First United Methodist Church - Humboldt, TN This building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as First Methodist Episcopal Church, South. According to the Tennessee Historical Commission marker: Built 1899. Thus church is an example of Gothic Revival architecture. The exterior of the sanctuary consists of standing buttresses, towers, a copper spire and cross, and pointed arch stained glass windows. Transept windows were designed and installed by the renowned Jacoby Company of St. Louis in 1901. The interior features a cruciform plan and vaulted ceiling. The church was organized in 1860 in Humboldt, and in 1867 a small frame building was built east of the present sanctuary. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/underrated-tn-towns/ 12 Underrated Tennessee Towns That Deserve A Second Look
Christ Church Episcopal - Rugby, TN Rugby is a small community along the Cumberland Plateau in Morgan County, founded by British Immigrants in 1880. The Rugby Colony was designed to be a utopian community, but the design failed in less than a decade. Still a few townspeople and their descendants lived in the area over the next several decades. In the 1960s, residents, friends and descendants of Rugby began restoring the original design and layout of the community, preserving surviving structures and reconstructing others. The Christ Church Episcopal was established on October 5, 1880, and initially used the original Rugby schoolhouse for services. The current building was built in the Carpenter Gothic style in 1887 by Cornelius Onderdonk, who constructed many of the original buildings in Rugby, and consecrated by Episcopal bishop Charles Quintard in 1888. The church's alms basin was designed by English carpenter Henry Fry, who had previously done work for various churches in the London area. The church's reed organ, built in 1849, is one of the oldest in the United States. The Christ Church congregation has met here regularly since 1887. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/most-unique-tn-town/ The Little Town In Tennessee That Might Just Be The Most Unique Town In The World
Christ Church Episcopal - Rugby, TN Rugby is a small community along the Cumberland Plateau in Morgan County, founded by British Immigrants in 1880. The Rugby Colony was designed to be a utopian community, but the design failed in less than a decade. Still a few townspeople and their descendants lived in the area over the next several decades. In the 1960s, residents, friends and descendants of Rugby began restoring the original design and layout of the community, preserving surviving structures and reconstructing others. The Christ Church Episcopal was established on October 5, 1880, and initially used the original Rugby schoolhouse for services. The current building was built in the Carpenter Gothic style in 1887 by Cornelius Onderdonk, who constructed many of the original buildings in Rugby, and consecrated by Episcopal bishop Charles Quintard in 1888. The church's alms basin was designed by English carpenter Henry Fry, who had previously done work for various churches in the London area. The church's reed organ, built in 1849, is one of the oldest in the United States. The Christ Church congregation has met here regularly since 1887.
Christ Church Episcopal - Rugby, TN Rugby is a small community along the Cumberland Plateau in Morgan County, founded by British Immigrants in 1880. The Rugby Colony was designed to be a Utopian community, but the design failed in less than a decade. Still a few townspeople and their descendants lived in the area over the next several decades. In the 1960s, residents, friends and descendants of Rugby began restoring the original design and layout of the community, preserving surviving structures and reconstructing others. The Christ Church Episcopal was established on October 5, 1880, and initially used the original Rugby schoolhouse for services. The current building was built in the Carpenter Gothic style in 1887 by Cornelius Onderdonk, who constructed many of the original buildings in Rugby, and consecrated by Episcopal bishop Charles Quintard in 1888. The church's alms basin was designed by English carpenter Henry Fry, who had previously done work for various churches in the London area. The church's reed organ, built in 1849, is one of the oldest in the United States. The Christ Church congregation has met here regularly since 1887. Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/free-tn/ Here Are 21 Awesome Things To Do In Tennessee… Without Opening Your Wallet
Prospect Baptist Church - Chattanoga, TN
Laotian Buddhist Temple - Murfreesboro I am not enough of an expert of Buddhism to understand of any of the symbolism here, but I think it's interesting. It's north of Murfreesboro on the Old Nashville Highway. I found it as I was tracing the old Dixie Highway from Nashville to Chattanooga. Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.murfreesborolocalnews.com/
St. Paul's Episcopal Church - Franklin, TN According to the historical marker: This "Mother Church of the Diocese of Tennessee," was begun in 1831, four years after its congregation was organized in 1827. Here James H. Otey, its first rector, was elected the first bishop of Tennessee. It was so damaged through use as a Civil War barracks and hospital that it had to be remodeled in 1870. It is the oldest Episcopal Church and congregation in Tennessee, and the oldest Episcopal Church building in continual use west of the Appalachians. After its use in the Civil War as a barracks and a hospital, there were major changes to the building as the entrance was placed here and the altar was moved to the other side. New pews, an organ, and Tiffany stained glass windows were added during the remodel. In 1988, a National Register study of Williamson County historical resources described it as "one of the finest remaining" Gothic Revival style churches in middle Tennessee.
Small country church in cannonsburgh village.
St. John's Episcopal Church - Johnson City, TN
First Presbyterian Church - McMinnville, TN First Presbyterian Church (also known as Cumberland Presbyterian Church) is a historic Presbyterian church in McMinnville, TN. It was completed in 1872 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. It is located along Main St. which is TN380 but used to be TN1 and US70S.
West End Methodist Church Located along West End Ave. (US70S) in Nashville's Midtown
First Baptist Church - Kingston, TN Located on Kentucky St. (TN58) in the middle of Kingston.
First Christian Church - Dover, TN The stone gate to the left is the entrance to the adjoining Dover Cemetery with graves dating back to 1775. The plaque notes that the gate dates to 1950. Their website says that their building is the oldest church building in the county, dating back to 1872.
St. John's Lutheran Church - Knoxville, TN From Wikipedia: St. John's Lutheran Church is a historic Lutheran church located at 544 Broadway NW (Emory Place) in Knoxville, Tennessee. The church building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, both individually and as a contributing property in the Emory Place Historic District. The St. John's congregation was formed in 1888. It was the first English-language Lutheran congregation in Knoxville. The founding members were Lutherans of German heritage who preferred English over German, which was then used in other local Lutheran churches. Initially, they met for worship in the First German Evangelical Lutheran Church in downtown Knoxville. In 1889, the group leased the former the Broad Street Methodist Episcopal Church building, on the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue, for worship use. In 1890, the congregation incorporated, affiliated with the United Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the South, and purchased the former Broad Street Methodist property. Development of the current church building began in 1910 after church member Martha Henson donated land one block north of the church building. After adjoining land was acquired, construction of the new church building began in August 1911. The new church was completed and dedicated in 1913. R. F. Graf was the architect of the Gothic Revival style building. Martha Henson contributed almost $90,000 toward the $100,000 cost of the project as a memorial to her husband, James A. Henson. Gothic elements in the building include arches at windows and doorways, exterior buttresses, and tracery. The church's interior utilizes quarter sawn oak. Hammerbeam trusses vault the sanctuary, rising to almost 40 feet. The sanctuary is surrounded by 61 stained glass windows, including a series of nine pictorial windows that depict scenes from the Bible in chronological sequence. The windows were designed by Von Gerichten Art Glass of Cincinnati and assembled onsite during building construction.
Capers Memorial C.M.E. Church - Nashville According to the historical marker: The oldest known African-American congregation in Nashville, Capers Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in a brick house near Sulphur Springs in 1832, as the "African Mission" of McKendree Methodist Episcopal Church. When the congregation moved in 1851, Capers became the first local church edifice erected solely for Blacks. During the Civil War, the building was used as a military hospital by the Union Army. In 1870, Capers became a member of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church Conference. Capers assisted in the founding of Lane College (1878), Bethlehem Center (1911), and the Missionary Connectional Council (1918), of which women's suffrage activist, Dr. Mattie E. Coleman was first president. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, its present Neoclassical building was designed and built by McKissack & McKissack Architects, the founders of which were lifetime members of the congregation. This church building is also stop #14 on the Nashville Civil Rights Walking & Auto tour: www.historicnashvilleinc.org/resources/sm_files/civilrigh... UPDATE This property has been added to the Historic Nashville Inc. list of endangered properties, the 2015 Nashville Nine. You can see their listing here: www.historicnashvilleinc.org/resources/nashville-9/2015/2...
Tim & Serena's Wedding 2 - After lighting the unity candle I'm not a wedding photographer. My wife and I were attending her cousin's wedding. After they lighted the Unity candle, they paused and hugged for a moment leaving the stained glass window as a wonderful backdrop.
New Salem Cumberland Presbyterian Church This church is located along highway TN89 in Weakley County between Dresden and Sharon. According to the sign out front, the congregation was established in 1849. On the front of the building is a metal plaque presented by the Daughters of the American Colonists in 1889.
Fire on the Mountain Revival This attention-getting volcanic hand-painted sign was seen along US27 south of Sunbright, TN.
First United Methodist Church - Lexington, TN Located along Church St. (US412) in downtown Lexington near the town square.
St. Joseph Catholic Church - St. Joseph, TN From Wikipedia: St. Joseph Church is a historic Roman Catholic church on Spring Street in St. Joseph, Tennessee. The Roman Catholic church in St. Joseph was established in 1872. Its first church building was a small frame structure located near the current church. It housed a parochial school for many years and was being used for storage as of 1984. The current church building is a large structure built by in 1885 by the church's parishioners from ashlar cut stone that they had quarried at a nearby site. It has a stucco exterior and a square bell tower with a short octagonal steeple that is roofed with tin shingles. It has an unusually elaborate interior that is largely the work of John Sliemers, who served as the local parish priest from 1901 to 1903 and from 1914 to 1934. Both the main altar and side altars have elaborate carvings, while lathe-turned balusters support the chancel rail and the rear gallery. Religious scenes are depicted in stained-glass windows and in paintings on the interior walls. The 1885 church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Monroe Street United Methodist Church The Monroe Street United Methodist Church in Nashville was built in 1909 in a Gothic style. There were originally spires on top of both front columns but they deteriorated with age. The congregation would like to replace these someday.
Tiptonville Presbyterian Church According to the Historical Marker: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/... Organized in October 1880 by Rev. J.E. Carne. One of the charter members was Nimmie Tipton Owen, daughter of William Tipton for whom Tiptonville was named. Present building was erected in 1892, Rev. William Thorne, pastor, Richard Owen, builder. This church building is located on Church St. (TN21) down the road from the central business district.
Church of the Immaculate Conception - Knoxville, TN Located in downtown Knoxville, this Victorian Gothic building was completed in 1886. With it's location on the highest hill in town, the city leaders had the official town clock added to the church's tower.
Dixon Springs Union Church This church building in Dixon Springs, TN dates back to 1878. It is called the Union church since different groups met here over the years. Originally the building was a Christian Church, and then became a Church of Christ. In the 1960s it became a Baptist church for a few years until it became abandoned. This road is part of the old main road between Carthage and Hartsville, but now highway TN25 bypasses the old part of the city. This church building is on the national register of Historic Places as part of the Dixon Springs Historic District
Harrison Mayes: Get Right With God Kentuckyan Harrison Mayes survived a mining accident and spent much of the rest of his life making crosses like this one and placing them on major roads all throughout the country. This sign is in Smyrna, TN and located on the Old Nashville Highway, which is a 150+ year old road connecting Nashville to Murfreesboro and eventually became part of the Dixie Highway. These signs, made of concrete, usually weigh 1400 pounds. On one side of the cross, it reads "Jesus is Coming Soon." The other side says "Get Right With God." Until recently, the GET was covered up and replaced with MADE. I am not sure who or why it was changed originally or restored to the original. For more info on Harrison Mayes and his signs, Look here.
Christ Church Cathedral Downtown Nashville, TN on Broadway Here is the historical marker: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
Jordonia United Methodist Church Built around 1920, this church was nominated for an architectural award in 1975 by the Metro Nashville Historical Commission. The foundation is made of stone, while most of the exterior walls are covered in white clapboard. The upper half of the front facade is covered by a patterned shingling and 18 stained glass windows. This is a high and steep pitched standing seam tin roof with a bell tower and steeple. Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-churches/ These 14 Stunning Churches In Tennessee Will Make Your Jaw Drop
Harrison Mayes: Jesus is Coming Soon Kentuckyan Harrison Mayes survived a mining accident and spent much of the rest of his life making crosses like this one and placing them on major roads all throughout the country. This sign is in Smyrna, TN and located on the Old Nashville Highway, which is a 150+ year old road connecting Nashville to Murfreesboro and eventually became part of the Dixie Highway. These signs, made of concrete, usually weigh 1400 pounds. On one side of the cross, it reads "Jesus is Coming Soon." The other side says "Get Right With God." Until recently, the GET was covered up and replaced with MADE. I am not sure who or why it was changed originally or restored to the original. For more info on Harrison Mayes and his signs, Look here.
Third Baptist Church - Nashville, TN Located in the Buena Vista neighborhood in Nashville, this congregation is now known as the Hopewell Missionary Baptist church. The brick building dates back to 1909 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. 2020 Update. This building was listed on the 2020 Nashville Nine of endangered historic properties. Here is their writeup: historicnashvilleinc.org/announcing-the-2020-nashville-nine/ The tornadoes that tore through Middle Tennessee on March 3, 2020, damaged more than a hundred buildings, including several houses of worship. Between the destruction and the suspension of in-person services, many of the congregations have yet to rebuild. The home of Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, which has sat on the corner of 10th Avenue and Monroe Street since its dedication in 1906, was one of the hardest hit—and for the second time. The red brick church trimmed with stone lost its bell tower during a tornado that followed a similar path in May 1999. The steeple was destroyed again this March, and that was only part of the damage the building sustained. The church building, with its gabled bays facing both 10th and Monroe and its Gothic or Romanesque details, was designed by Henry Gibel. Gibel, a Nashville architect who emigrated from Switzerland in the 1880s, also had a hand in designing the original Nashville Carnegie Library, now demolished, and the Nashville Arcade. During its hundred-plus years, the church building has been associated with Nashville’s German and Black communities. It was dedicated in 1906 as the Third Baptist Church. Third Baptist moved out in 1959 and sold the building to Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church, which had split off from Mt. Zion Baptist Church in 1914. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The members of Hopewell Baptist have been unable to worship here since March, and fallout from the pandemic has slowed restoration plans. An investment from the broader community would allow this congregation of about two hundred people to rebuild the steeple and return the sanctuary to its former beauty.
Dixon Springs Union Church This church building in Dixon Springs, TN dates back to 1878. It is called the Union church since different groups met here over the years. Originally the building was a Christian Church, and then became a Church of Christ. In the 1960s it became a Baptist church for a few years until it became abandoned. This road is part of the old main road between Carthage and Hartsville, but now highway TN25 bypasses the old part of the city. This church building is on the national register of Historic Places as part of the Dixon Springs Historic District.
Decatur Methodist Church This church building is a stop on the Southeast Tennessee Tourism's religious heritage trail. Although the building has been expanded, the core of the building dates back to 1857-59. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Riddleton Baptist Church Located along old highway TN25, this church is located in the unincorporated Smith County, TN community of Riddleton. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-life-lessons/ 11 Life Lessons Everyone Learns Growing Up In Tennessee or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tennessee-day-ever/ 12 Ways To Have The Most Tennessee Day Ever or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-changing-america/ Most People Have No Idea That Tennessee Is Changing America – In the Best Way or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/undeniable-tn-home/ 11 Undeniable Reasons Why Tennessee Will Always Be Home
Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church on the Inside The Primitive Baptist Church is one of the three remaining church buildings in Cades Cove. The Cades Cove Baptist Church formed in 1827 and it split in 1841 forming this and the Missionary Baptist Church. The congregation met in a log building for sixty years until this building was constructed in 1887. The church staunchly backed the Union in the Civil War, which led to divisions tense enough within the cove that it was actually closed during the war. The Primitive Baptist Church resisted closure until the 1960s, more than 20 years after the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Cades Cove Historic District.
Downtown Christian Church - Johnson City As the name implies, the building is right in the middle of town along Main St. (TN91). The congregation dates back to 1871. They built their first building at this site in 1906 and this building dates to 1951.
Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church The Primitive Baptist Church is one of the three remaining church buildings in Cades Cove. The Cades Cove Baptist Church formed in 1827 and it split in 1841 forming this and the Missionary Baptist Church. The congregation met in a log building for sixty years until this building was constructed in 1887. The church staunchly backed the Union in the Civil War, which led to divisions tense enough within the cove that it was actually closed during the war. The Primitive Baptist Church resisted closure until the 1960s, more than 20 years after the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Cades Cove Historic District.
Cades Cove Primitive Baptist Church and Cemetery The Primitive Baptist Church is one of the three remaining church buildings in Cades Cove. The Cades Cove Baptist Church formed in 1827 and it split in 1841 forming this and the Missionary Baptist Church. The congregation met in a log building for sixty years until this building was constructed in 1887. The church staunchly backed the Union in the Civil War, which led to divisions tense enough within the cove that it was actually closed during the war. The Primitive Baptist Church resisted closure until the 1960s, more than 20 years after the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Cades Cove Historic District.
Fisk Memorial Chapel According to the historic marker: Fisk Memorial Chapel, designed by New York architect William Bigelow, was erected in 1892 in memory of General Clinton B. Fisk, a founder of the University. The religious and cultural center of the campus, the Chapel has welcomed foreign dignitaries, outstanding concert artists, and renowned lecturers, such as Booker T. Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Chapel is the home performance site for the famous Fisk Jubilee Singers. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Fisk University Historic District. To learn more, here is the history section on their website: fiskmemorialchapel.com/History/History_of_the_Chapel/
Inside the Cades Cove Methodist Church Cades Cove at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular destination in the United States most visited national park. The isolated valley was the home to many early settlers and today several of those sites are well preserved. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sight-see the wildlife, scenic beauty and historic district structures on the National Register of Historic Places at a leisurely pace. This Cades Cove congregation began modestly meeting in a log structure with a fire pit and dirt floor. It took sixty two years to get a newer more modern building in 1902. Carpenter and pastor, John D. McCampbell built this white frame structure which became the Cades Cove Methodist church. The buildings two front door design was common in the 1800’s. Generally this two front door design allowed men to enter and sit on one side of the chapel and women and children on the other. Many churches even had a divider in the middle of the chapel. However, the Cades Cove’s Methodist congregation was more relaxed and sat where they pleased. Records show the builder was simply copying the design of another church building which happened to have the two door design.
