Shawhan Presbyterian Church
The Stonermouth Presbyterian Church was organized in Ruddles Mills, October 1786. Many of the families in the area including the David family were members of this church. Among the active members was Henry David who served as a deacon and later as an elder in this Stonermouth Church until the building was damaged by a windstorm. Since the church building could no longer serve as a meeting place, Henry David invited the congregation to have their meetings in his stone house where they could continue ass. church group until a place of worship could be provided.
Before Henry died, he requested of his sons William and John to build a place where the members could meet. After Henry's death William gave land from his farm near Shawhan Station which was to be used as the place to construct the church building. John gave the money for the building and the church was organized in May 1863 by the Reverend William Henry Forsythe. This small frame building was used until in 1937 the congregation decided to build a new larger building. A Gothic style stone building was erected with most of the work being done by members of the congregation and neighbors.
Many of the memorial windows of stained glass were given in memory of members of the David family, The window in back of the pulpit is a memorial for Henry David. Another window on the north side is in memory of the Reverend William Henry Forsythe.
The early church was known as the "Station Church" which was soon changed to Shawhan Presbyterian Church.
Stone for the new building was obtained from the county jail which was being demolished so that a more modern Bourbon County jail could be constructed.
The Presbyterian Church Organization in later years referred to the small rural churches as "Chapels" and the Shawhan church was frequently called the "David Chapel".
The Shawhan Church record book No. 82, page 232 dated March 18, 1897 has the following record of the land transfer;
"William David to Presbyterian Church Shawhan. Whereas William David of Shawhan, Bourbon County, before his death dedicated to the Presbyterian Church in the United States a lot of land that is situated at Shawhan, Bourbon County, Kentucky and hereinafter described and whereas the congregation worshiping in said connection many years ago erected a church edifice on said lot and have been in possession and use thereof and whereas William David died without making any deed to the same, therefore, their indenture made this 18th day of March 1897 by and between Richard David, Michael David, William David, sons of William David, now deceased, Robert David, Lilly David, Richard David, grandchildren Amanda Wilson, Mary Ewalt and Jno. R. Ewalt her husband, Matilda Pew and her husband Gus Pew, daughters, William Leonard, Henry Leonard, George Lilly, Frank Lilly, Grandchildren, parties of first part, and Robert Sims, George W. Davis, J. B. Ward, George R. Bell, and E. M. Dickson, trustees of the Presbyterian Church, Shawhan, Kentucky, parties of the second part.
The property is given in trust for the use of the congregation of the Presbyterian Church at Shawhan in connection with the Presbyterian Church in the United States or any other body of Presbyterians with which the Presbyterian Church in the United States may form organic connection, and in the event that said church at Shawhan is disorganized and discontinued according to the forms as said Presbyterian Church in the United States, then the title of said property reverts to the heirs at law of William David, the first aforesaid.
Signed by;
By
REV. ROBERT STUART SANDERS, D.D.
Author of
Shawhan Presbyterian Church, Shawhan, Kentucky (pp. 253-258)
Ministers Who Have Supplied Shawhan Church
THE SHAWHAN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
In June 1861, the people living in the Shawhan community asked Rev. W. H. Forsthe, lovingly called "Bishop" Forsythe, to hold religious services in the neighborhood. Services were held in the old stone house between Ruddles Mills and Shawhan, owned by Henry David. This home was owned by Mrs. Joseph Dalzelle of Cyntbiaiia until 1957.
Henry David a staunch Presbyterian was born in Virginia, December 24, 1777, and died in Bourbon county, Kentucky, August 30, 1862. At the time of his death he had been a member of the Stonermouth church for over fifty years. He had served as a deacon in the church. In 1829, he was elected a ruling elder in Stonermouth church. Stonermouth church had become unfit for services because a windstorm had struck the building. Before his death Henry David had requested his sons to carry on the work of the Presbyterian church. William gave a parcel of land at Shawhan Station for a church and John gave the money with which to erect the building thereon. In May, 1863, when the church was organized by Rev. W. H. Forsythe he was accompanied by a ruling elder in the Mt. Pleasant church, Thomas Wornall. The congregation decided to call the church the "Station Church" and it was known for many years as the Station church until the name was changed to Shawhan. At the first congregational meeting, William and John David were elected ruling elders. William served as an elder until his death, November 22, 1881, and John served until his death, December 10, 1869.
John David and Henry Ewalt were elected to lead the singing at a meeting of the congregation in August, 1863.
It is interesting to note that when people were baptized the records of the Session state that they "were baptized with Clean Water, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."
