Tirzah Church organized when Ebenezer members refused Watts Hymns

Context

This passage from the Centennial History describes the origin of Tirzah Church in York County, South Carolina. The church was organized around 1803 when members of the nearby Ebenezer ARP church refused to accept the introduction of Watts Hymns. Those who “would have nothing but the Psalms” united with Associates worshipping at Joseph Miller’s location to form a new congregation.

Extract

Tirzah, York Co., S. C.—Some time previous to 1800, there was a preaching station at Joseph Miller’s, several miles west of where Tirzah church now stands, and there was also an A. R. church at Ebenezer. The attempt to introduce Watts Hymns into the Ebenezer church caused trouble, and those members in Ebenezer who would have nothing but the Psalms, united with these Associates who worshipped at Joseph Miller’s, and organized Tirzah congregation, and located it seven miles south-east of Yorkville, on the Yorkville and Landsford road. The organization was effected about 1803. Rev. Peter McMullen is said to have presided at the organization, and the first elders were: Joseph Miller, Thos. Barron, Samuel Barron and Charles McElwain.

Significance

This extract provides evidence of psalmody-driven realignment working within the Associate Reformed tradition itself—not just between Presbyterian and ARP bodies. The phrase “would have nothing but the Psalms” captures the exclusive psalmody conviction precisely. When combined with the Ebenezer extract (which shows the opposite perspective—members wanting Watts leaving to form a Presbyterian church), this demonstrates that psalmody preferences could sort congregations in multiple directions. The naming of four founding elders (Joseph Miller, Thomas Barron, Samuel Barron, Charles McElwain) provides specific individuals who made this choice. This case also shows how existing preaching stations could absorb psalm-singing refugees from nearby congregations experiencing hymn controversies.