Cades Cove Methodist Church and Cemetery Cades Cove at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular destination in the United States most visited national park. The isolated valley was the home to many early settlers and today several of those sites are well preserved. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sight-see the wildlife, scenic beauty and historic district structures on the National Register of Historic Places at a leisurely pace. This Cades Cove congregation began modestly meeting in a log structure with a fire pit and dirt floor. It took sixty two years to get a newer more modern building in 1902. Carpenter and pastor, John D. McCampbell built this white frame structure which became the Cades Cove Methodist church. The buildings two front door design was common in the 1800’s. Generally this two front door design allowed men to enter and sit on one side of the chapel and women and children on the other. Many churches even had a divider in the middle of the chapel. However, the Cades Cove’s Methodist congregation was more relaxed and sat where they pleased. Records show the builder was simply copying the design of another church building which happened to have the two door design.
Cades Cove Methodist Church Cades Cove at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular destination in the United States most visited national park. The isolated valley was the home to many early settlers and today several of those sites are well preserved. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sight-see the wildlife, scenic beauty and historic district structures on the National Register of Historic Places at a leisurely pace. This Cades Cove congregation began modestly meeting in a log structure with a fire pit and dirt floor. It took sixty two years to get a newer more modern building in 1902. Carpenter and pastor, John D. McCampbell built this white frame structure which became the Cades Cove Methodist church. The buildings two front door design was common in the 1800’s. Generally this two front door design allowed men to enter and sit on one side of the chapel and women and children on the other. Many churches even had a divider in the middle of the chapel. However, the Cades Cove’s Methodist congregation was more relaxed and sat where they pleased. Records show the builder was simply copying the design of another church building which happened to have the two door design.
Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church Cades Cove at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular destination in the United States most visited national park. The isolated valley was the home to many early settlers and today several of those sites are well preserved. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sight-see the wildlife, scenic beauty and historic district structures on the National Register of Historic Places at a leisurely pace. The Baptist denomination came to Cades Cove in 1825. Several years later that congregation split into the Primitive Baptist Church and this Missionary Baptist Church. (the sign on the side of the building says they were founded in 1839.) They met together at first in homes in 1841. They stopped meeting during the Civil War. They grew large enough to need a building, which was completed in 1894. As they continued to grow, they needed a bigger building and this one was completed in 1915.
Cairo Methodist Church - Cairo, TN Built in 1916
Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church (Front View) Cades Cove at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular destination in the United States most visited national park. The isolated valley was the home to many early settlers and today several of those sites are well preserved. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sight-see the wildlife, scenic beauty and historic district structures on the National Register of Historic Places at a leisurely pace. The Baptist denomination came to Cades Cove in 1825. Several years later that congregation split into the Primitive Baptist Church and this Missionary Baptist Church. (the sign on the side of the building says they were founded in 1839.) They met together at first in homes in 1841. They stopped meeting during the Civil War. They grew large enough to need a building, which was completed in 1894. As they continued to grow, they needed a bigger building and this one was completed in 1915.
Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church (Corner View) Cades Cove at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular destination in the United States most visited national park. The isolated valley was the home to many early settlers and today several of those sites are well preserved. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sight-see the wildlife, scenic beauty and historic district structures on the National Register of Historic Places at a leisurely pace. The Baptist denomination came to Cades Cove in 1825. Several years later that congregation split into the Primitive Baptist Church and this Missionary Baptist Church. (the sign on the side of the building says they were founded in 1839.) They met together at first in homes in 1841. They stopped meeting during the Civil War. They grew large enough to need a building, which was completed in 1894. As they continued to grow, they needed a bigger building and this one was completed in 1915.
Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church (Rear view) Cades Cove at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular destination in the United States most visited national park. The isolated valley was the home to many early settlers and today several of those sites are well preserved. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sight-see the wildlife, scenic beauty and historic district structures on the National Register of Historic Places at a leisurely pace. The Baptist denomination came to Cades Cove in 1825. Several years later that congregation split into the Primitive Baptist Church and this Missionary Baptist Church. (the sign on the side of the building says they were founded in 1839.) They met together at first in homes in 1841. They stopped meeting during the Civil War. They grew large enough to need a building, which was completed in 1894. As they continued to grow, they needed a bigger building and this one was completed in 1915.
Cades Cove Missionary Baptist Church Interior Cades Cove at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is the most popular destination in the United States most visited national park. The isolated valley was the home to many early settlers and today several of those sites are well preserved. An 11-mile, one-way loop road circles the cove, offering motorists the opportunity to sight-see the wildlife, scenic beauty and historic district structures on the National Register of Historic Places at a leisurely pace. The Baptist denomination came to Cades Cove in 1825. Several years later that congregation split into the Primitive Baptist Church and this Missionary Baptist Church. (the sign on the side of the building says they were founded in 1839.) They met together at first in homes in 1841. They stopped meeting during the Civil War. They grew large enough to need a building, which was completed in 1894. As they continued to grow, they needed a bigger building and this one was completed in 1915.
Virtual Reality Theater - Trinity Music City As a starter, this has nothing to do with the emerging virtual reality technology. This building was originally the Conway Twitty Museum located at Twitty City in Hendersonville, TN. After Twitty's death, the property was purchased by Trinity Broadcasting Network. They have made substantial interior changes including a couple of movie theaters. The highlight of the building is the replica of the Via Dolorosa.
Central Christian Church - Murfreesboro, TN This church building is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the East Main Street Historic District in Murfreesboro, TN. Here is a description of this house from the brochure entitled "Explore Historic Murfreesboro - A Walking Tour" 404 East Main Street The Central Christian Church (1912) is the town’s best example of Neoclassical design, including the dome, Ionic columns, and pedimented entrances. The sanctuary is a perfect square with semicircular seating rather than the usual center aisle arrangement. The floor is canted (sloped downward) as in a theater to focus on the altar and chancel area.
First Presbyterian Church with Carillon - Jackson, TN The First Presbyterian Church is located along US45 in Jackson, TN. The grounds have been named a state certified arboretum. Inside the steeple tower is a traditional carillon of 47 bells. The church's carillon is one of 17 carillons in Tennessee. It is dedicated to the soldiers of Jackson and Madison County who offered and gave their lives for our country. The bells themselves were founded and tuned in France in the late 1940s. They chime regularly, and offer the spectacular prelude to the Jackson Starlight Symphony, a free annual concert on the church lawn. Update: This Home and the church have been added to the National Register of Historic Places in Dec. 2016. Read more about it in this article from the Jackson Sun: www.jacksonsun.com/story/news/local/2015/12/11/chevy-chas...
Birthplace of CMT, now TBN Auditorium In the early 1980's it looked like Hendersonville was going to become a prime country music tourist destination. Johnny Cash set up the House of Cash on a highway named after him. Conway Twitty built his mansion and tourist destination Twitty City. Across the street, several smaller venues opened up and collectively they became known as Music Village USA. After Twitty's death, his entire property went for sale and was purchased by the Trinity Broadcasting Network which opened Trinity Music City. The smaller attractions weren't going to thrive on their own and were also purchased by Trinity. Originally, this building was the original headquarters of CMT, Country Music Television. CMT was launched on March 5, 1983, at 6:19 p.m. They remained here until they were purchased by Opryland / Gaylord who also owned their competitor TNN. Today, this building is the Trinity Music City Auditorium where Trinity Broadcasting tapes several shows.
Statue of Jesus Riding a White Horse This tall statue is located on the property or Trinity Music City in front of their Auditorium. The property occupies the former Twitty City grounds in Hendersonville, TN with this statue as the most prominent new addition. The statue is prominent in symbolism like what would be found in Revelation. He is wearing a crown while holding a sword in one hand and an animal horn trumpet in the other. The statue is atop a large flower bed in the shape of a Star of David.
Holmes Memorial United Methodist Church Photographed at dusk, this church building is located along highway TN18. It is in the town of Hickory Valley in Hardeman County.
St Thomas Episcopal Church - Somerville, TN Building completed in 1858. Located one block west of the Somerville town square.
McMinnville, TN Church First Methodist Church; (200 W. Main St.) Dating from 1886, the First Methodist Church was built from bricks fired to construct the Great Falls Cotton Mill at Rock Island. Stained glass windows and original oak pews have been retained even though several additions to the rear of the church have been made over the years, including the Willis and Gribble annexes. www.tngenweb.org/warren/warsite.htm
First Baptist Church - Grand Junction, TN
Christ Church Cathedral - Downtown Nashville While I was taking an HDR picture of the Pipe organ in the back, I turned around to get a picture of the intricate carving at the front of the auditorium. I am not up on my cathedral terminology, so I do not know what to call this. Unfortunately, What I didn't realize until I got home was that if I had moved back about a foot, I would not have inadvertently removed the head of Jesus in the Stained Glass window, which I was not even focusing on.
Christ Church Cathedral Pipe Organ - Nashville I generally don't like taking HDR pictures because of the extra effort involved. However, tonight I was standing in just the right place that I felt it needed to be done. This is inside the Sanctuary of Christ Church Cathedral along Broadway in Downtown Nashville, TN. The Pipe organ is in the balcony in the back. Boring Technical details. Set the camera to Aperture Priority / 8.0. used exposure bracketing. at home, merged with photomatix. I was at the cathedral for a performance of the Nashville Early Music Ensemble.
St. Matthew, St. Mark & an Angel Inside Christ chuch Cathedral, Downtown Nashville, TN
an Angel, St. Luke & St. John Inside Christ chuch Cathedral, Downtown Nashville, TN
Cross and Carving of Christ's Crucifiction at Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville, TN
3 stained glass windows at the front Christ Church Cathedral, downtown Nashville, TN
Closeup of center stained glass window Christ church Cathedral, downtown Nashville, TN
Church on East Fort St. in Manchester, TN one block from the courthouse
1st Presbyterian Church - Columbia, TN Along 7th St. (U.S. 412)
[Made] Right With God Kentuckyan Harrison Mayes survived a mining accident and spent much of the rest of his life making crosses like this one and placing them on major roads all throughout the country. This sign probably originally said "Get Right With God" but I have no idea why there's a change. This sign is in Smyrna, TN and located on the Old Nashville Highway, which is a 150+ year old road connecting Nashville to Murfreesboro and eventually became part of the Dixie Highway. The other side says Jesus is Coming Soon. These signs, made of concrete, usually weigh 1400 pounds. For more information, see Jacob Krejci's Set or This website. Hello to anyone who found the photo here: stepswithgod.com/understanding-mission-jesus/
Polk Presidential Hall - Columbia, TN This Church which is currently being restored is next door to the Polk home in Columbia, TN. More information can be found here: www.jameskpolk.com/new/Polkhall.asp Except: The building was originally erected by Archibald Sinclair in 1882 as Christian Church. The property was later conveyed to the Tennessee Orphan Home, used as an office for phosphate mining operations (mining became an important American venture as the California Gold Rush began during Polk’s last year as President), and turned into Columbia Business College, conducted by Mr. and Mrs. James Stoltz. The James K. Polk Memorial Association purchased the property from the Stoltz family in January, 2006.
Dr. Moore - Director The director of the Nashville Early Music Ensemble is Dr. Gerald Moore, , a retired music professor from Lipscomb University, who taught music theory and directed the Lipscomb Early Music Consort for over twenty-five years. This picture came from a performance of the Nashville Early Music Ensemble at the First Presbyterian Church in Columbia, TN on Sunday, February 10, 2008
Flynn's Lick Baptist Church Along TN53 southwest of Gainesboro, TN. It looks like the place might fall in, but there was a sign out front that they still have services. Notice the window on the left is bigger Update: This church has been completely rebuilt since this photo was taken.
Lindsley Avenue Church of Christ - Nashville, TN Lindsley Avenue Church of Christ is a historic church at 3 Lindsley Avenue in Nashville. The Late Gothic Revival building designed by architect Robert Sharp was built in 1894 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. According to the Register's nominating form, "The Lindsley Avenue Church of Christ, a late Victorian Gothic-style building with a great deal of ornate architectural detailing, is unique in Nashville for its decorative exuberance on a church of its scale."
Shelby Ave. Baptist Church Located on Shelby Ave. in East Nashville
Oakland Presbyterian Church - Oakland, TN The Oakland Presbyterian Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I am not sure how old the building is but a plaque near the door says the congregation was organized in 1888. Oakland is a small town in Fayette county. The church is located on highway TN194 at the intersection of US64 and just a couple blocks north of the old town's Main Street
First United Methodist Church - Columbia, TN Along 7th street.
First United Methodist Church - Gallatin, TN On Old U.S. 31E
First Baptist Church - Tullahoma
Boiling Spring Academy - Brentwood, TN Boiling Spring Academy is a resorted one room schoolhouse in Brentwood, TN that dates back to 1832. The school was built on land that also contains several old Indian Mounds. The first classes were held at this private school in 1833. In 1887, the building became a public school. Around 1900, the building was also used as a multi-denominational church, and what had been the main door became the middle window, with the door moving to the side. It's use as both a school and a church stopped in the late 1910s as the Primm family, who owned the surrounding farmland, used the building to store hay, corn and tobacco. In 2003, the Primm family donated the land to the city of Brentwood, who made this Primm Historic park after a year of renovations. The park is along Moore's Lane (TN441) near the intersection of Wilson Pike (TN252), however the gate is often locked. The park is also accessible via the city Bicycle Greenway system. The Academy is listed on the National register of Historic Places. For the whole story, read the brochure PDF here: www.brentwood-tn.org/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid...
Elm Street Methodist Church - Nashville, TN Elm Street Methodist Church is a historic Methodist church building at 616 5th Avenue S. in Nashville. The building no longer serves as a place of worship and has been converted to offices for Tuck-Hinton Architects. It was built in 1871 in an Italianate style and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Is there dust on your Bible? The answer is probably "yes" if you've attended services during their remodeling. Highway 100 - Hickman County - just north of Centerville, TN
First Presbyterian Church - Knoxville The First Presbyterian Church of Knoxville is a congregation that dates back to 1792. They have always occupied the same block in downtown Knoxville and this building dates back to 1903. While the building has expanded several times over the years, this is the entrance to the core sanctuary. Also on the property is the church graveyard which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Two of the famous interments include Territorial Governor William Blount and Knoxville founder James White.
Verona Methodist Church - Verona, TN According to Wikipedia: Verona United Methodist Church, originally Verona Methodist Episcopal Church, South, is a historic church on Verona-Berlin Road in the Verona community of Marshall County, Tennessee. The church was founded and built in about 1880 as one of two successors to the former Cave Spring Methodist Church, which had been built in the 1840s or 1850s. The Cave Spring church closed and its congregation was divided to form new churches in Farmington and Verona. After the Cave Spring Church was torn down, some of its materials were recovered for use in the new Verona church. The pews and bell from the Cave Spring church were installed in the Verona church. A wooden cross that hangs in the Verona church was made from the cedar door-steps of the Cave Spring church. The church building was expanded in the 1930s and the 1950s, when Sunday School rooms were added. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. For many years, the church shared a pastor with the Berlin, Caney Spring, and Farmington United Methodist churches. The Farmington church was administratively separated from the others in 2003. The Verona United Methodist church closed in 2011.
Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church This church building is located in Columbia, TN. Here is the text of the historic marker: In October 1843, free blacks in Columbia established Mount Lebanon Missionary Baptist Church, the oldest black Baptist congregation in Tennessee. Edmund Kelly was its first pastor. The original church was built several blocks southeast of this site, and it served as a school during the Reconstruction Era. The present building was built in 1885.
Fosterville Church of Christ Fosterville is a tiny Unincorp. town in Rutherford County. I had never heard of it until I was in Christiana and saw "Christiana-Fosterville Rd." Once I was there, there was another road I took "Bell Buckle-Fosterville Rd." Since Bell Buckle was my eventual destination. Both of these roads closely follwed the train tracks. Fosterville must have had a train depot at one time as one person had the old Depot sign nailed to their barn.
La Grange United Methodist Church This Methodist church is seen along highway TN57 in the small Fayette County town of La Grange. This building was built in 1928 after the previous building was destroyed by a tornado. It is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the La Grange Historic District. For a thorough history: www.lagrangetn.com/methodist.htm
Nashville Tennessee Temple (Mormon) This is one of about 150 Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is located in the Nashville suburb of Franklin. In the LDS religion, a temple is not a regular church but instead is restricted to certain members where specific rites are performed. This Temple opened in 2000 and at the time was the 84th LDS Temple. The temple's exterior is constructed from Imperial Danby white marble and has a single spire topped with the traditional Mormon statue of the angel Moroni.
Wartrace, TN Baptist Church This is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Wartrace Historic District. Here are the notes: ca. 1880. Victorian Gothic Revival. 1 story structure of local brick, rectangular plan, bell tower with open belfry at central entry topped by simple wooden hipped canopy, lancet windows with stone sills, stained-glass transom over double-leaf entry, continuous stone foundation, cinderblock addition rear. Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-churches/ These 14 Stunning Churches In Tennessee Will Make Your Jaw Drop
St. Paul's AME Church - Nashville This historic church building dates back to 1870, but was altered and a new facade was added in 1914. I don't believe this building is on the National Register of Historic Places, but it was one of six nominated in 1983 as the "Churches of South Nashville." Today, the building is "The Bell Tower" event venue.
College Grove Methodest Church College Grove, TN is a small town in Williamson County along US highway 31A. Info taken from the historical marker: On March 31, 1860, Dr. Samuel Webb deeded the land for College Grove Methodist Church and a seminary for young ladies. The present Victorian structure was erected in 1888 by T.G. Slate. Memorial windows were added in 1952 and 1984. The steeple was erected in 1983 in honor of the Joe C. Bellenfant family. Here is the Historical Marker: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
Goodlettsville Church of Christ Neon sign in Goodletsville, TN along highway US 31W
Chapel Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church Located on Horton Highway (U.S. 31A) in Chapel Hill, TN (Marshall County). Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Building - #85001897, significant because of it's Greek Revival Architecture from the 1870's
Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church - Knoxville, TN Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church (now known as Knoxville House of Faith) is a historic church at 416 Lovenia Avenue in Knoxville, TN, in the Fourth and Gill historic district. It was built in 1906 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The sanctuary features high vaulted ceilings.
1st Presbyterian Church, Columbia, TN 7th St. (U.S. 412) - Next door to the James K. Polk home. This building was opened in 1916. The Nashville Early Music Ensemble will perform here on December 7, 2008. For more information, check their website at nashvilleearlymusic.blogspot.com/
Nashville Early Music Ensemble @ Christ Church On Tuesday, November 25, the Nashville Early Music Ensemble performed at Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Nashville. For more information, see: nashvilleearlymusic.blogspot.com/
First Baptist Church - Franklin, TN This historic church building in downtown Franklin was built as First Baptist Church in 1849. Although the building was damaged in the Civil War, it was rebuilt, then rebuilt again in 1890 after a fire. The Baptist congregation moved away in 1988 and the building has been home to a couple of denominations since then.
