Centennial History of Butler County, 1905 "The United Presbyterian church of Oxford was organized in 1836. It was originally known as the Associated Reformed church, but in 1858, in common with other bodies of the same faith, it took the name "United Presbyterian." The Oxford church is a scion of the Rev. Alexander Porter's church, of Israel township, in Preble county, eight miles north.   Porter's church was formed by members who came from South Carolina to avoid slavery. The Oxford church was organized with the understanding by the synod that a theological seminary should there be opened. Rev. S. W. McCracken was the organizer and preached as "stated supply" for two or three years, during which time he was a professor of mathematics in Miami University.

United Presbyterian Church, 104  E. Church St. (photo courtesy of Smith Library of Regional History)

Three years after the church was established the theological seminary was opened in a building conjointly erected by the Associated Reformed Presbyterian Synod of the West and the congregation of the church at Oxford. The building afforded an audience room for church services on the second floor, and a lecture room, library room, chapel and seven living rooms for students on the first. Rev. Joseph Claybaugh was chosen first professor, and continued in that capacity for sixteen years, or until his death, which occurred September 9, 1855. Rev. Alexander Young was then elected professor of Hebrew and Greek exegesis, and Rev. William Davidson, pastor of the Hamilton church, was appointed professor of ecclesiastical history. In 1858 the seminary was removed to Monmouth, Illinois, but in 1874 was brought back to Ohio and consolidated with the seminary at Xenia. During the time the seminary was located at Oxford -- about nineteen years in all -- more than one hundred students received theological instruction in connection with it, and almost all of them entered the ministry.

The first pastor of the Oxford church was the Rev. Joseph Claybaugh, D. D., who continued to act until 1855. Rev. Wm. J. McSurley succeeded him, and remained about four years. Among those who have since held the pastorate are the following: Revs. Ormond, Black, Dodds, Frazier, McDonald and Brittain. The society numbers over a hundred communicants and is in a prosperous condition, though it is at present without a pastor."

 © 2000 by the Butler County Historical Society