuinely drove denominational affiliation in both directions. The case also shows the scale of potential psalmody-driven realignment: not just individuals or families, but an entire presbytery with multiple ministers and congregations. The colorful phrase “mongrel independency” reveals the author’s judgment on their intermediate status. Combined with cases of individuals and congregations leaving Presbyterian bodies for the ARP, this demonstrates that psalmody was a real sorting mechanism operating across the denominational landscape.