Sweetens Cove Primitive Baptist Church From Wikipedia: Primitive Baptist Church of Sweeten's Cove is a historic Primitive Baptist church in Marion County, Tennessee, located in the Sweeten's Cove area in the Sequatchie Valley, about 7 miles north of South Pittsburg. Sweeten’s Cove, which is identified as Sweeden’s Cove in some old maps and documents, was an area of early settlement, primarily by members of the Beene (Bean) and Raulston (Roulston) families. The church was established around 1821 as Union Primitive Baptist Church. It adopted its current name in 1834. The church building was completed in 1853. On June 4, 1862, Sweeten's Cove was the site of a minor battle between Union Army forces under General James Negley and a Confederate cavalry unit led by Colonel John Adams. Twenty unidentified Confederate soldiers who died in the battle are buried in the Bean-Roulston Cemetery, which is about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) north of the church. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Burns Methodist Church Burns, TN - along old U.S. 70 (now TN47)
St. Peter's Episcopal Church - Columbia, TN From Wikipedia: St. Peter's Episcopal Church is a historic church at 311 W. 7th Street in Columbia, TN. St. Peter's was the second Episcopal Church established in Tennessee, being formally organized on June 16, 1828, one year before the Diocese itself was formed. The first church building was located on Garden Street. The present edifice, begun in 1860 was not completed until 1871, after the Civil War. In 1926 the church interior was renovated to appear as it does today, with the enlarged split chancel, rood beam, and the carved lectern and pulpit. The parish house was erected in 1924. Additional classrooms and offices were added in 1964. St. Peter's was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Clark Memorial United Methodist Church This church is listed on Historic Nashville Inc.'s Civil Right's Movement tour guide as stop #14. historicnashvilleinc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/HNI-c... The fellowship hall of Clark Memorial housed most of the Nashville Christian Leadership Council (NCLC) nonviolent training workshops conducted by James Lawson from the autumn of 1958 through the early 1960s. The church building dates to 1945 and is located at 1014 14th Ave. N. Text of 2019 marker: Founded in South Nashville in 1865, Clark Memorial moved to North Nashville in 1936 and to this location in 1945. The church was central to the Civil Rights movement in Nashville, with activist James M. Lawson conducting classes here in 1959 on non-violent protests. Lawson was a founding member of the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), whose Nashville members included students at American Baptist College, Fisk Univ., Tenn. A&I (now Tenn. State) and Vanderbilt Univ.
First Baptist Church of East Nashville 601 Main St., Listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Classical Revival architecture. The church building was built in 1928 on the corner of Main and Sixth streets. It was expanded in 1931 and continuously improved, especially from 1934 through 1941. The front entrance of the church was restructured because of the widening of Main Street during the 1960s. Built in a Classical Revival design, this beautiful church building contains a magnificent pipe organ, melodic chimes, a mural by Tennessee State University professor and artist Frances Thompson, and memorial windows.
Charlotte Cumberland Presbyterian Church On the Charlotte town square. Originally built in the 1850's, but strongly damaged in the civil war, rebuilt in 1905.
Trinity Parish Episcopal Erected 1875. Clarksville, TN used to occasionally be called a city of seven churches, and this is one of the old ones. 317 Franklin St. Gothic Architecture. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
St. Peter - Columbia, TN From Wikipedia: St. Peter's Episcopal Church is a historic church at 311 W. 7th Street in Columbia, TN. St. Peter's was the second Episcopal Church established in Tennessee, being formally organized on June 16, 1828, one year before the Diocese itself was formed. The first church building was located on Garden Street. The present edifice, begun in 1860 was not completed until 1871, after the Civil War. In 1926 the church interior was renovated to appear as it does today, with the enlarged split chancel, rood beam, and the carved lectern and pulpit. The parish house was erected in 1924. Additional classrooms and offices were added in 1964. St. Peter's was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.
Woodbury Church of Christ 100 East Water St. Woodbury, TN The oldest part of the building, dating back to 1889. It has been greatly expanded since this original building. www.woodburychurchofchrist.org/
Fatherland Baptist Church - East Nashville Now: YMCA East Nashville Y-CAP I have uploaded a picture of this building because it has a plaque noting its entry on the National Register of Historic Places at the main entrance tower. I can't find any other info on this building, so I don't know if it was always YMCA or if it was a church in the past. It's also not listed individually on the NRHP with its address of 1021 E. Russel St., so it either part of the East Nashville Historic District or Edgefield Historic District. Update: This building is formerly the Fatherland Baptist Church and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the East Nashville Historic District with an address of 122 South 11th Street. Here is the text from the NRHP nominating form: Two blocks away at 122 South 11th Street is Fatherland Baptist Church (photo #33, map #1). It also is somewhat Beaux Arts in style though less so than the previous two buildings. Built of beige brick on a stone foundation and trimmed with stone, the church is basically a gable-roofed rectangle. It is an unusual design, not closely resembled by any other church in Nashville. Brick pilasters with stone caps and bases ring the entire building creating a temple-front effect on the pedimented east end of the building. The pilasters articulate the facades into bays of equal width, three on the short end and seven on the longer sides. On the south side, at the third bay from the rear, facing Russell Street, is a square tower, one bay wide, rising to a full second story and topped by a rather small, domed, eight-sided belfry with Ionic pilasters framing each of its sides. The main entrance is in the base of this tower framed by a pair of Tuscan columns and a pediment. Sanctuary windows are arched, one to a bay, with narrower arched windows paired in each corner bay. To the rear of the entrance tower is a two-storied educational building under the same roof plane.
St. Peter's AME Church St. Peter's African Methodist Episcopal Church is one of Clarksville, TN's numerous historic churches, originally built in 1873 and remodeled in 1890. Is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
First Presbyterian Church This church on Main St. in Clarksville, TN was completed in 1878 with a neo-gothic architecture at a cost of $43,000. It's one of several historic churches in Clarksville and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Spire of Madison St. UMC Madison Street United Methodist Church may have taken more damage than any other Clarksville Church from the 1999 tornado. In one particularly gripping photo I saw, had church members looking in the front door of the church, and nothing but blue sky through the door. The two towers at the front of this church has been replaced with metal frame towers now. By random coincidence, I posted this photo on the 10 year anniversary of that tornado without realizing it.
Auburntown Church of Christ Auburntown, TN along Main St. (TN145)
Woodland Presbyterian Church Built in 1918, located on Gallatin Rd. (old US 31E) in East Nashville.
Beersheba Springs Church of Christ Located along TN56 in Beersheba Springs, TN
Beersheba Springs Assembly United Methodist Church. Part of the grounds of the old Beersheba Springs Hotel which is now part of the UMC Tennessee Conference
A.J. Morton & Son Funeral Home - Columbia, TN A.J. Morton & Son Funeral Home is an important Civil Rights site in Tennessee and is threatened due to neglect. It has been collapsing for several years and threatens the First Missionary Baptist Church next door. It was listed in the Tennessee Preservation Trust's Ten in Tenn threatened historic properties in 2010. Here is the historic marker Side One Side two Here is an article from the Columbia Daily Herald: www.columbiadailyherald.com/news/local-news/will-landmark...
Altamont Mormon Church The building seems to be in a little disrepair. The date listed on the front of the building is 1944. In the area is one of the oldest Mormon churches in the Southeast US. Then the Mormons moved into this building into the 40's and into a newer building in the 80s. This building is located on the old town square in Altamont and the old county courthouse was across the street until it burned down in the 90's. For a short while until the new courthouse was built, this served as a temporary courthouse for a short while.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: The Last Supper See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Zacchaeus up a tree See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Bethel United Methodist Church On Sulpher Springs Rd. in Rutherford County.
Kelley's Chapel UMC Located in Walter Hill, TN along TN266 (Jefferson Pike)
United Church, The Chapel on the Hill - Oak Ridge, TN Text from Wikipedia: The United Church, Chapel on the Hill in Oak Ridge, Tennessee was the city's main church during World War II. Dedicated on September 30, 1943 and completed late in October 1943, it was originally a multi-denominational chapel shared by Catholic, Protestant and Jewish congregations. The building design is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 700-series U.S. Army chapel. It is a frame building built on a three-bay rectangular plan with a steepled bell tower and a gable entry porch. It was one of three Army chapels built using the same design in Oak Ridge during World War II. One of the other two chapels, the West Chapel in the city's West Village area, was later torn down, but the East Chapel in the East Village is still in use. The U.S. Army built the chapel to house religious activities, as one of numerous community facilities in the "townsite" area of Oak Ridge. The building was dedicated on September 30, 1943, in a ceremony that included prayers and talks by a Jewish rabbi, a Catholic priest, an Episcopal priest, a Baptist minister, and the minister who was serving the United Church congregation that eventually came to own the chapel. Its name, "The Chapel on the Hill," comes from a reference in a prayer by the Knoxville Baptist minister who participated in the dedication. The United Church congregation that is housed in the Chapel on the Hill traces its history to July 18, 1943, when some 25 to 30 Christians of diverse denominational backgrounds gathered for Sunday worship in Oak Ridge's main cafeteria. Subsequently, several members of the group made plans to establish an interdenominational Protestant church, led by laypersons, to include all denominations. A Presbyterian minister working in Knoxville was engaged to conduct weekly services, and about 150 people representing 13 Protestant denominations became charter members of "the United Church". Governing boards of laypersons elected to lead the new congregation took up their duties on October 24, 1943. When the Chapel-on-the-Hill was completed that same month, the United Church and the local Roman Catholic Church were given control of the building, as the only two churches then officially operating in the Manhattan Project community. During the war, when Oak Ridge's Manhattan Project facilities were operating around the clock, the chapel building was also in use nearly 24 hours a day as a venue for worship services, weddings, and other occasions for local workers of various Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish religious backgrounds. At the peak of wartime activity in Oak Ridge, when the population exceeded 70,000, the United Church employed four ministers and conducted worship services in the Chapel on the Hill, East Village Chapel, and the Jefferson Theater, as well as Sunday school classes in several local schools and a trailer camp. By 1951, the United Church Chapel-on-the-Hill consolidated as a single interdenominational congregation, making its home in the Chapel on the Hill building. The United Church congregation purchased the chapel and 3.72 acres (1.51 ha) of land from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission on May 11, 1955 for a price of $17,116. An adjoining educational building was added in 1956-1957. The facility continues to operate as a nondenominational Protestant church under lay leadership, employing ministers with backgrounds in mainstream Protestant denominations. Since 2007 it has been affiliated with the Center for Progressive Christianity. The church's motto is "Where People from All Denominations Meet in Their Differences, but Are One in Their Search for God." The Chapel-on-the-Hill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1993 as a contributing property in the Oak Ridge Historic District. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/awkward-moments-tn/ 11 Awkward Moments Every Tennessean Has Endured At Least Once
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church Catholic Church Lawrenceburg, TN Built in 1887 Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Mt. Carmel Cumberland Presbyterian Church In Williamson County, south of Franklin on US 431
Choates Creek Methodist Church Sign says founded in 1854. I wonder how old the building is. Giles County along US64
Cornersville United Methodist Church When this was constructed in 1852, the church met on the main floor and the top floor was used as a Masonic Hall. (The masons moved out in 1939)
Water Street Abbey - Lewisburg, TN I don't think there was even a name in front. Lewisburg, TN Update: this appears to be Water Street Abbey which is listed as endangered on the 2013 Ten in Tenn report. www.tennesseepreservationtrust.org/ten-in-tn/2013-ten-in-... Update 2: This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in Dec. 2019. Here is the press release: Presbyterian Church U.S.A. in Lewisburg – Built in 1910, the late Gothic Revival style church is better known today as the Water Street Abbey. It’s the first known church of Lewisburg and is currently being renovated and rehabilitated into an events venue. It features a domed ceiling, original pews, stained glass windows, and five rolling oak doors.
First Presbyterian Church - Lebanon, TN This church building on W. Main St. is stop #9 on the Historic Lebanon Driving tour. Here is the text from that brochure: The First Presbyterian Church is one of the oldest church buildings in Lebanon still being used for religious services. The cornerstone was laid in April 1910 and the building completed in September 1911. The structure’s corner tower and diagonal sanctuary seating is typical of the Akron Plan and very popular nationwide from 1885-1925. Original to the building are the stained glass sanctuary windows of Tiffany design purchased from the Chicago Art Glass Company. Another feature is the sanctuary cross of annealed copper, set with semi-precious stones from the Southwest, designed by William Heaton. The hourly ringing of the Church’s tower bells has become a part of the soundscape of life in Lebanon.
Just a Text Message ...and Paul sayeth to the believers in Thyatira, "BRB POAHF" Hello to anyone who found this here: www.elementalcm.com/2009/06/09/the-10-commandments-re-ima... The author speculates what the 10 commandments would look like if they had been texted.
Salem United Methodist Church Salem, TN, located along Old Salem Pike (Old TN 99) west of Murfreesboro. From the historical Marker: In small groups known as societies, early settlers held worship services in their homes. Several months before the Tennessee Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, in 1812 the Revs. Thomas King and John Manley established the Salem Church in the home of Thomas Jarratt. On this site the Jarratt Society built a log house of worship in 1814. Two years later, Robert Smith deeded the land to the Salem Methodist Church. Handmade bricks replaced the logs in 1834. Rebuilt in 1903, the present edifice incorporates an original brick wall within its façade seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
Woodmont Christian Church - Nashville, TN Located in the Green Hills area of Nashville, the Woodmont Christian Church building was built in a Neo-Classical design by architect Edwin Keeble. The most noticeable feature of this building is the steeple, which is a 220-foot tall spire. This is a common feature for church buildings designed by Edwin Keeble, so it is known as one of "Keeble's Needles." There is a model train version of this church at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum.
Olivet United Methodist Church Along U.S. 31 north of Pulaski in Giles County
Sewanee Memorial Cross This is the approx. 60 ft. tall Memorial Cross on the campus of University of the South in Sewanee, TN. The cross was built in 1922 in honor of war veterans and is near the edge of a western bluff of the mountain, where you can see it for miles away.
First Baptist Church - Portland, TN The congregation dates back to 1890 and this building was built in 1925. This building was gutted by a fire in the 1970s so a new building was connected to this one.
Some old church In Rutherford County TN. Maybe a baptist church, but all the letters wore off.
Woodmont Christian Church (front view) - Nashville, TN Located in the Green Hills area of Nashville, the Woodmont Christian Church building was built in a Neo-Classical design by architect Edwin Keeble. The most noticeable feature of this building is the steeple, which is a 220-foot tall spire. This is a common feature for church buildings designed by Edwin Keeble, so it is known as one of "Keeble's Needles." There is a model train version of this church at the Tennessee Central Railway Museum.
All Saints Church - Nashville, TN Formerly known as St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, this building in Nashville's Sylvan Park neighborhood is the national headquarters of the Southern Episcopal Church denomination. This building is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Park-Elkins Historic District.
What's Missing? CH__CH WHAT'S MISSING? U R I like this one. Seen at a country church in Rutherford County near Leanna, TN
East Hill Church of Christ Pulaski, TN - A church building that looks like it has expanded several times over the years, but this looks like the oldest part of the building.
Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Mission - Alto, TN The Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Mission in Alto, TN was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 28, 2017. It is located on the Old Alto Hwy (Old TN50) in Franklin County. Here is the write-up from the TN Historic Commission: Situated in the northeast part of Franklin County along the Old Alto Highway, the Saint Margaret Mary Catholic Mission was constructed in 1938. The one-story, gable roof building is constructed of rusticated and coursed “Franklin County sandstone”, which is similar to the popular Crab Orchard sandstone seen throughout the state. Stone buttresses and stained glass windows delineate the sides of the Gothic Revival chapel. Important architectural features inside include the wood ceiling supported by wood bracing, wood floors and pews, solid stone walls, and brick quoins surrounding window and door openings. The church was operated by the Paulists, who’s mission to promote their religion resulted in them being known in the early 20th century for innovative outreach ideas. At the Mission they used radio, film screening, print media, and even had a “motor chapel” – a trailer with a sleeping room in the front and an altar at the back.
Old church in Murfreesboro, TN Located on Old Salem Pike. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tennessee-secrets/ 15 Amazing Tennessee Secrets You Never Knew Existed
Trinity Church This old brick church is located on TN252 (Wilson Pike) and back at the time was the Harpeth Turnpike. It's in Eastern Williamson County. From the historical marker: This United Methodist Church was an outgrowth of Mt. Zion Methodist Church, established about 1840 in Burke Hollow near the Tom Page house. Mt. Zion was destroyed in 1863 by Union Soldiers who used its materials for a signal station on Daddy's Knob. Trinity Church was organized in 1865 with most of its founders being former Confederate soldiers. On this site in 1869, a two-story brick building was completed with a school and Masonic lodge located above the church sanctuary. After damage by a tornado in 1897, the church was rebuilt on the same stone foundation with original handmade bricks. The second floor was not rebuilt. In 1909, the bell tower and the north and east walls were damaged by a tornado. If you look at the front door, the window above that is stained glass with TRINITY and the dates of 1865, 1897 and 1909. The church is on the National Register of Historic Places. Here is a picture of the historical marker: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
First Baptist Church - Nashville This building downtown on Broadway was designed by noted architect Edwin Keeble and opened in 1970. However, they retained the elaborate Gothic bell tower from their 1886 building.
Beechgrove Cumberland Presbyterian Church Located on Old US41 in Coffee County, north of Manchester. I can't find how old the building is, but on the sign is a memorial to William S. Watterson who dies in 1851 and was the founder of this congregation. There was a second marker for the cemetery being restored in 1994.
Masonic Lodge - Beech Grove, TN This Masonic Lodge is Hermon Lodge #239 in Beech Grove, TN along Old US41 highway. I can't find any info on how old the building it. This building backs up to the Beech Grove Church of Christ, so I wonder if this is formerly their old building. It has dual front doors which is typically only seen at old churches where men and women sat on separate sides.
