COMMODORE MEDIA GROUP

Saturday the 13th, College Hill Presbyterian church was destroyed by an overnight fire. The church was the oldest in Oxford, nearly 180 years old, and beloved by many lifetime members. Firefighters were called to the scene at 11 p.m. Saturday night on a report of possible flames at the back of the church. When firefighters arrived at the scene the fire had already begun to spread through the back structure into the attic. The fire was put out at 3:20 a.m. Sunday morning. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire has not been determined, but is still under investigation. The church’s support was destroyed, so the possibilities of it being rebuilt are slim. 

Not only the members of the church, but many Oxford citizens are broken hearted about the fall of this magnificent and historic site. 

Is this a person or an organization? It is a little unclear. Miller Civil War Tours quotes on a facebook post, “Having learned the amazing history of this Church through my research, I have a respect and even a love for the old building, and especially for those old Presbyterians who founded it, built it, weathered the Civil War in it, (Union General Sherman was here, and 30,000 yankees camped here, and looted and burned, for about 20 days in December of 1862. The Church and Community had over 80% of their 57 boys who went to the War either killed or wounded) and who weathered everyday life in it for 175 years.” The post talks about the engaging past of the church and the impact it had on his life. 

The church was not just a home for members but for anyone. As quoted in the post, “When I return home, the first real bit of ‘home’ I see is when I hit the T intersection of County Road 103, and College Hill Road. And right there, filling my windshield, is THE old Church!” 

Despite this tragic event, the church will continue to be a home not just for the church members, but for the past memories of hope, struggle, and peace for eternity.