Old Rodney Presbyterian Church (2)
During the Civil War, on September 13, 1863, a skirmish ocurred at the church. On that Sunday morning the Union gunboat "Rattler" had docked at Rodney. Rev. Baker, a northern sympathizer who was to preach that day, invited Captain Fentrese of the "Rattler" to attended Sunday morning services. The captain and eighteen of his crew attended Sunday morning services, but were captured by a small party of Confederate cavalry. When word of the prisoners reached the "Rattler”, the gunboat bombarded the town and church. Lt. Allen, Commander of the Confederates sent word that if the shelling did not stop, all prisoners would be hanged. Thus, town and church were spared. The church building still bears scars from this shelling. During the post war years, the population of Rodney declined, adversely affecting church membership. In 1923, the last fulltime pastor resigned leaving behind a congregation of sixteen. However, church services probably continued for several years. In 1966 the church property was conveyed to the United Daughters Confederacy for restoration for which the 1968 Mississippi, Legislature appropriated funds.