The ONLY Baptist Church I seem to recall seeing more than one. Actually, this sign is pointing to the Baptist Church in the town of Only, TN
Cold Spring School - Portland, TN From a nearby Tennessee Historic Commission marker: Cold Spring School - circa 1857-1933 2.8 miles northeast is the site of Cold Spring School. It was built on land donated in May 1857 by Thomas Baskerville for a school and meetinghouse. Early in the Civil War, it was used by Camp Trousdale as a military hospital. There, in 1866, David Lipscomb organized the Portland Church of Christ. Landowners Jim and Bill McGlothlin gave the schoolhouse to the citizens of Portland for a museum of local history. In September 1975, it was relocated to Richland Park. Tennessee Civil War Trails Marker at Richland Park: In May 1861, the Tennessee General Assembly passed legislation to raise and equip the Provisional Army of Tennessee and train the units at camps throughout the state. Camp Trousdale was established—initially at Richland (present-day Portland)—as the main concentration point for companies formed in Middle Tennessee. The camp was named for former governor William Trousdale of Gallatin. Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer (1812-1862) was its first commander, with his headquarters at the home of Thomas Buntin near the present Maple Hill Cemetery. Because of a lack of potable water, Camp Trousdale moved in June to an area of wide rolling fields near the one-room Cold Spring School that Thomas Baskerville had constructed in 1857. The school served as a regimental hospital. Soon more than 6,000 men were drilling in the camp, and some of the sick were treated at the school building. Later, Camp Trousdale relocated to present-day TGT Road, again because of water contamination. The only barracks in the state that housed Confederate troops were built there, then razed in February 1862 before Union forces arrived and occupied the area. Federal troops under the command of Lt. Col. Gustavus Tafels, 106th Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, subsequently fortified the Louisville and Nashville Railroad, constructing Fort Mitchell to guard the nearby trestle. Fort Smith, named for Col. George P. Smith, 129th Illinois Infantry, served as a temporary railroad to receive and ship Union supplies by wagons to Nashville. Here is a third marker in front of the school: Cold Springs, a rural one room school, was built near cold water springs on the Thomas Baskerville farm, near Mitchellville, Northern Sumner County. During the Civil War the school was a hospital for Confederate troops quartered at Camp Trousdale. Howard McDowell, former student, mobilized efforts to move and restore the building. Structure donated by Jim & Bill McGlothlin. School moved into Richland Park in September, 1975. Official agreement signed by City of Portland, McGlothlin families, and Highland Rim Historical Society, November 1, 1975.
Allardt Presbyterian Church Located on TN52 - Allardt, TN in Fentress County. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
New Life Baptist Church This building is located on Cobb Hollow road outside of Tullahoma.
Snow Hill Methodist Church Seen on Old Snow Hill Rd (which was probably old TN26, or possibly even old US70) Located in DeKalb County west of Smithville, TN.
The Rev. Billy Graham Statue preaches to the James Robertson Apartments The world-famous preacher delivers his message to the sinners at the downtown Nashville rent-controlled housing, full of its drug-dealers and prostitutes. Note: This concept would have been funnier if the Classic Cat was still open. How did a strip club ever get a license to operate on the same block as the public magnate school anyway? Update: The statue was removed in 2016 when Lifeway moved out of their downtown offices. It may have been relocated to their Conference Center in Asheville, NC.
Nashville's Billy Graham statue The people at Lifeway Christian built this statue of Billy Graham on their property in downtown Nashville. The funny thing is it took me an hour to find this. I knew their building was across the street from Union Station, but I guess I never realized how much property they owned. I started on Broadway and walked the length of their property across 10th avenue when I concluded it wasn't at "gulch-level." I walked up through the TSU parking lot to McLemore Ave to Church Street, and it wasn't on Church St. either. From there, I examined Lifeway Plaza, 9th, Commerce Street, and then finally its actual location on 8th. so I got a few shots of it, and then my batteries died. Update: The statue was removed in 2016 when Lifeway moved out of their downtown offices. It may have been relocated to their Conference Center in Asheville, NC.
Chappell Memorial UMC TN13 at the southern end of Perry County
Milton Baptist Church Milton, TN along old TN96. Built in 1938
Mt. Zion Baptist Church - Tullahoma, TN Building dates to 1886
Liberty Methodist Church Liberty, TN Sign on the door says the congregation was organized near 1800.
Birthplace of a Denomination 1: Birthplace Shrine Chapel The Cumberland Presbyterian denomination was organized in Dickson County, TN on Feb. 4, 1810 at this location, which was the home of Samuel McAdow. This land was purchased by the Charlotte Presbytery in 1856. A few years later, a small wooden chapel was built here, and a small congregation was established here for a few decades. Then, the state purchased all of the adjoining land in the area to build Montgomery Bell State Park. While the surrounding area was developed, the state allowed for this land to be kept as a Birthplace Shrine in 1953. In 1956, a replica of the McAdow cabin was built. In 1960, to celebrate the sesquicentennial the Birthplace Shrine Chapel was built. This photo now appears in print as part of the TN Trails and Byways brochure "Screaming Eagle Trail" which you can see here: www.flickr.com/photos/brent_nashville/9522319352/
Birthplace of a Denomination 2: replica McAdow Cabin The Cumberland Presbyterian denomination was organized in Dickson County, TN on Feb. 4, 1810 at this location, which was the home of Samuel McAdow. This land was purchased by the Charlotte Presbytery in 1856. A few years later, a small wooden chapel was built here, and a small congregation was established here for a few decades. Then, the state purchased all of the adjoining land in the area to build Montgomery Bell State Park. While the surrounding area was developed, the state allowed for this land to be kept as a Birthplace Shrine in 1953. In 1956, a replica of the McAdow cabin was built. In 1960, to celebrate the sesquicentennial the Birthplace Shrine Chapel was built.
Similar Church 2: Salem Baptist Church I thought it was cool to find a church building with this design and dome on top, and then 5 miles down the road, I saw another one with a similar design. This church is in Liberty, TN along the old Main road, which is now bypassed by Highway US70. Apparently, this congregation dates back to 1809, and the building was built in 1927, a year before the other one opened up
Similar Church 1: Prosperity Missionary Baptist I thought it was cool to find a church building with this design and dome on top, and then 5 miles down the road, I saw another one with a similar design. This church is in the corner of Wilson County, TN along highway 96 in the community of Prosperity, TN. Construction started on this building a year after the other one was finished. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/healthiest-counties-tn/ These 10 Counties Have The Healthiest People In All Of Tennessee
Providence Primitive Baptist Church Walter Hill, TN - Listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1867.
First Methodist Church - Pulaski, TN
Antioch Church of Christ Not a particularly interesting building, but it's listed by the Rutherford County TN Historical Society, since the building dates back to 1854
St. Gregory's Catholic Church Main St. Smithville, TN
St. Philip Catholic Church - Franklin, TN This historic church building is located in Franklin, TN along Main St. (US31) a block east of the town square. Here is the text of the Williamson County Historical Society 2010 marker: Missionary priests first celebrated mass in Franklin in 1821 in a private home for the two resident Catholic families. The Nashville bishopric planned a Catholic church in Williamson County as early as 1843, but it was the influx of Irish Catholic railroad workers after the Civil War that energized the effort to establish St. Philip Catholic Church in 1871. The workers hand-formed and fired the church's bricks on site and did all the construction themselves. Until 1898 the church had mission status with Father James Orengo of Italy as the first mission priest. Early notable pastors included Timothy Abbot, the first Tennessean ordained to the priesthood and John Hardeman, the first Williamson Countian ordained to the priesthood. Father John Nolan built a rectory in 1898 and thus the church became a parish with a resident priest. Fr. Nolan, a talented wood carver, decorated both the church and rectory with his own carvings. In 1921 at the Golden Jubilee descendants of many of the church's founders donated the stained glass. St. Philip reverted to mission during World War II as the congregation shrank, then regained parish status in 1946. Rapid growth began in the 1960s as the congregation rose from 53 to 212 families. Today the original building serves as a chapel, while the 1997 1,100-seat sanctuary accommodates a thriving congregation. Here is the text of the marker the church has placed by the front door: James Woods, a local farmer, sold this property in 1847 to Bishop Miles of Nashville. He purchased the land with $400 in gold donated by the Franklin Female Academy for the purpose of building a church. Thus was begun the St. Philip Catholic Community. An Italian priest, Father James L. Orengo, a Dominican, arrived in Franklin in 1871 at a time when the Catholic population had grown considerably due to an influx of Irishmen who had come to work on the railroad and settled in the area. Work on the church coincided with Father Orengo’s arrival. All of the work was done by the parishioners themselves. In fact, bricks for the building were formed and fired in the churchyard. Intending to remain here, Father Orengo purchased property adjacent to the church, but his health began failing and he was called back to Italy. The land was sold to the Sheas, a Catholic family in Franklin. After Father Orengo’s departure, Father Marron oversaw the final stages of work and was assigned by Bishop Freehan of Nashville as the first pastor of St. Philip. The church was dedicated on November 6, 1871 with a High Mass celebrated by the Bishop.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Sermon on the Mount See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: The Crucifixion See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Erwin Presbyterian Church
Central Christian Church - Jonesborough, TN From the walking tour brochure: This Gothic Revival style brick church was completed in 1882 by northern sympathizers who split off from the Presbyterian Church over the Civil War. After the two reunited in 1943, it was purchased by members of the First Christian Church and named Central Christian Church.
Wedding Chapel in the woods Here is a tiny wedding chapel I found a couple of years ago. The area is accessed by crossing a small footbridge on the left, but the area was locked behind a fence on this day. My map calls the water here Lake Louise and it's downstream from Lake Marrowbone in the Northwest corner of Davidson County. Off the right edge of the picture is a dam. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tennessee-questions/ 11 Questions You Can Only Answer If You’re From Tennessee
Waynesboro Cumberland Presbyterian Church Just off the town square and up a small hill in Waynesboro, TN. The congregation first organized in 1846 and built this building in 1854. thr local Masons used the second floor from the time the building was built until 1977. This was the first brick building in Wayne County, as well as the oldest building in the county that is still in use. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places
First Baptist Church - Woodbury, TN Along US70S (TN1) - Built in 1938 www.firstbaptistwoodbury.com/Our_History/
Denmark Presbyterian Church - Denmark, TN More info from the local historic association: www.bigblackcreekhistorical.com/17denmark_presbyterian_ch... Text of the Civil War Trails marker: This church, built by slaves in 1854, played a significant role in Madison County’s Civil War experiences. In April 1861, days after the firing on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, 104 local men formed a company called The Danes, later part of the 6th Tennessee Infantry (CSA). The community gathered here at the church to watch the new soldiers muster before they left for Camp Beauregard in nearby Jackson. At the ceremony, Emma Cobb presented a silk flag with the company’s name to Capt. John Ingram. On the eve of the Battle of Britton Lane on August 31, 1862, the 20th and 30th Illinois Infantry Regiments commanded by Col. Elias S. Dennis camped in a grove of mulberry trees near the church. After the battle, Confederate Gen. Frank C. Armstrong’s cavalry brigade spent the night in Denmark on its return south. The Confederates kept their prisoners on the church’s second floor, which was a Masonic Lodge. Inscriptions believed to have been written by these Federal soldiers can still be seen along the bottoms of the walls. By 1863, the Union army controlled much of West Tennessee. Local Confederates returning to Denmark on leave had to be careful. During one Sunday service here, a Federal patrol burst into the church and two visiting Confederates had to hide under their girlfriends’ hoop skirts to avoid capture. Near the church is its historic cemetery, where three Confederate veterans, including Capt. Ingram, are buried. The Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Holly Ave. Methodist Church South Pittsburg, TN
Hillsboro United Methodist Church Lieper's Fork used to be named Hillsboro and this church predates the name switch. It is located on old Highway 96. The front original portion of the church building hasn't changed much in over 100 years. Originally, the building was jointly owned by Methodists, Baptists, Presbyterians and Church of Christ who all used the building on a rotating basis. This is stop #12 on the TNTrailsandByways.com Old TN Trail. Here is the historical marker: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/... This building is also on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Liepers Fork Historic District. Here is the writeup: Circa 1911. Hillsboro Methodist Church. A red brick Gothic Revival influenced church of a cross gable plan has a square tower, asphalt shingle roof and is built on a rough cut stone foundation. Tower is two-thirds brick separated from a top section of weatherboard siding by a wood belt course. The top one-third includes framed vents with scalloped edge louvers on all four sides and an asphalt shingle pyramidal roof with overhanging eaves and finial caps the tower. A six-over- six panel paired entryway is located at the tower's façade and has a stained glass transom covered by a hanging wooden pediment. Three concrete steps lead to the doors. Pedimented front gable end has overhanging eaves and a belt separating an asphalt shingled gable field from a running bond brick façade, and includes a centrally located tripled stained glass window crowned by a tracery styled pediment with glass panes capped by heavy molding. A rear extension was added in 1990.
Bethel, TN Baptist Church Built in 1847 as a Methodist-Episcopal church This is stop #24 on the TNTrailsandByways.com "Old TN Trail"
Garrison Church Garrison, TN. A picturesque creek runs to the tight of this church.
Cave Springs Church Sulphur Spring road - Maury County, TN
Theta Methodist Church Theta, TN - highway TN247 - Maury County
First Methodist Church of Columbia painting This painting in Downtown Columbia commemorates the first Methodist Episcopal Church of Columbia from 1819. This is one of seven small murals around the Nelson House Hotel a block north of the Columbia, TN town square. They have been painted by local mural artist Bonnie Callewaert. Three of them are visible in a parking lot next to the historic hotel and the other four are behind the building. Other than Aesthetics, I can't find any info on why or when on these.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Covered Bridge Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk See the entire photo set here. Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Cave Entrance See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Transfiguration See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Cave of Machpelah See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
First Baptist Church at night - Lebanon, TN along business US70 near the center of Lebanon
Edgefield Baptist Church The Edgefield Baptist Church is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Edgefield Historic district. It is a late nineteenth-century buildings of red brick with stone trim. The building's plan has towers at each corner and a gabled bay with a large window at the center of each street facade. The detailing is Gothic. Door and window openings have pointed arches. The large stained glass windows at the center of each street facade have simple Gothic tracery. There are stone capped buttresses at the corners of the towers and to each side of each of the large windows. The towers, which have an entrance at the base, are topped by octagonal spires. The taller tower is distinguished by a pair of slender lancet windows on each side above the doors. At the top level of each tower are belfry openings filled with wooden louvers. These have been bricked-ln on the taller tower.
Santa Fe Baptist Church - Santa Fe, TN Old TN 7
Holy Trinity Episcopal Church if only the red car wasn't parked there on this nice March day... Located near downtown Nashville at the triangular lot corner of 6th and Lafayette (US 31A/41/41A/70S), this historic church dates back to 1852. The building is renowned for its pure Gothic Architecture and harmony of proportions. It was designed by Wills & Dudley of New York in the style oif an English village church. The church was used as a powder magazine by the Union Army for several months during the Civil War. After the war, the U.S. Government paid approximately $1,300 to the church for war damages. The tower was added in 1887. Today, it is on the National Registry of Historic Places. Here is the historical marker: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Abraham's Oak See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Christ in Gethsemane See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: The Resurrection See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Nativity See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Crystal Shrine Grotto: Jesus in the Temple See the entire photo set here. Crystal Shrine Grotto is a historic artistic tribute to the life of Jesus at Memorial Park Cemetery in Memphis, TN. Cemetery founder E. Clovis Hinds wanted a tribute to Jesus to uplift the mourning visitors to the cemetery. The Grotto features many years of work by Dionicio Rodriguez, but many of the sculptures inside the cave were added decades later by David Day, Luther Hampton and Marie Craig. The area was added to the National Register of Historic Places as "Sculptures of Dionicio Rodriguez at Memorial Park Cemetery." Here is the description from Wikipedia: In 1935 Mexican artist Dionicio Rodriguez was hired to beautify the park with sculptures. Annie Laurie’s Wishing Chair, Broken Tree Bench, Abrahams Oak, Pool of Hebron and Cave of Machpelah are some of the most important sculptures that can be found in different locations throughout the cemetery. In 1938, construction of the Crystal Shrine Grotto began. The grotto is a 60 ft deep, hand-built cave in a hillside near the center of the cemetery, filled with 5 tons of quartz crystal, hence the name Crystal Shrine Grotto. The grotto was completed after Rodriguez' death in 1955. The shrines in the grotto illustrate the stages of "Christ's Journey on the Earth from Birth to Resurrection". Here is my video tour: youtu.be/gjmBQRq4mUk Here's the writeup from Roadside America: www.roadsideamerica.com/story/11606 "The Secrets of Crystal Shrine Grotto" by Memphis Magazine: memphismagazine.com/culture/the-secrets-of-crystal-shrine... Photos uploaded on Easter Day 2019.
Santa Fe UMC Along old highway TN7, Santa Fe, TN
Wolf River Methodist Church - (Sgt. Alvin York's Church) Wolf River is more commonly known as Pall Mall, TN. This is the church building next to the cemetery Sgt. Alvin York is buried in. The congregation was established in 1840 and this building built ca. 1888. According to a nearby marker: The Wolf River Methodist Church is where the York family attended church for many years. it was here during a revival held by the Church of Christ in Christian Union that York became a Christian in 1915.
First Baptist Church - Carthage, TN Just up the road from the town square
Kingston Springs Methodist Church
Battle Creek Baptist Church Along the Old Dixie Highway (TN2) in Marion County, TN. Not only does the building look old, but the sign proclaiming the name of the church was old and nearly impossible to read. The highway parallels Interstate 24 through here and you can see this building from the interstate. The building was built in 1904 and at the time it was Ebenezer Baptist Church
Meridian Street Methodist Church - Nashville Located in the Cleveland Park neighborhood of East Nashville, the Meridian Street Methodist Church was organized in 1924 with the consolidation of two churches, McFerrin Memorial, located on Meridian Street in North Edgefield, and Alex Erwin Church located where Douglas Ave. intersects Dickerson Road. The cornerstone of the building was laid in April of 1925. The new auditorium seen here was completed and dedicated in 1936. The church gymnasium was a gathering place for neighborhood youth.
Centenary Methodist Church Morristown, TN - Built in 1884
Waverly Cumberland Presbyterian Church Located along TN13 about a block north of the Waverly town square. Built in 1886.
New Salem Baptist Church – Sevierville, TN The New Salem Baptist Church was built in 1886 by Isaac Dockery, noted African American builder, and is Sevierville’s oldest surviving building, Sevier County’s oldest brick church building, and the only historic African American church in the county. The Gothic-revival church served the thriving African American community until the 1950s when the last services were held by the original congregation. Since that time, the church has been used by other congregations and denominations, and the historic integrity has slowly been chipped away. The original bell tower and pulpit furniture have been removed and the overall interior has been altered significantly. Even with these changes, the church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 2003, and a Tennessee Historical marker was placed on the grounds in 2006. knoxheritage.org/etpa/east-tennessee-endangered-heritage/
Shiloh Presbyterian Church This church was first organized in 1793. The brick building was built in 1871. It is in Sumner County north of Gallatin on old Scottsville Pike (old us31E). The church closed ca. 1954. On the day I took this picture, the doors were open as interior remodeling was taking place.
