By Morgan Mizell

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ — The congregation of Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church will celebrate its 210th year of unbroken service to the Lord at 11 a.m. March 5 with a communion service followed by a reception in Covenant Hall.

The service will be conducted under the direction of the Rev. Elias Mederios of the Reformed Theology Seminary.

According to historical records, the church first met in Washington and was organized under the care of the Rev. James Smylie on Feb. 25, 1807.

Sometime later, the church moved to its current location on Pine Ridge Road where Airport and Foster Mound roads meet. The church was a simple log structure that was later bricked and expanded.

Several years later, the church building was destroyed by a tornado. Records indicate the tornado happened on April 27, 1908. Only one wall of the sanctuary, the Session House, and the Bible on the pulpit remained intact. In fact, that same Bible is on the pulpit today.

In its reconstruction, the church added a two-story Sunday school building and Covenant Hall.

Church member Betty Blanton says the church flourished in the 1960s under the leadership of the Rev. Joe McConnell.

“The little church thrived from the 1960s to the 1980s,” Blanton said. “We had a membership and attendance of anywhere from 75 to 100.”

The church, at that time, had two Sunday services and a Wednesday night prayer service.

Blanton said the church began to decline in the 1990s, like many small rural churches.

“We have had several ministers in the past few years,” Blanton said. “But now, we are served by students, and sometimes instructors, of the Reformed Theology Seminary in Jackson.”

Blanton’s husband, Kent, is now the only Ruling Elder of the church after the death of Lamar Felter in November of last year.

“Our attendance is few, but faithful,” Blanton said. “We believe ‘Where two or more are joined together, there will I be also.’”

Although the number of members are small, Blanton and others are hopeful the church will see another 210 years.

“There has never been a time when the church was closed,” Blanton said. “And we pray that time will never come.”

Blanton said any and all believers are invited to attend the service and reception.