When the church was organized Samuel Ewalt, John David and Henry Ewalt were elected trustees.
It is difficult to write a connected history of this church because the records of the Session have been inadequately kept. There are gaps of eight or ten years in the records. Much good has been accomplished which is not recorded:
The church has in large measure been a community church although owned and controlled by the Presbyterians. Worshippers have always been drawn from the many denominations in the neighborhood.
The church has never had an installed pastor but the pastors of the Mt. Pleasant, Paris and Millersburg churches have in the main been the stated supplies of the church. Among the twenty-two ministers who have supplied the church are some very distinguished names.
After years of struggle and much sacrificial giving in money and in labor the beautiful Gothic stone church was dedicated June 30, 1940. At the morning service Judge Samuel M. Wilson of Lexington spoke on "Adventures of Home Missions." A picnic dinner was served on the grounds to over one hundred people. In the afternoon special music was furnished by the choir. Mr. F. A. Wallis spoke on "What Has Been DONE." Rev. J. W. Clotfelter, D.D., had as his theme: "WHAT REMAINS TO BE DONE." Rev. Robert W. Miles, D.D., spoke on "GOALS."
With the building beautifully furnished the outlay represents an expenditure of $8,000.
The memorial windows are chiefly in honor of members of the David family, given by the descendants of Henry David who after serving the Stonermouth church for more than fifty years was the mover in organizing the Shawhan church. It is fitting that the memory of Henry David and his descendants is perpetuated in this church. To Mrs. J. W. Dalzelle of Cynthiana, a descendant of Henry David, is due much credit because without her untiring effort the beautiful stone church would not be standing today. One window honors the memory of Rev. W. H. Forsythe who organized the church, and another is in honor of Rev. John W. Groves during whose ministry the new church was built.
At the present time under the wise leadership of Rev. A. D. Hildebrand, Shawhan is enjoying spiritual and material prosperity. May the church for many years to come remain to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
The furnishings, given in memory of Mr. and Mrs. David Patton, were donated by their children. The presentation was made by Mrs. J. W. Dalzelle.
Members of the family present were Mrs. W. Clay Shropshire, Mr. and Mrs. David Shropshire, Miss Gwendolyn Shropshire and David Shropshire, Jr., all of Lexington; Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dalzelle, Mr. and Mrs. M. T. Patton, Mr. and Mrs. Julian McKee, Mrs. Rebecca Miller and Mr. and Mrs. J. P. McKee, all of Cynthiana; Mr. and Mrs. John Oldham and family and Mr. and Mrs. David Oldham and family, all of Mt. Sterling.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Kavanaugh Oldham, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Oldham and Mr. and Mrs. William Sutherland and children, all of Danville; Mr. and Mrs. James Patton, Carlisle; Miss Eleanor Adams, Atlanta, Ga., and Miss Eleanor Adams and Miss Anne Kavanaugh Oldham, both of Danville.
Members of the family were guests of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dalzelle at the ancestral home near Shawhan.
"William David to Presbyterian church Shawhan. Whereas William David of Shawhan Bourbon county, before his death dedicated to the Presbyterian Church in the United States a lot of land situated at Shawhan, Bourbon County, Kentucky and herein after described and whereas the congregation worshiping in said connection many years ago erected a church edifice on said lot and have been in posession and use thereof, and whereas William David died without making any deed to the same, therefore, their indenture made this 18th day of March 1897 by and between Richard David, Michael David, William David, sons of Willaim David, deceascd, Robert David, Lilly C. David, Richard David, grandchildren, Amanda Wilson, Mary Ewalt and Jno. R. Ewalt, her husband, Matilda Pew. and Gus Pew, her husband, daughters, William Leonard, Henry Leonard, George Lilly, Frank Lilly, grandchildren, parties of the first part, and Robert Sims, George W. Davis, J. B. Ward, George R. Bell, and E. M. Dickson, trustees of the Presbyterian Church, Shawhan, Ky., parties of the second part, witness," etc.
Following the description of the property the terms are given that the property is given in trust for the use of the congregation of "the Presbyterian Church at Shawhan in connection with the Presbyterian Church in the United States or any other body of Presbyterians with which Presbyterian church in the United States may form organic connection, and in the event that said church at Shawhan is disorganized and discontinued according to the forms as said Presbyterian church in the U. S. then the title of said property revert to the heirs at law of William David, the first aforesaid."
Signed by Lindsay Pew, William Leonard, H. Leonard, Richard David, M. Leonard, M. David, R. L. David, Amanda Wilson, Mary Ewalt, Jno. R. Ewalt.