Claiborne AME Church Located in the small town of Williamsport, TN along the Old Williamsport Rd. in Maury County, this African Methodist Episcopal church building dates back to 1923. The most distinguishing feature of the building is the Octagon-shaped area above the entrance and topped with the red metal roof. It appears at one time, this area had three windows that have now been removed.
Eastland Baptist Church Located along Gallatin Pk. (Old US31E) in East Nashville.
Bethel Methodist Church Bethel, TN in Giles County
First Baptist Church - Jonesborough, TN
First Presbyterian Church - Greeneville, TN This congregation was founded in 1780 under the trees of Greeneville's Bug Spring by Samuel Doak. Originally called Mount Bethel Presbyterian Church and then Harmony Church. This building dates from 1848 and was restored after a disastrous fire in 1928. This church is on the National Register of Historic Districts as part of the Greeneville Historic District. It is located along Main St. (US321, Old US 11E"
Lynnville United Methodist Church Along highway Tn129 on the west side of Lynnville in Giles County
Harrison Mayes Cross - Tazewell, TN Kentuckian Harrison Mayes survived a mining accident and spent much of the rest of his life making crosses like this one and placing them on major roads all throughout the country. These "Get Right With God" signs, made of concrete, usually weigh 1400 pounds. There might be 20 of these left in public at their original location, while some have been on display at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN. This sign is in Tazewell, TN along highway US25E. It's amazing it is still standing as the highway has been widened and rerouted through the area. There are several in Claiborne County as it is only one county away from where Mayes lived.
Thompson Station Methodist Church
The Edward Cox House In front of the house is a wooden marker that reads: The Edward Cox House Built in 1774 A Shrine of Methodism In 1774, former Revolutionary War soldier Edward Cox and his wife Sallie moved here from Maryland. This is located in what is today known as Sullivan County, TN near Bluff City on the Holston River. He was a Methodist preacher and he moved here to establish a Methodist congregation in the area. This home was rebuilt in 1966.
The Hermitage Church In 1823, Andrew Jackson donated the land, a portion of the funds, and the labor of his slaves to build this simple church. There's little doubt that it was the encouragement of Rachel Jackson. Originally non-denominational, in 1832, the Hermitage church joined the Presbyterian church. In 1838, he officially joined this church fulfilling his promise to Rachel that he would become a member after he retired from politics. The church remained active until 1965 when it was gutted by fire. Then the Ladies' Hermitage Association donated nearby land for a new building and the LHA rebuilt it to look as it did in 1839. See the historic markers here: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/... seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/... seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/... On a personal note, I took this photo in 2019. I had been here once before about 30 years prior. At the time, my dad as a Music Professor at Lipscomb University ran an ensemble which performed Medieval and Renaissance music. His group had a performance here. Upon arrival, they learned there was no working electricity. All of the musicians had to read their music from candle-light.
1st Baptist Church - Springfield, TN
Sharps Chapel Church Along Sharps Chapel Rd near Brewer Hollow Rd.
Ebenezer Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Mercer, TN The church dates back to 1894, soon after the town of Mercer was first settled. More info can be found on the Big Black Creek Historical Association website: www.bigblackcreekhistorical.com/18mercer_ebenezer_presbyt...
Big Springs Union Church en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Spring_Union_Church Big Spring Union Church, also known as Big Springs Primitive Baptist Church, is a historic church in Springdale, Claiborne County, Tennessee. The church was built circa 1795 or 1796, and was known at first as Big Spring Meetinghouse. A Baptist church was organized at the site in 1800. During the Civil War, it served as a hospital for both Confederate and Union Army troops. It is one of the oldest church buildings in Tennessee that is still in active use as a church. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. The church is on Lone Mountain Road, off Tennessee State Route 32.
Harrison Mayes sign: Prepare to Meet God This is quite possibly the middlest-of-nowhere I've ever gone to photograph something in Tennessee. Kentuckyan Harrison Mayes survived a mining accident and spent much of the rest of his life making crosses (and occasionally heart-shaped signs like this one) and placing them on major roads all throughout the country. These "Get Right With God" or "Prepare to Meet God" signs, made of concrete, usually weigh 1400 pounds. There might be 20 of these left in public at their original location, while some have been on display at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN. Harrison lived in Middlesboro, KY. His parents are buried a few miles away at a place called Fork Ridge Cemetery. This concrete sign was placed at his parents' grave site. If you follow highway KY186 southwest out of Middlesboro, eventually it dips into Tennessee and becomes highway TN132. My map calls this area Motch. There's a sign pointing to the cemetery and you have to travel up a bumpy gravel road to get to it. This photo by Jacob the Carpetbagger was taken about 8 years before my visit. When I was there, it looked like it had not been mowed in 8 years. I had to climb the hill and weed-whack my way to the spot.
Nolensville First United Methodist Church Nolensville, TN along US31A/41A. This church building had a cameo in the mid 1990s movie "The Thing Called Love." At the beginning of the movie, the main character is riding on a bus to Nashville and this church is clearly seen out the window. Near the Climax of the movie as she gets on a bus out of town, she passes the same building again.
Jenkins Lutheran Chapel This congregation was established in 1849. The church building was completed in 1886. Around 1976 it ceased being used as a church and was renamed "Jenkins Chapel." It is now maintained by a nonprofit religious organization that was established to preserve the building and grounds. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. There is a church cemetery to the right of the building. Governor Prentice Cooper is the most famous person buried here.
Tulip Street Methodist Church - East Nashville, TN The Tulip Street Methodist Church at 522 Russell St. in East Nashville is on the National Register of Histoic Places as part of the Edgefield Historic District. It was completed in Sept. 1892 and was built in a Richardsonian Romanesque style.
Beesley Primitive Baptist Church Beesley Primitive Baptist Church is a historic church near the Blackman community of Murfreesboro, TN. It was built in 1913 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. The building was built to replace an older building which was destroyed by a tornado in 1913. The first building here was built in 1805 and Mr. Beesley was the preacher. There is a cemetery to the left of the building. I found some graves over 150 years old. For more information, read the NRHP listing here: npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/c9b3f7e4-4377-4493-a8db-37a...
Sulphur Springs Missionary Baptist Church I have no info about this church building other than I found it along Blackwater Rd. east of Vardy in Hancock County, TN.
Epworth United Methodist Church Williamson County, TN
Harrison Mayes Cross - Harrogate, TN Kentuckyan Harrison Mayes survived a mining accident and spent much of the rest of his life making crosses like this one and placing them on major roads all throughout the country. These "Get Right With God" signs, made of concrete, usually weigh 1400 pounds. There might be 20 of these left in public at their original location, while some have been on display at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN. This sign is in Harrogate, TN along highway US25E (and the old Dixie Highway), across from Lincoln Memorial University. Northbound traffic sees "Jesus is Coming Soon" and southbound traffic sees "Get Right with God." There are several in Claiborne County as it is only one county away from where Mayes lived.
Epworth United Methodist Church (new) in Williamson County, TN. I usually don't care for modern architecture on church buildings, but I liked this one.
Clarksville Methodist Church/Cox's Boarding House - Clarksville, TN From the National Register of Historic Places listing in 1982: Description: The Clarksville Methodist Church is a two-story brick building with a square shape plan which stands on a brick foundation. It has a full basement and a low gable roof covered with metal roofing material. A bracketed, boxed cornice is found on all four elevations The façade has three bays and a porch, with round columns and brick balustrade, which was added during the early 20th century. The windows flanking the entrance have large flat lintels and appear original. Those of the second story have arched apertures with radiating voussiors which were probably added during the 1880's remodeling. The central bay entrance features a heavily ornamented architrave, and a diamond-shaped attic vent is found in the gable above. In the attic, the original roof structure exposed when the building was used as a church may be seen. Significance: The Clarksville Methodist Church is the oldest building, which has been a church, in the city. It housed religious congregations for more than fifty years. Moreover, it is one of the earliest brick buildings in Clarksville. The function of the building changed in the late-19th century, and it has been used as a residence or boarding house for more than ninety years. Built by the Methodist congregation who occupied the building until 1841 when they sold it to the Cumberland Presbyterians who occupied it until 1883. In 1883 it was sold and remodeled, and became known as Cox's Boarding House and Dining Room. Subsequent owners have continued to rent rooms. npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/82004033
Peyton Creek Baptist Church The date above the door is 1812, which probably is when the congregation was established - not when the building was built. It does have stained glass windows. Peyton Creek is a tiny community north of Carthage in Smith county along highway TN80.
Bluff City Methodist Church In Bluff City along Hingway TN44
Otey Parish - Sewanee, TN It's not the most famous church on the University of the South campus, but it's still a fine looking one on this autmn day. This Episcopal Building was built in 1891 and named in honor of the first Episcopal Bishop in Tennessee
Russell Street Church of Christ - Nashville The Russell Street Church of Christ is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Edgefield Historic District. Originally when constructed in 1904 it was a Cumberland Presbyterian church. Today, the building has been converted into a boutique hotel called "The Russell." Below, I have it's information from the NRHP nominating form. npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/c496c045-2ef5-4f6b-8726-ce24c6... (on Page 5) The Russell Street Church of Christ is Richardsonian Romanesque in style. Most of its door and window openings feature round-arches, with a few having lintels. This building has two towers rather than three, both on the Russell Street side. As with the Baptist Church, the taller tower is at the right-hand corner. Both are topped by octagonal spires and have a single entrance at the base. Stained glass in the lunettes above the doors spell out "Faith, Hope and Charity" over the left door and "Jehovah — is in His Holy Temple" over the right. The large rose windows at each street façade also are filled with stained glass of fine quality. Decorative bands of stone run around the building at different levels forming the imposts from which spring the arches over the several doors and the arches of the large rose windows as well as forming lintels for smaller rectangular windows. Contrasting stone is also used in the apex of the two street façade gables, to cap buttresses on the taller tower, and to form decorative oversize keystones for many of the arched openings. The description mentions two towers, but the taller one which would have been atop the closest corner was destroyed in the April 16, 1998 Tornado. "Jehovah is in his Holy Temple" has been replaced above the front door with the street address number of 819. At the last step before the front door, they have painted "Welcome Friends" and a fence in the back has a floral message of "You Belong."
Church Street UMC Along Henley St. in Downtown Knoxville. For what it's worth, the congregation used to meet at a building on Church St., but that building burned down and this one was built in 1930. Apparently, FDR once remarked, "That is the most beautiful church I have ever seen." Today, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The "Bleeding" Mausoleum The Craigmiles famly is an important one in Cleveland, TN. In 1864, tragedy befell the family when young Nina Craigmiles went on a buggy ride with her grandfather. She was steering the horses when she lost control of them. The horses ran into an oncoming train, killing Nina instantly. Nina's father John Craigmiles arranged with the local Episcopal congregation to build them a church building in her honor along with this mausoleum at the rear of the property. The Mausoleum was built using fancy Italian marble. The walls are four feet thick and the entire memorial is 37 feet tall.The marble spire is topped with a cross. On the inside is a marble sarcophagus stnding in the center, surrounded by six shelves. Tragedy continued to befall the rest of the family. First, another child was born but died very soon after childbirth. Then, John Cragmiles fell on an icy street and soon thereafter died of blood poisoning. Finally, the mom Adelia was killed when she was hit by a car. Each family member was buried here. Now, for the "bleeding" part. Townspeople soon began to notice after Nina was buried here that a red substance over time begane to eminate from the marble. It would be cleaned only to reappear later. According to legend, after each death in the family, the redness got more intense. Some of those red streaks can be seen in the picture, look for the note I left. There is a logical explanaiton, albeit boring if you like the haunted tales. Italian marble can contain small traces of lead, and lead will turn red over time when exposed to the elements. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-hauntings-oct/ These 10 Hauntings in Tennessee Will Send Chills Down Your Spine or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/scary-historic-tn/ These 11 Terrifying Historical Spots in Tennessee Will Give You Goosebumps
The two churches in Raus, TN On the left is the Raus Church of Christ and on the right is Thompson Creek Baptist Church. There isn't much in the small Raus community on the south side of Bedford County except these two churches and an old school and community center across the street. I wonder if it is awkward for them to be so close to each other when there is plenty of space around. Do they ignore each other, hold events together, or try to steal members from each other?
First Presbyterian Church - Murfreesboro, TN First Presbyterian Church is a historic church at 210 N. Spring Street in Murfreesboro, TN. The congregation was founded on April 10, 1812. Its original building was used a hospital by both sides in the Civil War and was destroyed. It was replaced by a new building completed in 1867. After the building was extensively damaged by a tornado in 1913, it was restored, with modifications to the design of the roof and structure. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places with a recorded completion date of 1914, corresponding to the post-tornado reconstruction. The new building was designed by Nashville architect D. Anderson Dickey and built by local contractors Maugans & Bell. According to church history, the sanctus bell mounted on the roof near the rear was originally located in the steeple of an earlier Presbyterian Church on Vine Street. That building was destroyed by federal troops during the Civil War. The bell was saved by a young man by the name of McFadden, and hidden in the basement of a grocery store. It was later installed in the 1867 Church after the War. When the tornado struck the building in 1913, the bell crashed from the roof into the sanctuary. It was later placed on the roof of the 1914 building. For more details of the building, check here: npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/1831738e-b07b-4b9a-9ddb-82f...
Bell Buckle Cumberland Presbyterian Church This church building is on the National Register of historic places as part of the Bell Buckle Historic District. At the same time, the building appears to have been abandoned for decades. From the Google street view, the entire yard in front was full of vegetation overgrowth, so I wasn't sure what I would find when I got here. As it turns out, most of the overgrowth had been cleared but someone also had parked some vehicles here. Here's the notes from the National Register's nominating form: 24. Cumberland Presbyterian Church (Cumberland and High Streets): 1883, brick, Greek Revival Temple form with Gothic lancet windows and doors, dripstone lintels, corbelled cornice, pedimented gable with cornice returns, brick pilaster, two stage wood steeple, standing seam metal roof.
Oldest Church Building in Tennessee The Sinking Creek Baptist Church building was built in 1783 and remained in use until 1924. They now have a relatively more modern building next door, but keep this one well maintained. It's located on highway TN91 (Old Us321), the older road from Elizabethton to Johnson City in Carter County.
Elkton Methodist Church Elkton, TN along US31 on the south side of Giles County, TN
Cross Bridges Methodist Church Cross Bridges is a small rural community in Maury County west of Columbia along US412. According to the sign out front, this congregation was established in 1882.
Bell Buckle Methodist Church This church building in Bedford County is located on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Bell Buckle Historic District. Here are the notes from this listing: 1878, Romanesque style, brick, round-arched windows, vents, and doors, recessed façade entranceways, stained glass windows, two staged towers with pyramid roof, round brick chimney, steeply pitched roof.
St. Michael's - The oldest Catholic Church Building in Tennessee This spot in Robertson County is the most middle-of-nowhere I've been to find a Catholic Church. Here's the info from Wikipedia: St. Michael's Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church near Cedar Hill, TN. St. Michael's is the oldest Catholic church in continuous operation in Tennessee. Its building incorporates a log cabin structure built in 1842 that is the oldest Catholic church building in the state. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The founding congregants of the church were four families who settled near Turnersville between 1838 and 1840. They bought an acre of land from the nearby Wessyngton plantation to build a church. The original log meetinghouse, which measured 22 feet by 32 feet, was completed in 1842 and dedicated on the Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael, May 8, 1842. When the church was built, its location was a stagecoach stop on the route between Nashville and Clarksville. From 1846 to 1855, the church operated a boarding school, Saint Michael's Male and Female Academy, located near the church. In 1864–5, the priest who served the church was Father Abram Ryan, who has been called "the poet-priest of the Confederacy". In 1934–5, the log structure was sheathed with clapboard siding obtained from the dismantlement of an Episcopal church at Glen Raven and the building received a major addition, giving it a T-shaped plan. A bell tower was added to the front of the building in 1942, the church's centennial year. The bell that hangs in the tower came from the same church that provided the siding. St. Michael's was the only Roman Catholic parish in Robertson County until 1944, when Our Lady of Lourdes church was formed in Springfield. St. Michael's now operates as a mission church of Our Lady of Lourdes. The church building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1973.
Bethpage Wedding Chapel When this building was originally built in 1945, it was a methodist church. Bethpage is a small community along old US 31E in Sumner County
Cannonsburgh Village Chapel Stained Glass Windows The chapel at Cannonsburgh Village in Murfreesboro was originally the 1915 Old Tipperary School in LaVergne. In 1976, it was moved to Cannonsburgh, with stained glass windows and pews added to become Williamson Chapel and a wedding venue. See my video tour of Cannonsburgh Village here: youtu.be/3aMSDLB7Vls
Sewanee Cumberland Presbyterian Church Built ca. 1893
Dowelltown Missionary Baptist Church
Jonesborough, TN First Baptist Church
Jonesborough, TN First Baptist Church with Flag
Harrison Mayes' Prepare to Meet God sign Harrison Mayes is best known for his concrete crosses placed along the important highways several decades ago. (And, there's one on the ground at this location!) However, he sometimes did extra for places closer to his home. Harrison was willing for his signs to be placed at any Christian denomination, and this one is located north of Tazewell, TN along US25E at a Church of God. "Prepare to Meet God" is made of corrugated metal and held up by black wooden posts. The O in TO includes a red arrow pointing to the Heavens. See more of his signs here: www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_sear...
