Taylor Methodist Episcopal Church History
Information comes from The WPA Guide to Kentucky by F Kevin Simon published in 1939 and is at the Campbell County Historical & Genealogical Society in Alexandria. Book #7075-2008-0386 page 248
The Taylor Methodist Episcopal Church, 123 E 3rd St (formerly Taylor St) is a simple red brick building with plastered walls, cherry pulpit and handmade wooden pews. It was erected in 1831. In the deed to the lot appears the name of Henry Ward Beecher, then a student at Lane Theological Seminary in Cincinnati.* The 1937 flood destroyed this building and it was torn down.
(Henry Ward Beecher, son of Lyman and Roxanna Beecher, graduated from Lane Theological Seminary in 1837. His father was head of the school at that time. Henry was brother to Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom's Cabin)
*There is no reference to this information as to where Simon got this information about the church.
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There is no reference to the following information, but a sheet with this history is in the Churches files at the Campbell County Historical & Genealogical Society in Alexandria Kentucky.
In 1833 the wall of the old Taylor Street Methodist Church, South, was put up by the Presbyterians. The members of the Presbyterian Church at that time were a company of Yankees who had come to Newport to work in a bagging factory on the river front. When the business failed, the employees moved away, and the Methodists purchased the Church.
On July 27, 1840, James H McClure, for $5000 transferred by deed, the property to Isaiah T Hayman, John B Lindsey, Geo C Tarvin, James Wall and Edward Southgate, Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Newport. The upper room of the building was not then finished. "There were no public schools in those days and the basement room of the Church was rented between Sundays for a subscriptions school."
The lot deeded by McClure to the trustees was all of lot 129 and ten feet on the west side of lot 128; being "76 feet front on Taylor street, (now Third Street) and running through the same width 129 feet to market space." An old newspaper clipping tells that the church, when purchased "had a magnificent broad, open front with tall plastered columns, and was said to be the finest church in all Northern Kentucky."
In 1859 Dr. John W Cunningham, now 96 years old,(1920) living in California, was sent to Newport as pastor. He removed the columns and added the front, which gave the vestibule and four additional rooms. The church building though very old, is quite well equipped for modern church work. There is a beautiful modernized auditorium, new pews, pipe organ and is well lighted. The present auditorium will seat about 400, the balcony will seat over 200. The Sunday school and Epworth league rooms are downstairs.
Some of the greatest preachers of the nation have been pastors of the church. Its first pastor was Henry Ward Beecher under the Presbyterians. The first Methodist pastor so far as history can be obtained was Rev Jonathan Stamper, 1807, Dr. W F Taylor, Dr. Charles Taylor, Dr. S X Hall, Dr. H P Walker and a host of great men have shepherded the Old Taylor Street flock.
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Cincinnati Daily Press, Monday, 7 October 1861, page 4
Rev W H Perry, who has recently been appointed pastor of the M C Church on Taylor street, Newport, preached his first sermon yesterday.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, Friday, 4 December 1863, page 3
OYSTER SUPPER-The ladies of Taylor street Church in Newport, will give a splendid entertainment on Wednesday evening, December 6, at Smalley's Hall. Thankful for the liberal patronage they have formerly received, they propose making the present festival equal to any heretofore given, and hope it will meet with the same hearty response from all their friends. Music by Professor J N Horns and a portion of he Newport Barrack Band, whose services on various occasions are deserving our sincere thanks.
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Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Friday, 26 August 1864, page 2
At a meeting of the officers of this church last week the Union members of the board offered through Mr. O M Abbott some resolutions on the reputed disloyalty of the church toward the United States Government and urged that the Kentucky Annual Conference take a decided loyal position and separate themselves from all disloyal connections.
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Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Tuesday, 15 November 1864, page 2
The Rev J W Cunningham, formerly stationed at the Methodist Church on Taylor street, Newport, has preached several powerful sermons lately while on a brief visit. The ladies of his former charge have presented his lady with an $80 sewing machine.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, Saturday, 22 April 1865
The Taylor Street Methodist Church-At a meeting of the members of this church, held on Thursday evening, it was resolved to removed from above the door of the edifice the word "South". The name of the church will, therefore, hereafter be "Taylor Street M E Church" instead of Taylor Street M E Church "South". A resolution was adopted that the Kentucky Conference of the M E Church South be memorialized to withdraw from the General Conference of the M E Church and change its name by leaving out the word "South".
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Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Tuesday, 26 September 1865, page 2
We learn that application will be made on Thursday next, to Judge Doniphan, of the Circuit Court by Joel Baker, James N Caldwell, Trustees and sundry members of the Taylor street Church, Newport, for an injunction, restraining James Ewan, Isaac Baughman, Ira Root, Alfred Wood, James R Morin, A M Bodley, J K Trainer, George Synder, Lewis Commings, Captain John A Arthur, Richard S Shaler, C P Buchanan, James E Perry and all other persons, from interrupting or in any manner interfering to prevent the free use of the Taylor street Methodist Episcopal Church by Rev L D Huston and the congregation usually attending there for the purpose of religious worship. Notice to the above effect have been served on the parties named. The church is now held by civil authorities.
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Cincinnati Daily Enquirer, Saturday, 17 November 1866, page 2
The Rev Mr. Whiteman, late of SC Conference, having joined the Kentucky Conference, has been appointed pastor of the Taylor Street Church in Newport and will preach there on Sunday, the 18th inst. morning and evening. The friends of that church and the public are cordially invited. Seats free.
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Cincinnati Commercial Tribune, Sunday, 22 April 1883, page 6
At the Taylor Street M E Church, Newport, this morning the pastor, Rev J O A Vaught, will occupy the pulpit. During the service twenty applicants will be received into the membership of the church.