In 1917 a small
group of people secured permission to hold Sunday School in the school
building that sat on the bank of Tyler Creek. They grew discouraged and
abandoned the idea until 1919 when Mr. John Sparks from Bream
Presbyterian Church organized a worship service for all who wanted to
attend. The group began growing and on October 6th, a small lot beside
the school was purchased from the Kanawha County Board of Education for
the sum of $100.The new building was started in the early part of
1920 and was completed in time for the Christmas program that year.
It was in August of 1920 that the Rev. Robert McKinnon
came from Bream Church to serve as the mission pastor for the
congregation. On August 20, 1022 the Tyler Creek Church was dedicated as
the first mission of Bream Church.
During the Christmas season of 1923 Rev. McKinnon was killed at a
railroad crossing on his way home from church. Soon after his tragic
death the church board decided to change the name of their mission to
McKinnon Memorial Presbyterian Church.
That was the start of a difficult time for the church, but the people
held together during the many ups and downs and slowly continued to
grow. Several different pastors served the church during the ensuing
years. In April 1945, Evan Harries arrived as the mission pastor. He
served both McKinnon and Littlepage Churches. This seemed to mark a
turning point in the development of the church.
On May 25, 1953, Rev. Evan Harries was ordained and installed
as the pastor of the church. He served until his death in January 1955.
On August 1, 1955, the Rev. Charles McNutt accepted the call to
McKinnon. He was installed as the pastor on September 18th. Under his
ministry the church experienced it's greatest growth. In April 1956, a
large piece of property across the road from the original church was
purchased for $18,000. Plans began to develop for a new church
building. A groundbreaking ceremony 
was held in May and on April 27,1958, the new brick 
church was dedicated. An annex and educational building was added in
1960. A manse behind the church was completed in 1963. A large part of
the work on all three buildings was done by the church members
themselves. For pictures see our Photo Gallery.
We have had four members of the church answer the call to full time
ministry.
James R. Cavender Jr.
,
Archie Norman 
,
John Mackley
and Joseph Morecraft III .
