Chesterfield Presbyterian Church
Chesterfield Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church Sanctuary View
Education Building
Presbyterian Manse
Preacher Clower's Home
Location of First Presbyterian Church
Chesterfield Presbyterian Church originated in 1889 with nine members. The Rev. J. G. Richards wanted Chesterfield to assess the possibility of forming a Presbyterian Church in the town. Evidently that small number demonstrated enough zeal, and the church began with the Rev. S. E. Bishop serving as the stated supply. The Bishop family increased the membership to sixteen. Mr. W. F. Stevenson and Mr. A. S. Douglass were elected to serve as ruling elders and Mr. A. C. Guy as a deacon. Unfortunately with several members moving away from the community, the church was dissolved in 1894. In 1907, when the Rev. James Russell was supplying the White Oak and Ruby churches nearby, he began preaching at Chesterfield as a station church. Under his leadership the church was reorganized, and he became the supply pastor of the three churches. These churches remained yoked until the 1970’s when Chesterfield withdrew to employ a solo pastor. Chesterfield Presbyterian Church began worship in a simple wooden building on Thursday, November 7, 1907. There were fifteen members with Mr. W. A. Douglass as ruling elder and Mr. D. P. Douglass and Mr. W. P. Odom as deacons. A painting of that first church hangs in the fellowship hall of the present church. The painting was done by Mr. Edgar Rivers. The Rev. J. R. Millard succeeded the Rev. Russell January 1, 1911, and he remained with the church until Dec. 31, 1925. Much credit has been given to this pastor and his wife for the progress the church realized under their guidance. While the Milliards were with Chesterfield, sixty-seven members were added to the church roll; and the present church, located on the corner of West Main and Mangum streets, was erected. The cost of this beautiful house of worship was $22,000.00, and it was built where a field of cotton being cultivated in town had to be cleared to make way for this church building. The Rev. William Scott succeeded the Rev. Millard June 1, 1926, and he served two years. The Rev. John Knox Johnstone became the next pastor, but he left in 1929 to become a missionary to Brazil. The Rev. John McIntire was Chesterfield’s faithful minister from 1931 until 1942 when he accepted a call to Woodlawn Presbyterian Church in Sharon, S. C. The Rev. Elwood Newton Clower, remembered affectionately as “Preacher” by many, began his pastorate in June of 1942 and served until July of 1965. In these twenty-three years his heart encompassed an incredible number of people of all ages and all walks of life without regard to their religious denomination. His influence was felt far beyond his three yoked churches. He was tireless in his efforts to reach all who needed guidance and comfort. While they were rearing four children during her husband’s busy schedule, Carolyn, his wife, served as church organist and taught English at Cheraw High School. During the Rev. Clower’s ministry the education building, the fellowship hall, the kitchen, and the steeple were added to the church. The erection of the steeple was quite a feat for the small town and attracted a crowd of interested spectators. The Manse located on Ivy Hill was built in 1957, and the Clowers were the first to occupy the new home. In 1965 “Preacher” accepted a call to First Presbyterian Church in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. One can imagine the impact his ministry must have had since his church was near The Greenbrier, “The Little White House”; and often visitors to that resort joined his congregation in Sunday worship. Until his death one might find heads of state from varied countries and government leaders from America in attendance at his services. The Rev. Robert Link came from Chadbourn Presbyterian Church in North Carolina and began his ministry in Chesterfield in 1965. During his pastorate he led the church in redesigning the sanctuary. Architectural changes that were made achieved simple elegance; but more importantly, the sanctuary was revised in the Scottish tradition to glorify God and to encourage the members to worship more reverently. After serving the church for several years, the Rev. Link accepted a call to a church in Virginia. The succeeding minister was the Rev. Charles Moore who came from Lake Waccamaw Presbyterian Church. It was during his pastorate in the early 1970’s that Chesterfield withdrew from the yoked field and sought a solo pastor. The Rev. Michael McCrorey became Chesterfield’s first solo pastor. He remained a few years and was succeeded by the Rev. John