| In1932, Rev. Hugh Ash, a Northern Presbyterian Church pastor, visited a mountain Sunday school meeting in the home of Arthur and Ida Glover in Sullivan County, Tennessee. He asked if they would like to start a Presbyterian Church, and told them about Mrs. M. Jeanetta Moore of Columbia, N.J. who wanted to donate money for a church in memory of her daughter, Edna Jeanetta Ryder. Edna planned to be a missionary, but died at the age of 18. The people accepted, and Mrs. Moore donated money for the essential items. In the summer of 1932, Edward & Mable Stevens, and John & Bonnie Buchanan donated land for the church. Timber and trees were cut by men of the community. Sampson & Edward Cox pulled logs out of the mountains with horses. Browlow & Jake Fritz hewed the logs, and William Hopkins scored them. William Combs did the inside finish work. Most men of the community helped in some way, led by William Hopkins. The first sesrvice in the new church was held in April 1934 and it was formally organized in July as the Edna Jeannetta Ryder Memorial Presbyterian Church. It is now known as Ryder Memorial Presbyterian Church.
In the 50's, the church was pastored by Leonard Alred, and later by Jim Hoff. The church was pastored for thirty-eight years by Rev. Martin C. Freeland, beginning in the early 60's. It is now pastored by his son-in-law, Rev. Garry Z. Cole, who was installed as pastor on May 15, 1998.
Ryder Church Road was known as Rural Route 3 until the county came through to identify and name area roads. The only sign they saw at the end of the road was one that Rev. Freeland had posted showing the way to Ryder Church, so the road was named after the church.
If you have additional information regarding Ryder Church history that would be of interest, we would like to hear from you! Please contact Elizabeth Freeland Cole at eliz111@aol.com.
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