McChord was the pastor of Market Street Church, now the Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington. In 1813 he had created a stir by preaching in a private home which was against the by-laws of the denomination that ordained him a minister. He planned to leave Lexington but his congregation, which included such notable members as Robert Smith Todd, father of Mary Todd Lincoln, Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, father of Vice President John C. Breckinridge and Kentucky Governor John Pope stopped him. They used their influence and resources to build him a church which came to be known either as the McChord Church, because of it's pastor, or the Market Street Church because of it's location. The church was finished in 1815. He taught Astronomy at Transylvania University and served on it's board of trustees. He continued to serve the church part-time until his death in 1820, at the age of 35. He had been elected in 1820 as the first President of Centre College in Danville, KY, but never actually held the position. His funeral was held at the Market Street Church and he was originally buried beneath the pulpit of the church the congregation had build specifically for him. McChord's grave remained there until 1924, when he was re-interred in the Lexington Cemetery.
McChord was the pastor of Market Street Church, now the Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington. In 1813 he had created a stir by preaching in a private home which was against the by-laws of the denomination that ordained him a minister. He planned to leave Lexington but his congregation, which included such notable members as Robert Smith Todd, father of Mary Todd Lincoln, Joseph Cabell Breckinridge, father of Vice President John C. Breckinridge and Kentucky Governor John Pope stopped him. They used their influence and resources to build him a church which came to be known either as the McChord Church, because of it's pastor, or the Market Street Church because of it's location. The church was finished in 1815. He taught Astronomy at Transylvania University and served on it's board of trustees. He continued to serve the church part-time until his death in 1820, at the age of 35. He had been elected in 1820 as the first President of Centre College in Danville, KY, but never actually held the position. His funeral was held at the Market Street Church and he was originally buried beneath the pulpit of the church the congregation had build specifically for him. McChord's grave remained there until 1924, when he was re-interred in the Lexington Cemetery.
Bio by: Philip Lafleur
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Founder and First Pastor Second Presbyterian Church 1815-1819.
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