This fellowship of Christians was organized as a local church on January 11, 1835, in the home of Alexander Shaw, one of the early Scot Irish settlers in North Mississippi. Originally the church was named Neriah Church, but shortly thereafter it was re-designated Ebenezer Church. In 1836 members migrated to this area, and on Jan 11, 1841, the church was renamed College Presbyterian Church in recognition of the founding of the North Mississippi College. In 1842 the congregation paid $400 for 23 acres on which to construct a public place of worship. The sanctuary, built in 1844 under the direction of Francis Timmons, was the oldest Presbyterian structure in North Mississippi and the oldest church building of any denomination in the Oxford area. Constructed of bricks fired on the site, the building was completed in 1846 at a total cost of $2,809.75.
Historical events of interest include the encampment on these grounds by Union troops of Generals Grant and Sherman, and the marriage of author William Faulkner. The church cemetery contains several unmarked Union soldiers’ graves, along with slave burial sites and many Confederate soldiers’ burial sites. The Session’s original Minutes, dating back to the 1835 organizational meeting, are safeguarded in a local bank.
As it has been said of the American denominations of the 19th century, “Baptist preachers farmed on the side, Methodist preachers spent their time in the saddle riding their circuits, and Presbyterian preachers stayed at home and taught school.” College Hill Church became involved in education early on and its efforts evolved into the founding of North Mississippi College in 1840. G. W. and Selina Buford, who were
members of the church, deeded a section of their land to the college trustees who then built two brick buildings on the campus. However, when near-by University of Mississippi began its program in 1848 and competed for local support with North Mississippi College, the increased draw on the already stretched limited funding of the college led to its closing about 1860.
In 2001, a new Fellowship Hall and office building was constructed. In 2008, a Sunday School wing was added which, during the week, houses the Pre-K of Regents School of Oxford, a classical Christian school located across the street from the Church grounds.
Though heartbroken by our historical sanctuary’s burning in August 2022, God has used it to galvanize and renew us. We honor our past but our eyes are fixed on the future, that we might be a faithful outpost of family of God in our generation. Visit here to learn more about the progress of our rebuilding projects
