Land for the Needham Smith Chapel Cemetery was donated by the Cundiff family. The earliest burials are believed to date to the 1850s.



According to early session records of the Needham Cumberland Presbyterian Church, it was organized May 28, 1859, with 43 members. The original members were: Rutha Needham, A. B. Needham, S. E. Needham, A. Kelly, G. W. Hilton, Rachel Ann Hilton, Sally Cundiff, Sally Ann Cundiff, R. W. Cundiff, Margaret Cundiff, John McDonald, Cynthia McDonald, Margaret Kinny, G. W. Moore, Thomas Noe, Martha Noe, Margaret Miller, Martha V. Cundiff, Rebeca J. Shawler, Presley C. Clater, B. G. Cundiff, G. L. Goodman, Jacob Goodman, R. M. Kelly, Mary Jonson, Thomas B. Adams, Ama Adams, Margaret Klinglesmith, William Hicks, Elizabeth Donan, Sarah Donan, Mary Miller, Melissa Shawler, Rebeca Goodman, Elizabeth Cundiff, J. H. Cundiff, Sally Cundiff, Martha Goodman, Catherine Goodman, William H. Goodman, Catherine Goodman, Polly Jane Clater and Barbara Coogle. The church records state that "In the name of Jesus Christ that great head of the church, we whose names are hereunto subscribed agree, to form ourselves into a society to be known by the name of the Needham Church, and approving the doctrine and discipline of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, hereby submit ourselves to care, and the government of Ohio Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the United States of America. May 28, 1859 constituted by E. and J. S. Ward."



They often met in the home of Albert Needham, father of Alexander Needham, since they were staunch Cumberland Presbyterians. It is assumed this is where the name originated.



The earliest record of a session meeting was December 21, 1860. The moderator, E. Ward, called the meeting to order at Mt. Carmel School House, Hardin County, Kentucky. The members present were E. Ward, A. Kelly, A. B. Needham, Thomas Noe, and J. W. Cundiff.



When the Smith's Chapel Methodist Church land was purchased and the church built in 1869, it was a Union Church. The Needham Cumberland Presbyterian Church share the building with the Methodist Church until November 1913. At that time a group was formed and land was purchased across the road from F. A. Pawley by the Trustees of the Needham Congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The trustees were F. M. Givan, H. E. Nichols and N. Scott. The actual building of the church was completed in 1914 with a dedication.



The first elders in the new building were Horace Nichols, Alec Needham, Buddy Scott, George Goodman, Lewis Dupin, Noel Cundiff and Fletcher Drake.

Additional rooms at the back of the church for Sunday School use were added in 1950. Then in 1980 the front of the church was changed with the addition of two Sunday School rooms and bathrooms. In the spring and summer of 1999 a pavilion and concrete driveway with handicap ramp was built. The current building that the congregation worships in is frame.



While searching in the attic for records, a small black bag was found. It contained the minutes of the Needham Auxiliary of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church which was formed August 6, 1929. The charter members were: Ellen Cundiff, Stella Cundiff, Mattie Cundiff, Annie Needham, Ethel Cundiff, Mattie Scott, Maggie Nichols, Mattie Finch and Martha Powell.



The first mention of the Needham Cumberland Presbyterian Church that has been found to date, is listed in Minutes of the Fourth Meeting of the Leitchfield Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, held at Garfield, KY, Aug. 4, 1903. Eveleigh, Mt. Vernon and Needham desire the services of Rev. J. S. J. Brear for the ensuing year.



More information about the church and cemetery may be located in the Historical Foundation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Cordova, Tennessee.