The information for this page came from old microfilm records of unknown origin. Anyone wishing to add information concerning this church is encouraged to contact Betty Miller and Betty Phillips, your hosts for Pickens County, AL. Typographical and transcription errors will be happily corrected, however, no alterations will be made to the original document, additional information will be added as submitter's notes or as additional informational material. NOTE: Some of the tombstone information has been supplied by Michael Cardinell.

The Pioneer Presbyterians in the southern part of Pickens County, many of whom came in from the Carolinas planned to organize a church. On the 29th of September 1838, the Rev. Thomas Morrow of the Tuscaloosa Presbytery organized the church, near Crawford, with fifteen Charter Members, who were:

Thomas and Andrew Lofton and John S. Knox were elected the ruling Elders. On September 30, 1828 the Session met and decided to name the church - Bethesda.

Records indicate that Miss Davis Wilson came from Centerville Church; and John K. Spence came from Greensboro, GA 28, February 1869.

Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Morrow came into the church several years later. She descends from the A. E. Going family and Mr. Morrow was a descendant of Rev. Thomas Morrow. They being the only ones of the congregation descending from one who was present at the organization of the church one hundred years before.

Rev. John K. Spence who was a well known Presbyterian Minister of Alabama, was at one time an Elder of this church. He being the only person who had once belonged to this church - to enter the ministry. The early churches were a sort of court - where frievances of its members were threshed out.

As was custom in the South, before the War between the States, quite a number of slaves were regular member of this church. In later years, the younger generation preferred an organization of their own. The cemetery at Bethesda, where the older member were laid to rest is well cared for. A Revolutional war Soldier - Thomas Lofton lies buried in this adjoining cemetery.

Early Presbyterian Churches were located at Carrollton, Pickensville, Reform Franconia, (2) Bradfords, over Sipsey and Sipsey Turnpike.

Betty Teal Miller Betty Pickens Phillips