Ryder Memorial Presbyterian Church

We are a fellowship of persons committed to Jesus Christ and His Church. We believe faith is lived out in our everyday lives at work, home and community. We gather to worship, learn, grow and share our faith.

We are instructed and guided by Scripture, as God's word to us. We pray for one another, our church, and our world. We serve the Lord with our time, talents and treasures.

We love to laugh together and are willing to stand by each other in time of trouble and grief. We believe that all our members have a ministry and can make a difference in God's world and our community. We welcome persons from all walks of life who are searching for the presence of God in their lives.


CHURCH HISTORY:

In1932, Rev. Hugh Ash, a Northern Presbyterian Church pastor, visited a mountain Sunday school meeting in the home of Arthur and Ida Glover in Sullivan County, Tennessee. He asked if they would like to start a Presbyterian Church, and told them about Mrs. M. Jeanetta Moore of Columbia, who wanted to donate money for a church in memory of her daughter, Edna Jeanetta Ryder. Edna planned to be a missionary, but died at the age of 18. The people accepted, and Mrs. Moore donated money for the essential items. In the summer of 1932, Edward & Mable Stevens, and John & Bonnie Buchanan donated land for the church. Timber and trees were cut by men of the community. Sampson & Edward Cox pulled logs out of the mountains with horses. Brownlow & Jake Fritz hewed the logs, and William Hopkins scored them. William Combs did the inside finish work. Most men of the community helped in some way, led by William Hopkins. The first service in the new church was held in April 1934 and it was organized in July as the Edna Jeannetta Ryder Memorial Presbyterian Church, although it functioned as only a Sunday school for quite some time. It is now known as Ryder Memorial Presbyterian Church.

Preson P. Phillips, Jr. was the first pastor. After he suffered a stroke, Rev. Leonard Allred of Greensboro, NC served as supply pastor. In the spring of 1958, James Hoff, a student at Graham Bible College, agreed to serve as a student supply pastor with Ted Noe appointed by Presbytery to serve as Moderator. The church was pastored for thirty-eight years by Rev. Martin C. Freeland, beginning in the early 60's. It is now pastored by his son-in-law, Rev. Garry Z. Cole, who was installed as pastor on May 15, 1998.