Providence Church formed by those who refused to 'have the uninspired supplant the inspired'

Context

This passage from the Centennial History describes Providence Church in Mecklenburg County, organized near a Presbyterian church of the same name prior to February 1790. The account explicitly frames the psalmody dispute in theological terms, quoting the conviction of those who could not accept uninspired hymns replacing the inspired Psalms.

Extract

Providence, Mecklenburg Co., S. C., organized near Presbyterian Church of same name prior to Feb. 24th, 1790. The introduction of Watt’s version of the Psalms, confessedly an imitation and fragmentary, and soon after Hymns of human composition was an innovation in the Presbyterian Church. Many could not see their way clear to have the uninspired supplant the inspired. This new departure strengthened if it did not originate the above congregation. They received occasional supplies from Revs. James Rogers, John Boyse, Peter McMullen.

Significance

This extract contains one of the most theologically precise formulations of the exclusive psalmody position found in the congregational histories: “Many could not see their way clear to have the uninspired supplant the inspired.” This phrase encapsulates the core conviction driving the psalmody controversy—that only the divinely inspired Psalms were appropriate for congregational worship. The passage also distinguishes between “Watt’s version of the Psalms” (paraphrases of Scripture) and “Hymns of human composition” (entirely new texts), suggesting that both were considered problematic innovations. The cautious phrasing “strengthened if it did not originate” indicates that even the historian could not determine whether psalmody was the sole cause or an accelerating factor, but either way confirms its significance in the congregation’s formation.