Lieper's Fork Church of Christ This is stop #13 on the Old Tennessee Trail. According to the Williamson County Historical Comission marker: The Union Meeting House was built on this site in 1821. With the Restoration movement and the preaching of Andrew Craig and Joel Anderson, Lieper's Fork became the first Church of Christ south of Nashville. In 1831, Seth and Rebecca Sparkman were the first members to be baptized for the remission of sins. David Lipscomb led a convention of Christians, who met here in 1862, to adopt positions of non-combatants in the Civil War. Their petition to Military Governor Andrew Johnson was rejected. Lieper's Fork sponsored the Boston Church in 1854 and the Berea Church at Southall in 1876. The present building was built in 1877. For a more in depth history, check this page on their website. The building is part of the Lieper's Fork Historic District listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Here is the writeup: Circa 1877. Church of Christ of Leipers Fork. Gable front building rests on a roughhewn stone foundation with weatherboard siding and has a metal roof topped by a square cupola at the front gable. A metal outlet ventilator is located in the front gable. The pyramidal metal roof cupola has overhanging eaves supported by paired brackets and includes outlet vents with scalloped edge louvers on all four sides. A half-hip roof addition on the façade includes a six paned transom light over a recessed entrance of paired six paneled doors flanked by exterior restrooms. A one story extension on the east elevation has an asphalt shingle pyramidal roof and is fronted by a six panel door with a metal awning. The east and west elevations contain opaque one-over- one double hung Queen Anne sash windows. The upper sash has a large pane surrounded by smaller stained glass panes
Bell Buckle Church of Christ The Bell Buckle Church of Christ is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Bell Buckle Historic District. Here is the writeup on the nomination form: 25. Church of Christ (High Street and Church Streets): Late 19th century, clapboard/frame, rectangular plan, wheel type window in tower, sidelights and arched transome adorned double front doors.
Harrison Mayes Cross - Bennett's Ford, KY Kentuckian Harrison Mayes survived a mining accident and spent much of the rest of his life making crosses like this one and placing them on major roads all throughout the country. These "Get Right With God" signs, made of concrete, usually weigh 1400 pounds. There might be 20 of these left in public at their original location, while some have been on display at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris, TN. This cross is located at Bennett's Fork Baptist Church, which is along highway KY186 and in the same county Mayes lived.
Central Presbyterian Church - Chattanooga This 1921 building located in Chattanooga at the corner of McCallie and Orchard Knob. In the year 2000, the congregation sold the building to what is today the Richmont Graduate University.
Assumption Church - Nashville, TN A few weeks ago, in a book I found an old photo (maybe 1860s) of Nashville from far away which showed this church and the old house across the street in the foreground, then most of the rest of Nashville was off in the distance From the historic marker: Nashville’s second oldest Catholic church, dedicated Aug. 14, 1859, its rectory on right was added in 1874, school on left in 1879. The present altar, windows, and steeple were added later. The Germantown neighborhood grew around it; sermons were often in German until World War I. The parish has produced many nuns and priests, including Archbishop John Floersh and Cardinal Stritch.
Cross Roads Church of Christ This 1832 church building is in rural Bedford County not far from Bell Buckle. It's located at the intersection of Church Cross Rd and Coop Rd. north of TN82. Unfortunately, it looks as if nobody is able to maintain this 190 year old building, perhaps one of the oldest with a Church of Christ name. I respected the no trespassing signs and got this view from the car.
Ghost Congregation Not only is it an old decrepit church building which is begging you to keep out, but it's also located in Adams, TN, the state's favorite ghost town with the Bell Witch. The old church (and I can't find any description anywhere what it used to be) has several warning signs, rope tied around the door, weeds growing through the sidewalk, and an upper window boarded up with a campaign sign for Emerson Meggs. (A quick google search of Mr. Meggs reveals he was a funeral director and Robertson County executive 1982-1994. That makes the sign in the window about 20 years old, I suppose.) The building is located in the old center of Adams with several decaying buildings along Murphy St. Across the street is an old Masonic Lodge, and a row of three vacant storefronts. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/urban-legends-tn/ 7 Tennessee Urban Legends That Will Keep You Up At Night and reposted here: murfreesboro.com/news/local-news/urban-legends-tn/ or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/weirdest-tennessee/ Here Are The 12 Weirdest Places You Can Possibly Go In Tennessee or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tennessee-questions/ 11 Questions You Can Only Answer If You’re From Tennessee or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/insane-tn-paranormal-ac... The Creepy Small Town In Tennessee With Insane Paranormal Activity
The 214 House - Murfreesboro Today, this 1880 house is known as the 214 House as this is it's street address along Main Street. It is listed on the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA) as the East Main St. Church of Christ Parsonage. Because I know someone who frequents this place, I know it's this congregation's outreach to MTSU students, providing a place to for social gatherings or have a quiet place to study. www.the214house.com/
First Methodist Church Steeple - Chattanooga This is a congregation that dates back to 1881. In 1967, they merged with Centenary Methodist Church. At some point, the rest of the church building was torn down, so now all that remains is the tall steeple and part of the wall.
First Methodist Church Plaque - Chattanooga All that remains of this building is the steeple and wall, which this plaque is embedded in.
Henderson Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church - Rutledge, TN en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson_Chapel_African_Methodist_... Henderson Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is a historic African-American church on Church Street in Rutledge, Tennessee. The church building was constructed in 1890. It is a frame building with a gable entrance, a vernacular design that is commonly seen in rural African-American churches built in the twentieth century. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
MSSA Cemetery - Monteagle, TN This large cross is located in the middle of a newer cemetery in Monteagle. It is operated by the nearby Monteagle Sunday School Assembly and opened in 2001, so there are not many buried here yet.
First Congregational Church - Chattanooga, TN Listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Highland Chapel Union Church - Ridgetop, TN en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_Chapel_Union_Church Highland Chapel Union Church is a historic nondenominational Protestant church on Highland Avenue in Ridgetop, TN. In the 19th century, before the church was established, children in the community attended Sunday school in their school building. Preachers of various different denominations conducted worship services from time to time, establishing a local pattern wherein congregants were unconcerned with denominational identity. In 1890 this led to construction of the community's first church building, called Oak Dell Church. That church was destroyed by a fire in 1904 and replaced by the current church, which was built in 1906. In 1920 its name was changed from Oak Dell to Highland Chapel Union Church. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Methodist Church / Masonic Lodge - White's Creek, TN In the White's Creek suburb of Nashville, this was built as the Alex Green Methodist Church in 1873. Today it is home to the Centre Star Masonic Lodge #409
Giant Cross on Prayer Mountain - Cookeville, TN James Potter has built large crosses all over Tennessee and the south. I believe this one is 110 feet tall. It overlooks Interstate 40 from a hill on the west side of Cookeville. There is a church at the bottom of the hill and a road which leads to the top. Learn more: www.thecarpetbagger.org/2013/09/the-giant-crosses-of-jame...
Faith Chapel Church Buffalo Valley, TN along highway 96 along the western side of Putnam County
First Methodist Church - Murfreesboro According to the Association of Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities (APTA), this church building dates back to 1888 with a name of "Methodist Episcopal Church South First United Methodist Church." The congregation moved into a new building in 2003. From there, it was a bank for about a decade. Then for the last decade, it's had the sign advertising the block's upcoming development. It's located at the corner of Church St, and College St. just north of the Murfreesboro square.
First Baptist Church - Watertown, TN along Main St., just west of the town square. (Old TN 26)
Temperance Hall Methodist Church (Alt View) Temperance Hall is a small community in DeKalb County, TN. The congregation was established in 1873, but I'm not sure if that's the date of their building in the middle of town.
Temperance Hall Methodist Church Temperance Hall is a small community in DeKalb County, TN. The congregation was established in 1873, but I'm not sure if that's the date of their building in the middle of town.
Get Right With God (Harrison Mayes Sign) I have been told this sign was made by Harrison Mayes. I don't have any proof other than word of mouth. However, he is responsible for other signs at this location, and he used "Get Right With God" often, so I will assume he made this as well. Harrison Mayes is best known for his concrete crosses placed along the important highways several decades ago. (And, there's one on the ground at this location!) However, he sometimes did extra for places closer to his home. Harrison was willing for his signs to be placed at any Christian denomination, and this one is located north of Tazewell, TN along US25E at a Church of God. Also at this site is a distinctive "Prepare to Meet God" made of corrugated metal. See more of his signs here: www.flickr.com/search/?sort=date-taken-desc&safe_sear...
Monteagle Cumberland Presbyterian Hello to anyone who found this here: www.homesnacks.net/41-photos-of-tennessee-that-will-make-... 41 Photos of Tennessee That Will Make You Want to Move There
Tullahoma Church at Christmas This church is along Lincoln St. and I can't find the name of it. For Christmas, they have a couple of wreaths on the door and a nativity scene out front.
Triune Baptist Church at Christmas This majestic country church is located along highway US31A/41A just off of 840. They have a couple of wreaths on the door for Christmas
Tullahoma First Baptist Church at Christmas So, I was passing through Tullahoma yesterday when I noticed one of the local churches in the heart of town was about to have some kind of Christmas celebration. I thought the blue-ish lights and wreath looked pretty, so I got out of my car and took a picture. I guess they were going to have a choir or something, but I didn't have time to wait and see.
Ooltewah Baptist Church Located in Ooltewah, TN. It's just fun to say Ooltewah. The church building is nice looking. It opened in 1962.
Niota United Methodist Church You've been flocked! Hence the pink flamingos. Around some people I know, that would be a turnoff for that congregation. Seen while just passing through the town of Niota, TN
Niota United Methodist Church This photo was just taken after Halloween. If you look closely, there are some Jack-o-lanters on the steps
Zion Presbyterian Church Between 1805 and 1808, Scottish-Irish settlers arrived in Maury County from South Carolina. Among them were descendants of John Knox, who organized and built a log church in 1807 before building homes for their families. That log church stood near the center of a tract of land purchased from the heirs of Gen. Nathaniel Greene, who received 25,000 acres in Maury County for his service during the Revolutionary War. The present building was completed in 1849 and was built my members and slaves who cut the wood and crafted the bricks at the site. Measuring 80 by 50 feet, it is three stories tall with a recessed porch and built in a Greek Revival style. An old cemetery with 1500 graves surrounds the building. Among those buried here amid the shrubs and trees are fifteen Revolutionary War soldiers, three from the War of 1812, one from the Seminole War of 1836 and sixty Confederate soldiers. Today, it is the oldest active congregation in the county and the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Historical Marker: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
Macedonia Baptist Church - New Middleton, TN If this church looks vaguely familiar, it may be because it faces Interstate 40 between Carthage and Lebanon.
Peeled Chestnut Methodist Church Peeled Chestnut, TN
First Presbyterian Church - Jonesborough, TN The congregation that eventually built this building started as the Hebron Presbyterian Church in 1790. In 1816, the congregation moved to Jonesborough and bought land between 2nd and Washington on the north side of Main St. This building was built in a Greek Revival style in 1850. Plans for the building were drawn up by a Mr. Clise of nearby Kingsport. The bricks and window shutters were all handmade and are originals. The original design specified wide outside front steps but female modesty wanted that changed. (One's ankles should not be revealed while wearing a hoop skirt!) While the view is partially obstructed, you won't see steps. The terrace surrounding the steps were enclosed, and they became indoor steps. Thus, the main entrance to the building looks like it is on a second story balcony behind the six columns.
Cane Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Antioch, TN Cane Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church is a historic church in Antioch, TN added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. Here is the text of the historic marker: Cane Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church, built in 1859, replaced a log building which occupied land donated by Edwin Austin & Thomas Boaz in 1826. One of the best known pastors was Hugh Bone Hill who also preached at the Jerusalem Church in Rutherford County. Isaac Johnson, a Revolutionary War soldier, died 1839 & is buried in the church cemetery.
All Saints Academy - Chattanooga This Academy is on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing property to the Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church. However, the building has fallen into disrepair. Here is information from the National Register nominating form: Due to the strength and vitality of the congregation, there are associated outbuildings that reflect the congregation's influence and activity. The last building in this complex is the 1925 All Saints Academy which stands on a separate tract southeast of the tract on which the church, rectory, and convent are located. While these buildings are basically unadorned in appearance, there are attempts at decorative features through the use of brick and stone trims. This building is listed on preservechattanooga.com as a top ten properties which need preservation help. They noted this building started as Notre Dame Academy in 1925. The High School moved to a new building in 1965 and the lower grades here became Sts. Peter and Paul Elementary School. The Academy closed in 2020. The church has considered demolition. Since then, there has been a fire and vandalism. Developers have had trouble finding adaptive reuse for this facility.
Patten Memorial AME Zion Church - Chattanooga This old brick church was built in 1886 at the base of Lookout Mountain in the St. Elmo neighborhood of Chattanooga. The church was established by the Patten family who also operated the nearby Chattem (Chattanooga Medicine) Company nearby. After being vacant for decades, it was purchased in 2005 and restored by local artist and sculptor Cessna Decosimo to be his personal residence and studio. Learn more in this story: www.chattanoogan.com/2005/5/18/67057/Realtor-Ellen-Brooks...
Pikeville AME Zion Church The Pikeville African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is the oldest African-American church still operating in Bledsoe County. The main part of the building dates back to 1870 when it served as the Freedman's Bureau school. The AME Zion dates back to 1888 when it was identified as a meeting house in a deed. It served as a school until the 1920's. Today it is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Vardy Presbyterian Church Vardy Presbyterian Church is located in Vardy Valley of Hancock County, TN. The area was settled in the early 1800s by several Melungeons, led by Vardeman "Vardy" Collins. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Vardy School Community Historic District. While the school itself has collapsed, several nearby historic buildings make up this historic district. From Wikipedia: Vardy Presbyterian Church, a one-story structure built in 1899 by Morgan Osborne and Miles Watson of nearby Blackwater, Virginia. The church has white frame walls, a pitched tin roof, and a two-story side-gabled roof bell tower. The entrance to the church is via double-leaf door at the base of the bell tower. The church has pointed arch windows on its sides and a tripartite pointed-arch tracery window on its front façade. Heavy swinging double-doors divide the vestibule and sanctuary. Services continued at the Church until 1980. By 1984, when the Vardy school, church, and ancillary structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places, Vardy had just eight residents. With a $10,000 grant from the Tennessee Humanities Council, the Vardy Community Historical Society began restoring the Vardy Community School's surviving structures. In 2000, the group restored the Mahala Mullins Cabin (flic.kr/p/2ocGauc) and moved it from atop Newman's Ridge to Vardy Blackwater Road, opposite the church. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vardy_Community_School
Faith Baptist Church - Santa Fe, TN The Dates 1859 and 1860 are above the door. The appear to be an active congregation. They have Santa Fe on their address, but the building is located about 3 miles away on Snow Creek Rd. (TN247).
Bellwood Presbyterian Church Bellwood is a small town in Eastern Wilson County along Old Rome Pike. This church was built 1906. The Presbyterians sold it to Baptists who met here from 1968 to 1985. Recently, this had been a wedding venue, but that recently closed.
Cumberland Gap Methodist Church This church was built in 1890 and had services until the 1960s. Since this photo was taken, it has been refurbished and is a wedding venue known as The Olde Church.
St. Elmo Church of Christ This Gothic church building with Byzantine and Tudor influences was completed in 1923. It is two stories of brick, with gabled roof and parapet, arched windows and stone keystones. It is located in the St. Elmo neighborhood of Chattanooga with Lookout Mountain in the background. It is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the St. Elmo Historic District. This is also the church my Father-in-law attended as a child. He always thought fondly of this congregation and in his office had a framed newspaper advertisement of one of their gospel meetings.
Shrine to the Virgin of the Poor In Catholic Mariology is the story of Our Lady of Banneux, where an apparition of the Virgin Mary is said to have appeared to Mariette Beco multiple times in 1933. A chapel was built at that site in Belgium by the local Catholic Diocese. A Tennessee Catholic leader decided to build a replica in 1982 on this farm in the New Hope area of Marion County, about five minutes east of South Pittsburg. The recreation includes a chapel and a statue of Mary. I am not well versed in Catholicism, so I probably have some detail or term wrong in this description.
Northcutt Cove Chapel Mormon Church Northcutt Cove is a small area just northwest of Altamont down the Cumberland Plateau. The Mormon church building here is the oldest Mormon church building remaining in Tennessee, and one of the oldest in the Southeast. Mormon missionaries first came to the area around 1896. As their numbers grew, a building was soon needed and this chapel was ready in 1909. The first event here was in October of 1909, a debate between the regional Mormon president and a local Church of Christ preacher. As the congregation grew, and members moved closer to Altamont, This building was built. Today, the Northcutt Cove Chapel is on the National Register of Historic Places. There is a cemetery behind the building where local Mormons still get buried. Here is their historic marker: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
Monteagle Seventh Day Adventist
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saints_Peter_and_Paul_Basilica Saints Peter and Paul Basilica is a historic Roman Catholic church at 214 E. 8th Street in Chattanooga, Tennessee, United States, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). It is one of the oldest continuing parishes in the Diocese of Knoxville. Under the leadership of Father William Walsh, an Irish priest, ground was broken on the current church site on February 1, 1888. The current building was dedicated June 29, 1890.
Mars Hill Presbyterian Church - Athens A little over a month after Athens became the county seat of McMinn County, this congregation was started. This brick building was built in 1838 to be their church building and a civic meeting house. During the Civil War, their pastor left to become a chaplain for the Confederates. In the summer of 1863, Union troops came to occupy the city and most of the people in the city fled south. Those of the conregation who remained had no pastor. When the war was over, the church was in bad shape. Restoration was slow, but by 1878, the building was fully rebuilt. In 1944, the building caught fire and much of the interior was damaged and then repaired. Additions and renovations were made in 1960. Literaly every time I walked up to photograph this place, the sun would hide behind clouds. When I would give up and walk away, the sun would come out.
Rockfield Church of Christ I suppose they had plenty of rocks to build this church building in 1939. It doesn't appear the congregation is active any longer. It's located along Dodd Hollow Rd. in rural Hickman County, TN
Old Church - Castalian Springs, TN This old church along old Highway 25 in Castalian Springs has been converted to a private residence. It was built in 1920, but otherwise, I can't determine which congregation met here.
Big Springs Union Missionary Baptist Church They used to have a sign saying the congregation was organized in 1868. It is located in Claiborne County along highway TN63 (Hopewell Rd.) east of Harrogate
Christ Church Cathedral - Nashville, Tennessee On a personal note, my dad was a director of a local Renaissance Music group which performed here multiple times 15-20 years ago. Here's their organ: flic.kr/p/4bzx4d Listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The Gothic Revival main building made of Sandstone was completed in 1894 with the tower added in 1947.
First Presbyterian Church - Cleveland, TN There's a sign on the front of the building which says the building was built 1856. The date in the half-circle near the top gives the date of Oct. 22, 1858. Old US11 & Lee Highway a couple of blocks away the town square on Ocoee St. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
All Saints' Chapel When the University of the South was first established in Sewanee, TN, plans were setup to eventually have a campus chapel. Half a century passed until the foundation was laid for the Gothic chapel made of Tennessee Sandstone. Walls were built and a temporary roof was added so that chapel could be used in 1910. The permanent roof wasn't finally completed until 1957. The tower on the right is a carillon tower, known as the Shapard Tower. The tower was donated to the school as a gift by the Shapard Family. The largest bell weighs 7,500 lbs.
