Cannon Creek ARP Church 2008 - photo by Donna Brummett

The Associate Reformed Presbyterians are the fourth oldest denomination in the county.  The Reverend John Renwick from County Antrim, Ireland, was the leader of the sect that founded King's Creek and cannon's Creek churches in the early 1770's.  These were the mother churches of the Associate REformed synod of the South.  From them sprang Mt. bethel, Gilder's Creek, Prosperity, Head Spring, Newberry and Unity Churchs.  Only Newberry and Cannon's Creek remain (as of 1990). Newberry aas founded in 1854 on a lot given by Dr. Thomas W. Thompson.  The church was known as Thompson Street Church until destroyed in the Great Fire of 1907.  The church was rebuilt as its present location at the corner of Main and Calhoun streets and renamed.  Its membership is 280.  The Reverend Edward L. Bland is pastor. Cannon's Creek was moved from its original location to a point on the Newberry-Prosperity Highway in 1948.  The Prosperity Church was abandoned and its members united with Cannon's Creek.  It has sixty-seven members.  The Reverend Gary L. Pierstorff is pastor (The History of Newberry County, SC Vol Two 1860-1990, p 304) A cemetery is located behind the church.