Historic Normandy Presbyterian Church was built in 1910...
The original structure was a modified "Akron Plan” providing for a main worship space as well as a smaller area for group meetings and Bible study. Whether due to the Akron plan or happy accident, our sanctuary has amazing acoustics, just right for our enthusiastic group of musical and vocal talent! Come hear for yourself!
Key Dates in the History of Normandy Presbyterian Church
By David B. Hazelwood
November 24, 2007
Our congregation may be approaching a one hundred year milestone in its history. It is
most likely that a 1909 organization date is the reasonable one to use, but there are other
possibilities. Since there was some division in this congregation’s past or in its birth, the
date of its organization warrants discussion.
There is also information making 1870 our beginning date. Both the 1870 date and the
1909 date are in our church’s first minutes of session book. Between 1906 and 1911 there
were minutes of both sessions in the same minutes book. Did our congregation form from
a splinter group from the Center Congregation? Or did the Center Congregation Session
leave the Lazy Branch location and move to Normandy? Did the Normandy congregation
apply to the PCUSA presbytery for affiliation or was it already affiliated by virtue of the
denominational union in 1906? Both used the names Center Congregation and Center
Church during 1909 and 1910.
On October 8, 1870 the Center Congregation was formed with 18 charter members and
met at a site on Lazy Branch Road. It was affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian
General Assembly. At the turn of the century the Cumberland Presbyterian General
Assembly and the Presbyterian Church-USA began union discussion.
On July 1, 1906 the session of the Center Congregation passed a resolution to abide by
the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly’s action to join the Presbyterian Church
USA. There was apparently mixed feeling in the congregation about the resolution. The
Center Congregation minutes are silent for the next three years.
On August 22, 1909 the Center Congregation elected new officers. (By this time some of
its members had been meeting in the Cortner Station Depot which must have prompted
the new officers being elected for the Lazy Branch congregation.)
On September 12, 1909 the Center Church met in the school room in Normandy and
authorized T L Huffman “to work write Dr. Fullerton pertaining to the building of a
church for this congregation.” (This is the first record of an action by the session of the
Normandy congregation.)
On October 14, 1909 a cyclone destroyed the Center Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
On December 16, 1909 L T Throneberry deeds lot for church to trustee T L Huffman
On January 9, 1910 the session meets in school room, Normandy.
On March 5, 1910 the session proposes to Presbyterian Church of Tullahoma joint
pastorate.
On May 8, 1910 the session meets in Brandon Hall
On June 18, 1910 TL Huffman deeds lot for church to Normandy Presbyterian Church,
USA. Deed notarized by A J Cortner. (This was the first recorded use of this name for the
church.)
On March 12, 1911 the session met in the church.
On August 10, 1911 the Center Church of the Cumberland Church made its last entry in
the minutes book indicating Tom Crawford was employed as pastor for a year.
most likely that a 1909 organization date is the reasonable one to use, but there are other
possibilities. Since there was some division in this congregation’s past or in its birth, the
date of its organization warrants discussion.
There is also information making 1870 our beginning date. Both the 1870 date and the
1909 date are in our church’s first minutes of session book. Between 1906 and 1911 there
were minutes of both sessions in the same minutes book. Did our congregation form from
a splinter group from the Center Congregation? Or did the Center Congregation Session
leave the Lazy Branch location and move to Normandy? Did the Normandy congregation
apply to the PCUSA presbytery for affiliation or was it already affiliated by virtue of the
denominational union in 1906? Both used the names Center Congregation and Center
Church during 1909 and 1910.
On October 8, 1870 the Center Congregation was formed with 18 charter members and
met at a site on Lazy Branch Road. It was affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian
General Assembly. At the turn of the century the Cumberland Presbyterian General
Assembly and the Presbyterian Church-USA began union discussion.
On July 1, 1906 the session of the Center Congregation passed a resolution to abide by
the Cumberland Presbyterian General Assembly’s action to join the Presbyterian Church
USA. There was apparently mixed feeling in the congregation about the resolution. The
Center Congregation minutes are silent for the next three years.
On August 22, 1909 the Center Congregation elected new officers. (By this time some of
its members had been meeting in the Cortner Station Depot which must have prompted
the new officers being elected for the Lazy Branch congregation.)
On September 12, 1909 the Center Church met in the school room in Normandy and
authorized T L Huffman “to work write Dr. Fullerton pertaining to the building of a
church for this congregation.” (This is the first record of an action by the session of the
Normandy congregation.)
On October 14, 1909 a cyclone destroyed the Center Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
On December 16, 1909 L T Throneberry deeds lot for church to trustee T L Huffman
On January 9, 1910 the session meets in school room, Normandy.
On March 5, 1910 the session proposes to Presbyterian Church of Tullahoma joint
pastorate.
On May 8, 1910 the session meets in Brandon Hall
On June 18, 1910 TL Huffman deeds lot for church to Normandy Presbyterian Church,
USA. Deed notarized by A J Cortner. (This was the first recorded use of this name for the
church.)
On March 12, 1911 the session met in the church.
On August 10, 1911 the Center Church of the Cumberland Church made its last entry in
the minutes book indicating Tom Crawford was employed as pastor for a year.
Come See Our Apostolic Windows!
Each of our interior stained-glass windows bears the nameplate of an apostle. For each apostle there is a story, a personality, a unique call to Christ with gifts as well as struggles. What is your story? What is your call to Christ and community? What are your gifts and struggles? Normandy is a place to be all of who you are in Christ.
“I grew up across the street from the church. Among my fondest childhood memories are nights
the church was lit up and the windows glowed so beautifully.” - Gary
the church was lit up and the windows glowed so beautifully.” - Gary