Spence. During the early 1980’s the northern and southern Presbyterian Churches merged to become Presbyterian Church U. S. A. This merger was not accepted by the Rev. John Spence and the majority of the Chesterfield Presbyterian Church members; they chose to form an Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Chesterfield, which did not last long. Fortunately four members were reinstated into Chesterfield Presbyterian Church. Since the basic theology was not changing and since New Harmony Presbyter was accepting the merger, a small core of Chesterfield Presbyterians chose to remain loyal. The church was placed under the jurisdiction and care of Presbytery which supplied the church with ministers to deliver Sunday morning sermons. Several of these fine leaders were from St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg, N. C. Later Dr. Malcolm D________, an international scholar and an ordained Presbyterian minister as well as Provost of Coker College, and Dr. James Daniels, then President of Coker College and a dynamic lay man, alternated with outstanding sermons over a period of months. The congregation grew to love many of these interim ministers and greatly appreciated their caring service and guidance; however, a full-time pastor was needed. Finally, the church would have a pastor when the Rev. Al Daniel and his wife Faye accepted a call. They came from Tabor City and Loris Presbyterian churches. They meant a great deal not only to the church but also to the community. Mrs. Daniel, an accomplished organist, pianist, and vocalist served as church organist and organized a community choir which performed some beautiful programs. After three years the Daniels moved to Rock Hill where they are enjoying partial retirement. Fortunately the Rev. Al Schlorholtz and his wife Peggy, who had spent thirty-nine years in Pakistan and Nepal assisting these undeveloped countries and spreading Christianity there, came to Chesterfield Presbyterian Church in 1992. Having had a brief respite at their Florida home, they realized that they wished to work again. They contacted New Harmony Presbytery as well as other Presbyteries. Dr. John Evans, then the Executive of New Harmony Presbytery, directed them to Chesterfield; and they came to the church for service as stated supply. During the two years in Chesterfield, they were called upon to speak in a number of Presbyterian churches, as well as those of other denominations. With their warm, friendly personalities and their Christian influence, they were a blessing to the area. In November, 1994, the Rev. Donald Buddle became the stated supply; and he and his wife Edna moved into the manse on Ivy Hill. Coming from their home in New York, Donald was apprehensive about being accepted in a Southern congregation. They were a blessing for the church, but they had to return to their home in New York to be with their daughter because of her illness. The Rev. Buddle said that he considered his time in Chesterfield two of the happiest years of his life, and Edna would have liked to make this her permanent home. Again the church was faced with having to find an interim minister, and they turned to the Rev. Tim Langston, a counselor at the Pee Dee Center in Florence, S. C. He came to Chesterfield to deliver inspiring sermons during the morning worship services. He found time to make pastoral visits, and he was popular with all ages. How blessed the church has been with its supply and interim ministers; however, the church felt the need for a full-time pastor. The Rev. Joan Yates became that solo minister July, 1997, and remained in that relationship through September 14, 2003. Joan’s husband, the Rev. __________ Yates is the pastor of White Oak and Ruby Presbyterian churches, and the Yates’s, with their two lovely young daughters, reside in the manse at White Oak. The Chesterfield Presbyterian Church is grateful to the Rev. Joan Yates for her ministry here, but the active membership has declined to the extent that a solo pastor is not an option at this time. The Chesterfield Presbyterian Church is happy that the more-than-adequate facilities of the church can be useful beyond this congregation. Grief counseling for law enforcement officers meets here, and volunteers from Hospice of Chesterfield County have held training sessions here. A portion of the education building has been designated a number of times for weekly meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous. Another crossroad will be met, and Chesterfield Presbyterian Church plans to continue the local, national, and international Christian mission its denomination, Presbyterian Church U. S. A., has supported devotedly through the years.