Erin United Methodist Church My favorite part of this building is the red brick
Seahorn Chapel Methodist Church Built 1939 - located in rural Jefferson County, TN on a hill overlooking Douglas Lake.
Loy Memorial Methodist Church - New Market, TN Built 1908, but stopped meeting a few years ago. For a brief time, it was used as a art gallery.
St. Mark United Primitive Baptist Church - Spring Hill, TN Built ca. 1900, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000. npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/00000811
Christ Temple AME Zion Church - Dandridge, TN This church building has a new owner from when it was added to the National Register. It is located along US25W/70 in Dandridge en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ_Temple_AME_Zion_Church From Wikipedia: Christ Temple AME Zion Church, also known as Belmont Annex Fellowship Hall, is a historic African-American church at 235 E. Meeting Street in Dandridge, Tennessee. The church's building was originally located in southwestern Dandridge, immediately behind the Bethel Presbyterian Church. It was built circa 1888. In 1912 the congregation was rededicated as Christ Temple AME Zion, and the name and date were recorded on a rectangular marble stone installed in the foundation. In 1935 the church was relocated when its site was acquired by the Jefferson County Board of Education to make room for construction of a new white-only segregated school that was to be built through a New Deal program. The school board bought the site at East Meeting Street and Lake Drive from an African-American Missionary Baptist congregation, and traded that property to the Christ Temple AME Zion congregation in exchange for the AME Zion church's site, so the new school could be built on the former AME Zion church property. The church's building was moved to the new site and rebuilt; the rebuilt building included parts of the 1888 building, but likely contained some new materials and elements. It is a single-story gable-front church building on a brick foundation, with weatherboard siding and a metal-covered roof. It has an arched recessed entranced with two-pane square windows on either side. There is a wood ventilation grille above the entrance at the gable point of the façade. The church ended regular operations in 2002, when only five active members remained in the congregation. Its building became an annex of Belmont AME Zion Church, which is located on Swannsylvania Road in Jefferson County. The church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. At the time of the listing, there were plans to remove carpet, fake pine paneling, and a dropped ceiling that had been installed in the church interior around 1970.
Bethsalem Presbyterian Church - Wartrace, TN This church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a contributing part of the Wartrace Historic District. The brick has only been painted white in the last couple of years. From the listing: 42. 205 Knob Creek Road. Bethsalem Presbyterian Church. 1889. Vernacular Gothic. 1 story, brick, rectangular plan, limestone foundation, multi-paneled wooden doors under pointed arches, stained-glass lancet windows, corbelling over entrance, square brick bell tower, front-gabled roof covered with 'French-lap 1 pattern asphalt shingles, brick buttresses with stone weatherings. (C)
Spring Hill Presbyterian Church This congregations first building was built in 1849. It was replaced with this one in 1888. The frame church was constructed with an eclectic vernacular style and fine craftsmanship. The front remains virtually unchanged, although there are additions in the rear. Today, they are known as New School Presbyterian Church. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
St. Luke's Episcopal Church - Cleveland, TN Peter J. Williamson designed this Victorian Gothic church building in 1873. (He also designed the synagogue in Nashville, Central State Hospital and several buildings in McMinnville and on the Vanderbilt Campus. The tower reminds me of Kirkland Hall at Vandy.) With a squared three story tower, arched lanset windows and doors, a broad gabled roof and brick buttresses, this church is unchanged from its original exterior appearance. The building, plus a parish house and a marble mausoleum occupy an entire city block in the heart of Cleveland, and is surrounded by a crenelated stone wall with iron gates. The most famous thing located here is the "Bleeding" Mausoleum. The church was a gift from John H. Craigmiles of Cleveland in memory of his seven year old daughter, Nina, who was killed in a railroad accident on Saint Luke's Day in 1871. She is buried in the Mausoleum.
Riceville United Methodist Church Riceville, TN along Lee Highway (US11)
The Only Abandoned Church ...as in the abandoned church in Only, TN. Not to be confused with the Only Baptist Church.
First Baptist Church - Cleveland, TN Located just a couple of blocks from the town square. The church sign was been pained over and a new sign was put up, they're now called Waterville Baptist.
President Andrew Johnson Gravesite 4: Constitution & Bible President Andrew Johnson is buried at the top of the hill at the place now known as Andrew Johnson National Cemetery. It is under the oversight of the National Park Servce as part of the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site in Greeneville, TN. Johnson purchased 23 acres around "Signal Hil"l in 1852 because he liked the view. Johnson died in 1875 and was buried here. In 1878, it became "Monument Hill" as the 28-foot marble obelisk was placed here. Other family members were buried here atop the hill. Johnsons daughter suggested that it should be a National Cemetery as soldiers from many wars are also buried here. Atop the monument is an eagle. Johnson also had requested that his burial site contain two things that he loved, and you can see them on the obelisk, th constitution and his hand on the Bible
Whitworth Memorial Baptist Church You can see this church from I-40. I had passed it many times, so I decided to find it from the street it was on. It looks like a church that would be several decades old, but it was built in 2004. The Whitworth family owned some farmland that I-40 cut through. The land on the side of the interstate was given to be this church Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/patriotic-tn/ 10 Reasons Why Tennessee Is The Most Patriotic State In The Country or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/strange-habits-tn/
Carthage United Methodist Church This church on the National Register of Historic Places is just up main street a couple of blocks from the town square. The Gothic Revival structure was built in 1889. I have two versions uploaded of the church, one of them is a better angle for viewing (in my opinion) but has power lines in the way, the other is more off to the side.
The Edward Cox Log House In front of the house is a wooden marker that reads: The Edward Cox House Built in 1774 A Shrine of Methodism In 1774, former Revolutionary War soldier Edward Cox and his wife Sallie moved here from Maryland. This is located in what is today known as Sullivan County, TN near Bluff City on the Holston River. He was a Methodist preacher and he moved here to establish a Methodist congregation in the area. This home was rebuilt in 1966.
Shelbyville First Presbyterian Church In 1854, William H Gosling designed this two story building in the Greek Revival ecclesiastical style. The congregation organized in 1810. Today, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places. During the civil war, the building was used as a hospital, but worship services continued. Confederate General Braxton Bragg attended a revival here in 1863. From the register listing: 1854. Greek Revival. Rectangular hall plan church, two story, brick, raised brick foundation with full floor below level, front gable metal roof, distyle-on-antis porch with four massive fluted Corinthian columns, pedimented gable front with raking cornice, shiplap board tympanaeum, modillioned cornice, tower derived from Choragic Monument of Lysicrates in Corinthian order, cross on top, tall rectangular windows, side bays divided by brick pilasters.
Trinity United Methodist Church - Athens, TN This building was dedicated in Oct. 1910. It has the name Trinity as three different congregations all merged together. Today, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Pleasant Grove church located on the east sde of Nashville
West End Baptist Church - Columbia, TN Along US412 Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-churches/ These 14 Stunning Churches In Tennessee Will Make Your Jaw Drop
Kingsport's Church Circle: First Baptist Church When the city planners got together to map out and develop the forthcoming city of Kingsport, they envisioned a central business district and a main street with the Passenger train station on one end and Church Circle on the other. Church Circle is comprised of four large brick buidings with tall steeples. On the north end is the First Baptist Church. Today, the Church Circle district is an entry on the National Register of Historic Places.
Old church building in Charlotte, TN This used to be a church building, but I'm not sure what it used to be. At some point, I guess the building was sold to the local government because it now serves as the office for the local district Attorney General. It's located on Spring St. a couple of blocks from the town square.
Old church in Chuckey, TN I thought it had an interesting design, almost like a mini-castle.
Kingsport's Church Circle: First Presbyterian Church When the city planners got together to map out and develop the forthcoming city of Kingsport, they envisioned a central business district and a main street with the Passenger train station on one end and Church Circle on the other. Church Circle is comprised of four large brick buidings with tall steeples. The second spoke of the circle, (Which is really a half circle) is the Presbyterian Church. Today, the Church Circle district is an entry on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Diana Singing shed Middle Tennessee is sometimes referred to as "The Buckle of the Bible Belt" as there seems to be a church on every corner. One place that is evident is at the Diana Singing. The little community of Diana, TN has perhaps 30 people that live there, near the railroad tracks in the northeastern corner of Giles County. However, twice a year many Christians descend on the small town from miles away for the semi-annual acapella singing. A large shed was built to hold all the singers, but there's always an overflow crowd. Many people drive in with their campers, parking in a large field that stays vacant the rest of the year. On both the Friday and the Saturday, singing starts at 7:30 pm and lasts into the night as long as there people are willing to stay. (I lasted until 1:15 am.) Starting at Midnight, those remaining seperate into each of the four singing parts so that a special CD can be recorded. The Diana Singing happens every year on the second weekend of June and September. This is their 42nd year. Curious what that sounds like? I have a couple of youtube videos of "Our God, He is Alive" and "Salvation has been Brought Down" youtu.be/HEo6ADYH0lc youtu.be/35NEpacvoMI
The Diana Singing Middle Tennessee is sometimes referred to as "The Buckle of the Bible Belt" as there seems to be a church on every corner. One place that is evident is at the Diana Singing. The little community of Diana, TN has perhaps 30 people that live there, near the railroad tracks in the northeastern corner of Giles County. However, twice a year many Christians descend on the small town from miles away for the semi-annual acapella singing. A large shed was built to hold all the singers, but there's always an overflow crowd. Many people drive in with their campers, parking in a large field that stays vacant the rest of the year. On both the Friday and the Saturday, singing starts at 7:30 pm and lasts into the night as long as there are people willing to stay. (I lasted until 1:15 am.) Starting at Midnight, those remaining seperate into each of the four singing parts so that a special CD can be recorded. The Diana Singing happens every year on the second weekend of June and September. This is their 42nd year. Curious what that sounds like? I have a couple of youtube videos of "Our God, He is Alive" and "Salvation has been Brought Down" youtu.be/HEo6ADYH0lc youtu.be/35NEpacvoMI
Kingsport's Church Circle: Brethren Church When the city planners got together to map out and develop the forthcoming city of Kingsport, they envisioned a central business district and a main street with the Passenger train station on one end and Church Circle on the other. Church Circle is comprised of four large brick buidings with tall steeples. Today, the Church Circle district is an entry on the National Register of Historic Places. The church on the southwest side was known as the Brethren Church. At some point, this congregation merged with the Methodist church next door and this church then became vacant. For a while, it became a fine arts center. I saw no labels of any kind at the building
First Presbyterian Church - Greeneville, TN This congregation was founded in 1780 under the trees of Greeneville's Bug Spring by Samuel Doak. Originally called Mount Bethel Presbyterian Church and then Harmony Church. This building dates from 1848 and was restored after a disastrous fire in 1928. This church is on the National Register of Historic Districts as part of the Greeneville Historic District. It is located along Main St. (US321, Old US 11E" Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-churches/ These 14 Stunning Churches In Tennessee Will Make Your Jaw Drop
South Pittsburg Primitive Baptist Church There was a historical marker placed here as part of the Southeast Tennessee Religious Heritage Trail. The building was built in the late 1880s with stone quarried from nearby Sewanee. The building originally had a bell tower, but that and the roof were destroyed by a fire in 1959. As membership dwindled, services stopped in 1979. According to the church's charter, if and when services stopped, the building was deeded to the descendants of the guy who originally gave the property for the building. I suppose they had little use for a 100+ year old church building as the Beene family gave it to the city in 2001. Today it is included on the South Pittsburg Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.
Wartburg Presbyterian Church As of 1/21/2014, this is now on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Rock Church / Trail of Tears Interpretive Center In 1941 in Pulaski, TN this chapel of Gothic architectural design was built as the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Worship services stopped in 1984, when the Rock Church was sold to adjacent First Baptist Church. As two separate branches of the Trail of Tears passed through Giles County, plans were made to create a memorial center. In 2002, the Baptist church donated the building to be the Interpretive Center. Later that year, the building was relocated three blocks away to its present location via a large trailer. The large area in front of the center is a giant map of the area tracing the Trail of Tears. For more info about the center, www.trailoftearspulaski.com/index2.html
Church of the Messiah - Pulaski, TN This Episcopal church was built in 1887 with a style similar to a 19th Century English parish church. The cost for building the church was $6,000 and was donated by Governor John C. Brown who lived at Colonial Hall on the same block. Today, the church building is on the National Register of Historic Places, significant for its architecture.
"We Celebrate" The Real Potter - Not Harry I wouldn't know if they are anti-Harry Potter like some Christians are, or if they are just making a current events topical message since the movie's been out for a bit. If you don't get the Biblical reference, it's from Isaiah 64:8. But now, O LORD, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
Cannon County War Memorial (at night) Eternal Rest grant unto them oh Lord and let light shine upon them - This is the message etched and painted below the cross. A Tribute of love to the memory of those we must not forget - This is etched atop the horizontal part. While I have a daytime view of this memorial, I chose to use this night view, especially with the "Let light shine upon them" message. This memorial is on the grounds of the Cannon County Courthouse in the town square of Woodbury, TN
Rockhold United Methodist Church Located about a mile east of Bluff City on TN44
Sacred Harp Singing Sacred Harp singing is a form of church music started in the early 19th century in the northeast, which went on to be popular in the south. It's an art form that came close to dying out, but has had a resurgence in popularity due in part to the Internet. The locals who enjoy this singing have formed the Harpeth Valley Sacred Harp Singers and you can find out more about them here: sacredharpnashville.org/ Here's what's going on in the picture: Chairs are arranged to form a square. That song's leader stands in the middle and faces the largest group who sings the melody. On one side are the basses, who are opposite from the trebles, with the altos in the back. The book they use is a modern reprint of a book dating back to 1844 called The Sacred Harp. The music is sung a cappella, which means they don't use instruments, but with everyone singing they can belt out the notes really loud. The leader and some of the singers wave their hand in a pattern to help keep the rhythm. This meetup was at the 2011 Wilson County Fair in Lebanon, TN
Williams Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church Emory Gap, TN
Kelso Cumberland Presbyterian Church In Kelso, TN, east of Fayetteville
Decherd, TN Seventh Day Adventist
Centerville Methodist Church
St. Agnes Church - Cowan, TN
Petersburg, TN Church of Christ
Bethel Springs Presbyterian Church From Wikipedia Bethel Springs Presbyterian Church is a historic Presbyterian church on 3rd Avenue in Bethel Springs, Tennessee. The church was established in 1829 and is the oldest church still in operation in McNairy County. The Colonial Revival style church building was constructed in 1893 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. An cemetery located next to the church includes burials of Confederate soldiers.
Loudon, TN Methodist Church This isn't the oldest or most historic church building in Loudon, but it is one of the most prominent and the tall steeple stands out. The architecture of the building must be prominent enough that the steeple is incorporated into the city of Loudon's logo. Seen along US11
Central Church of Christ - McMinnville, TN In the 1830's, a group of Church of Christ members met every Sunday inside the Warren County Courthouse to worship. In the 1840's, the built their first brick building which was damaged in the Civil War and replaced in 1878. Over a century later, that congregation still exists and meets in this building on the McMinnville town square. The building of a Greek Revival style was finished in 1973 and has a seating capacity over a thousand. www.churchatcentral.org/
St. James Episcopal Church - Greeneville, TN This white gothic style frame church near the city center of Greeneville opened in 1850. The building, designed by George M. Spencer is typical of Episcopal architecture in Tennessee during this time. The organ here is believed to be the oldest church organ in Tennessee still in use. During the Civil War, Confederate General John Hunt Morgan hid in this church under the floor while being pursued by Union troops. When troops entered the church, he ran out into the nearby grape arbors of the Williams mansion leading to his eventual capture and death. Today, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Greeneville Historic District.
St. Paul AME Zion Church - Johnson City, TN
Grace Episcopal Church - Paris, TN This is the oldest church building in town, dating back to 1895. J.P. Morgan donated $250 to help pay for the roof. The large rose windows on this side of the building were replaced in 1966. These windows were made of stained glass shards gathered from cathedrals in Europe destroyed during the world wars. Some of those pieces date back to the 15th century. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/visit-unique-tn-town/ The Unique Town In Tennessee That’s Anything But Ordinary
St. John's Cathedral - Knoxville, TN This congregation was organized on May 1844 by Thomas W. Humes who later became the President of UT. About a year later, James Otey visited and laid the cornerstone for the original church building at the corner of Cumberland and Walnut. In 1892 at the same location, it was replaced by this stone building of Romanesque architecture.
Clifton First Presbyterian Church During the Civil War, Late in December 1863, the 2nd Tennessee Mounted Infantry (US) occupied Clifton and placed a garrison on Stockade Hill, located right behind this church, which Confederates had used as a hospital. The Federals used it as a livery stable and a blacksmith shop. The damage the building suffered resulted in a claim against the United States, which compensated the congregation with $780 in 1915. The congregation used those funds to construct the steeple seen here. If you look at this picture full sized, you may notice how the bricks around the front door don't seem as uniform like around the rest of the building. Federal Troops enlarged the front door, since they used the building as a stable for their horses. After the war, the original door was replaced. Today, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Fruitland Presbyterian Church The building dates back to 1913, and the congregation dated back to 1825, with the claim they were the first congregation of any denomination west of the Tennessee River. The congregation must not meet any more as the "Presbyterian Church" part of the sign has been removed. This building and the tiny community of Fruitland is in Gibson County along highway US45W, although the highway now bypasses the area. For the whole story: tn-roots.com/tngibson/Churches/fruitland.htm See the comment below, this church is now gone.
Spring Creek Presbyterian Church This church is located on highway TN266 about halfway between Lebanon and Cainsville, TN in Wilson County. The rural congregation was established in 1801 and relocated here in 1869. The Colonial Revival style churchhouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The frame building is of simple Greek Revival style. The rooms to either side of the front porch were used for storage of horse feed and tack. The church retains many of its original features such as paneled wood doors, chair railing, painted cedar columns and twenty-seven hand-hewn wooden pews.
