Historic Main Street Oxford

800 Main Street

The story of Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church begins in 1857, when Oxford’s newly organized Presbyterian congregation built its first church—a simple frame structure costing $2,500. Land for the church was purchased by Dudley Snow, and John McIver Forbes, along with other early members and their enslaved laborers, felled trees, hewed timbers by hand, and constructed the building using wooden pins to fasten the heavy beams. Remarkably, the original sills and corner posts were preserved during major renovations in 1890, which transformed the building into the picturesque Victorian-style church seen today.

Throughout its history, the church has endured repairs from both an earthquake and a lightning strike. The Oxford Voice reported in January 1891 that the congregation was “putting on the finishing touches” of the new structure. The 1890 renovations brought significant upgrades, including new carpet, pews, chandeliers, and a pipe organ.

The church played a key role in Oxford’s educational history as well. In 1867, a meeting was held there to discuss establishing a higher institution of learning, which led to the creation of Oxford College. In 1919, the congregation renamed the church Dodson Memorial Presbyterian Church to honor Professor John L. Dodson, founder of Oxford College, longtime clerk of session, and a champion of higher education for young men and women.

Local folklore holds that the church may have been part of the Underground Railroad, though no written records have confirmed this claim. The story remains a long-standing part of Oxford’s oral history and community memory.