Origin and History of Milburn Chapel

 

William McKinley was President of the United States in 1900 when Milburn Chapel
Cumberland Presbyterian Church was first organized on September 4, in West Paducah,
Kentucky. September 4, 1900 was Founders Day at Milburn Chapel Cumberland
Presbyterian Church.

 

The church laid great stress upon the ʺWhosoever Willʺ gospel. The church was organized following a brush arbor meeting which took place about a mile and a half south of the Fisher School. Rev. William Thomas Millburn of Pryorsburg, Kentucky was evangelist for the brush arbor meeting. He also organized the church and became the first pastor. Because of this, the church was named after him.

In 1902 the congregation entered the newly constructed frame building which was thirty three
feet by fifty-five feet. Records reveal that indebtedness was paid and the church was dedicated on the third Sunday in October 1902. Electric lights were installed in 1938. Before
this improvement, lamps were hung from the ceiling as the lighting system. At the beginning
of each service, someone had to climb upon a ladder and light the kerosene lamps. The
church went to two Sunday services a month or halftime, in May of 1944. The old church built
in 1901 received new exterior siding in the spring of 1946. In April 1947, under the direction
of Rev. Johnson, the church began preaching services every Sunday.

The building committee was authorized on March 11, 1963, to negotiate on the construction of
a new sanctuary. The old church was auctioned off and sold in parts. While the new church
was being constructed, services were held in the fellowship hall. Groundbreaking services
were held on June 2, 1963. The first service was held in the new church on October 20, 1963.

On October 12, 1997 the session of Milburn Chapel voted unanimously in favor of relocating
Milburn Chapel to a parcel of ground that was given to the church in the 80’s by Gov. Julian
Carroll. At the following spring meeting of Covenant Presbytery the session submitted a
report seeking permission to sell the church and to relocate the church to the current
property. Permission was granted by the presbytery to do such.

The ground work began in the fall of 2004 and was completed in December 2006. The first
service in our present building was the last Sunday of 2006. What was a vision of Milburn
Chapel in 1997 became a reality in 2006. The new facility was dedicated on January 13, 2008. 

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The Milburn Chapel Cumberland Presbyterian Church continues to serve in Grace and Fellowship for those who desire Salvation through our Lord, Jesus Christ.