Thankful Baptist Church - Johnson City, TN The following text is from a brochure entitled "A Historic Tour of Johnson City" Thankful Baptist Church was the originator of this structure which was built in 1912. Prior to its construction, a small white chapel in which the congregation worshiped was located on this site. In 1975, Thankful Baptist Church relocated to Watauga Avenue and, in 1977, sold the Water Street property to Princeton Free Will Baptist Church. The facility is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/charming-tn-town/ This Charming Tennessee Town Is Picture Perfect For An Autumn Day Trip
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church - Covington, TN The cornerstone of this church building was laid in 1858 and all of the yellow poplar and red gum lumber was cut by hand. Bishop Charles Quintard was in Britain when extensive renovations were undertaken at Canterbury Cathedral. There, three stained glass windows about three hundred years old were discarded, which he acquired. The were then shipped on a six month journey by sea across the ocean and then up the Mississippi River to the nearby town of Randolph. The windows were then installed here in the chancel where they remain a treasured possession to this day. The church was built in a Gothic Architecture style and was designed by J.J. Malone and William P. Malone. Today, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Sprite - Safe Haven Baptist Church - sign There's a joke in here somewhere, but I'm not going to make it. :) Often I've seen signs like this with Sprite or Coke or Pepsi or Mountain Dew where the drink is featured prominently and the business is on the lower half. I've always assumed there's some kind of arrangement where the soda company would buy the business a sign if their drink was featured at the top. I'd just never seen it at a church before. These sprite signs are my favorite. Does this style date back to the 60's? The green and red things along the middle somewhat remind me of stained glass in a church vestibule, so maybe this combo does work. Seen along Dayton Blvd. (US27) in the Red Bank suburb of Chattanooga.
Rutledge Presbyterian Church This church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. Here is the text from the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation press release: Rutledge Presbyterian Church and Cemetery Constructed in 1903, the Rutledge Presbyterian Church in Grainger County is an outstanding example of a Folk Victorian style church with Gothic Revival detailing. The one-story, weather-boarded building is highlighted on the exterior with a corner bell tower, shingles in the front gable and stained glass windows. Inside, the sanctuary retains wood wainscoting and floors. A historically associated cemetery, with burials dating to 1864, surrounds the church.
Kingsport, TN: Steeples of Church Circle. When the city planners got together to map out and develop the forthcoming city of Kingsport, they envisioned a central business district and a main street with the Passenger train station on one end and Church Circle on the other. Church Circle is comprised of four large brick buildings with tall steeples. Today, the Church Circle district is an entry on the National Register of Historic Places. I suppose I have them shown here in backwards order, but it's the order I walked to each one. First is the Brethren Church, Then the Methodist Church, the Presbyterian Church and the Baptist Church
First Christian Church - Union City, TN The congregation was organized in 1848 about 4 miles away. The city was formed in 1854 and this lot was given to them in 1856. Union troops destroyed their church in the Civil War and a cholera epidemic killed many members in 1873. This building is their third here and it was built in 1912.
First Presbyterian Church - Memphis, TN The congregation is the second oldest in Memphis, dating back to 1828. They've been meeting at this location since 1832. This building dates back to 1884 when the previous building burned down. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This photo was taken early in the morning when there was still some fog downtown.
Bethel Presbyterian Church - Dandridge, TN Built in 1880 by Thomas Fain and located along the Asheville Highway, it is a beautiful example of an early church style. The church building is stop #35 on the Historic Dandridge Driving tour. Hello to anyone who found this photo here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-churches/ These 14 Stunning Churches In Tennessee Will Make Your Jaw Drop
Model Train Version of Nashville Landmarks: Woodmont Christian Church For many years, Nashville had a Children's Museum on Second Ave. S. At the time, they had a large model train display which involved 1:48 O-scale trains rumbling around scaled replicas of local landmarks, such as Union Station, the L&C Tower and Woodmont Christian Church. The Childrens' museum was relocated in 1974 to Fort Negley hill where it became the Cumberland Science Museum (and is now the Adventure Science Center). The model trains were not a part of the relocation and are now part of the Tennessee Central Railway Museum. These O Gauge buildings were built to scale using light wood, paper, cardboard, and glue by members of the Nashville Association of Model Engineers around 1955.
Decherd Methodist Church On this particular day, a church member was putting up the VBS sign. Seen along Main St. (TN50) right in the heart of Decherd.
First Baptist Church (Black & White) - Downtown Knoxville The building was completed in 1924 with a Baroque Classic style. Today, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For the full story, their website has a detailed document about the building: fbcknox.org/images/stories/file/SanctuaryTour.pdf
Trinity Episcopal Church - Winchester, TN With a congregation that dates back to 1859, their building was destroyed during the Civil War. Without a regular meeting place for a decade, they broke ground on this building on Jan. 1, 1873, and it was completed the following year. It's located a couple of blocks from the town square at the corner of 1st (old US64) and Vine. Today, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places
Pickett Chapel Methodist Church Built in 1827, this is the oldest brick building in Lebanon. Services were held here for about 150 years. After a short run as a community theater, the building remained vacant for a couple of decades. In 2007, the building was purchased by the Wilson County Black History Committee and has received a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The committee has converted the building to become the Roy Bailey African American History Center. It is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
First United Church - Belvidere, TN This church is located 1/4 mile north of US64 in Belvidere, TN (in Franklin County) along Owl Hollow Rd. In 1873, the church was founded by Swiss-German settlers as the German Reformed Church and was the first such church in Tennessee. The church became the center of Swiss culture in this area which was noted for its advanced agriculture techniques. A 1934 union created the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In 1957, this denomination merged with the Congregational Christian Church to form the United Church of Christ.
Freed-Hardeman University Old Main Administration Building Since I took this picture in Nov, 2011 this building has been added to the National Register of Historic Places in March 2012. It is listed as the National Teacher's Normal and Business College Administration Building. Freed Hardeman's main building is located a couple of blocks from the Henderson town square along highway TN100. The cornerstone was laid in Nov. 1907 and was completed Sept. 1908 at a cost of $35,000. The architect for the building was Hubert T. McGee who also designed the County Courthouse, and the Pink Palace in Memphis. Old Main, as the FHU people call it, has early 20th Century Italian Renaissance Revival and Italianate-style elements. In the center is a two-story portico with Ionic columns and brick arches. Also, there is limestone keystones, buff-colored brick exterior and quoins, gabled dormers, and a domed cupola with a bell. I know several people that have ties to FHU. As I was writing my caption, it just occuried to me that I visited this building perhaps 18-20 years ago.
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church - Loretto, TN The cornerstone for this Catholic church was laid in 1910 and completed two years later. The congregation was started by German immigrants who relocated to this area a few miles south of Lawrenceburg. Today, the building is on the National Register of Historic Places.
Mount Olivet Cemetery Chapel Every year, the Tennessee Preservation Trust creates a list known as "Ten in Tennessee" listing the top endangered historic sites in the state. As you can tell by the fence that goes around the building, the future of this chapel is in doubt. Following the footsteps of the TPT, Historic Nashville Inc. said this for their "Nashville Nine" in 2009: Mount Olivet Cemetery Chapel, 1101 Lebanon Pike, Southeast Nashville. Built in phases between the 1870s and 1940s, this Gothic Revival-style building was likely designed by Nashville architect Hugh Cathcart Thompson, best known as designer of the Ryman Auditorium. It served as the chapel and offices for the historic Mount Olivet Cemetery until it was replaced with a new facility in 1996. The brick building features a cathedral ceiling with original woodwork in the octagonal vestry, two bell towers, a built-in vault and pointed arched windows. The Tennessee Preservation Trust placed this building on its endangered properties list in 2005, the same year the entire 206-acre cemetery with its 192,000 burials was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The historic chapel and office is currently vacant and deteriorated. For more on the TPT: www.tennesseepreservationtrust.org/ten For more on the Nashville 9: www.historicnashvilleinc.org/resources/nashville-9 For local photographers, these lists make up things you might want to go see before they are gone forever. UPDATE: This building has been destroyed by a fire. seemidtn.blogspot.com/2015/01/in-news-historic-mt-olivet-...
The Church with the Cannonball - Greeneville, TN The Greeneville Cumberland Presbyterian Church building found itself in the middle of the Civil War and ended up having a cannonball lodged between some bricks. On either side of the front door are some lamps. A foot or two above the lamp on the right, or about 8-10 feet off the ground is a small cannonball which became lodged as it must have hit the brick just right. A state of Tennessee Historic Marker adds this info: Rev. Isaac S. Bonham founded the congregation with thirty charter members in 1841. The present church was begun in 1860 on land purchased from Andrew Johnson by Rev. John P. Holtsinger. The church was shelled on September 4, 1864, the day Confederate General John H. Morgan was killed across the street. This is also the site where The American Presbyterian, Cumberland Presbyterian newspaper, was published in the 1850's by Rev. Joseph P. Dobson. A second marker placed by the church on the front of the building adds this: Founded 1841. The war between the states saw the church used as a hospital and stable. The cannon ball in the front wall was fired there September 4, 1864 during the skirmish in which General John H. Morgan lost his life. For more to the story, check here: tnjn.com/2008/mar/31/cannonball-church-offers-an-un/
First Baptist Church - Greeneville, TN The building here dates back to 1948.
First Presbyterian Church - LaFollette, TN Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/naughty-cities-tn/
St. John's Episcopal Church Here is a famous example of a plantation church, and perhaps the last one built in Tennessee. This church was the dream of Leonidas Polk who was a farmer, Episcopal bishop, second cousin of the President, and Confederate General. Polk gave of his land, oversaw the construction and financed it for the three years it was being built. It was completed in 1842 with the bell placed in the tower in 1849. Polk wrote, "This church is of chaste and simple Gothic architecture...capable of seating...about five hundred people." The building is 41 feet wide, 65 feet long, the walls are sixteen inches thick and there are four buttresses on each side with a tall stained glass window between them. Today, there is no congregation that meets here anymore since 1915. However, once a year there is a service on Whitsunday, which is seven weeks after Easter. It is located on old Highway US43 (today TN243) in an area that used to be known as Ashwood but today is just between Columbia and Mt. Pleasant in Maury County. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. See the Historical Marker here.
McMinnville Main St. at night Of interest in this photo are the First Methodist Church and the Magness Community House & Library. Dating from 1886, the First Methodist Church was built from bricks fired to construct the Great Falls Cotton Mill at Rock Island. Stained glass windows and original oak pews have been retained even though several additions to the rear of the church have been made over the years. W. H. Magness, Jr. (1865-1936) was a co-founder and the first president of the National Bank of McMinnville in 1874, which became First National Bank in 1905. He was the city's foremost philanthropist, and donated the land and construction cost for this classic and dignified cut-stone building. It was built in 1931 at a cost of $40,000, and is named in honor of the father and brother of Mr. Magness
New Hope Presbyterian Church This old church was seen along highway US431 south of Franklin in Williamson County. The congregation dates back to 1806 but their third building was built in 1869.
JES-US This church is located in a somewhat poor neighborhood of Chattanooga. I don't think I've ever seen the name of Jesus hyphenated before.
First United Methodist Church - Mountain City, TN The congregation dates back to 1818. Their first building was built in 1835. The first building at this site was built in 1858. This building opened in 1905.
Green Hill Shrine Green Hill sounds like it's the name of a place, but in this case, it's the name of a person. He was a Revolutionary War Colonel who moved to this property on the east side of Brentwood in 1799. He was also a Methodist Preacher and for that reason this cemetery where he and his family is buried has been designated a United Methodist Historic Site. (There's a small gray plaque in the top left corner designating this.)
Johnson Chapel Methodist Church This church is in Brentwood, TN. According to the historical marker: Johnson Chapel was established about 1803 on part of Col. Thomas McCrory's property purchased by Maj. John Johnston in 1796. His son Matthew Johnston built the first church here. The land on which the log church stood was deeded to the trustees of the church in 1831, when it was being used by all denominations. Levin Edney, pioneer circuit rider preacher, held the first services here. The first church was destroyed by fire in 1850. This building, erected in 1925, is the third on this site.
Triune United Methodist Church This building was finished in 1873 but the congregation dates back to 1804. The original location for the building was about a mile west of Triune near what is today TN96. Then in 1849, they moved to this location in Triune on the highway that is today US41A/31A. That building was burned in the Civil War in 1863 and this building was finished a decade later. One thing of note, the original cornerstone of the original Kings Chapel is prominently displayed above the front door. If you look at the photo full size, you can see the 1804 date. See this church's historic marker here: seemidtn.com/gallery3/index.php?album=historical-markers/...
The hand of man reaching up for the hand of God Located at the entrance of Brentwood United Methodist Church
Wells Chapel United Methodist Church - Jasper, TN Built in 1915 in a Gothic Revival Style using area sandstone.
Bible Verse Barn in East Tennessee There are plenty of barns along the old backroads advertising all kinds of products and tourist attractions, but this is the first one I've seen with a Bible verse or two, although I suspect there are plenty more out there. On the roof, it quotes Proverbs 14:30: A sound heart is the life of the flesh. In the front of the barn, the verse is partially obscured, but I'm going to guess it's John 14:15: If ye love me, keep my Commandments. This barn is on Highway TN68 in Monroe County between Tellico Plains and Madisonville. Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/coolest-tn-town/
Buttonwillow Church - Whitwell, TN Until the earliest part of the 21st century, this church building was home to the Whitwell United Methodist Church. After being abandoned for a few years, it reopened as a 19th Century performance venue. The Buttonwillow Church is now a Civil War Dinner Theater. First, visitors eat a traditional southern meal, perhaps something that would have been eaten at the White House of the Confederacy. Then, Husband and Wife Steve and Allison Gibson perform their two-man play sharing history, tidbits and some humor of life during the War Between the States.
First United Methodist Church - Dyersburg, TN Accroding to the historical marker placed by the United Methodists: Robert M. Tarrent held a courthouse revival in 1840. The first church in Dyer Co., First Methodist, grew out of this meeting. A frame church, built 1844, deteriorated from disuse during the Civil War. In 1864 a new structure at Church and Market was dedicated by G.W.D. Harris. In 1923, this building was completed. First Methodist has built two churches: Boose Memorial, named for the first woman ordained in the Memphis Conference, and Second Church, later Ross Memorial. Strongly Supporting foreign missions, county disaster aid and community service, their motto is "The church in the heart of town with the town at heart."
Gate to Burritt College - Spencer, TN Burritt College was a Church of Christ affiliated school which started in 1848 (which is the date on this stone gate built by students) as the first coeducational college in the South. Some of the buildings remain in addition to the historic gate. Here is the text of the historical marker for the school: Established 1848 through the efforts of Elihu Burritt, a blacksmith who intended that the youth of his community should get the benefits of education denied to him. It closed it's doors in 1939 as a result of the development of the public school system and improvement of communication facilities. For the thorough story: www.therestorationmovement.com/burritt.htm
Macedonia Baptist Church Located in rural Marion County, across the street from the church is Nickajack Lake.
Last Supper Woodcarving - The Upper Room - Nashville The description from the Upper Room's website: Commissioned for the opening of The Upper Room Chapel in 1953, the woodcarving of Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper sets the mood and theme of the chapel. Fifty craftspersons worked for fourteen months under the direction of sculptor Ernest Pellegrini to create the work. It was carved from linden (basswood) and walnut and is 17 ft. wide and 8 ft. high. chapel.upperroom.org/chapel/chapel-carving This photo was taken by my mom who let me share it.
Blountville Presbyterian Church According to a wooden plaque on the gate, this congregation was established in 1820. This Greek Revival building had its cornerstone placed in 1835 and was completed in 1939.
Future Site of Grundy County Veterans Historical Society Museum Located in Palmer, TN is the future site of the Grundy County Veterans Museum. In 2007, this building which used to be used as the Palmer Church of Christ was donated to them. For the full story, see their website at grundyveterans.com
Oak Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church The hand painted sign out front mentions the congregation was founded in 1888. This church building is located along highway TN27 in Marion County, TN
Prayer on the Square - Huntingdon, TN There used to be a time where I'd go to photograph something like a courthouse and my goal would be to get as little human evidence as possible in the shot. (No people, no cars, etc...) Over the years, what I have come to realize is these buildings are not relics of a bygone era, but an important public meeting place, whether it be for a local festival, political rally or for a religious event as it was on this day. To avoid such things would cause me to miss out on the true spirit of the county.
Gibson Baptist Church - Gibson, TN
Bethel Church - Victoria, TN This is located just off of the Valley View Highway (old TN28) north of Victoria in Marion County. Read the first comment below.
King's Chapel (Rebuilt) As early as 1804 Peter Cartwright, William McKendree and Jacob Young were preaching the Methodist Doctrine in southeastern Williamson County. IN 1815 Kings' Chapel was constructed as an outgrowth of their campground meetings. In 1849, the congregation moved to a larger building just north of Triune, where the original cornerstone of Kings' Chapel is prominently displayed above the front door. The Union Army occupied the abandoned church during the Civil War, which became a dairy barn in the 20th century. The families of John & Elaine Powell and William & Patricia Anton finished the reconstruction of Kings' Chapel on its original site using the same foundation stones and many of the original bricks in 2008. This reconstructed Chapel is located just off of highway TN96 at the entrance of a subdivision between Triune and Arrington.
Hiwassee Union Baptist Church This church building which dates back to 1899 is located along the bank of the Hiwassee River in Reliance, TN. Every other photo I have seen of this building is from the street side, however my photo was taken while I was riding along the Hiwassee River Excursion Train. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Reliance Historic District. Here is the text of the historic marker provided by the Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association from their Religious Heritage Trail: Erected about 1899 through the joint effort of the Hiwassee Union Missionary Baptist Church and the local Masonic Lodge, this two-story, frame structure served as a multi-use community building. The upper floor was for lodge meetings while the first floor served as the church meeting hall. The first floor was also used as a schoolhouse for a brief time. Originally the first floor had a full front porch. The porch was enclosed in 1927 when the church added two small meeting rooms, leaving a narrow entry way into the main hall. The church and the lodge moved to new facilities less than one mile to the east on Highway 30. It was founded on October 8, 1848 as Hiwassee Union Baptist, and then in 1859 as Sweetwater Baptist Association. In 1861 the Ocoee Baptist Association was formed, so they asked to be released from Sweetwater's Association and joined the Ocoee Baptist Association. Hiwassee Union Baptist went on the join Eastanallee Baptist Association in 1871 and finally it joined the Polk Baptist Association in 1921. (One more note about the excursion train: I could have sworn I heard the guide say this place was a filming location for the movie Deliverance, but I can't find any confirmation of that anywhere else. Has anyone else heard that?) Hello to anyone who found this here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/tn-facts/ 20 Facts About Tennessee You Never Knew Were True or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/incredible-tn-rivers/ There’s Something Incredible About These 15 Rivers In Tennessee 8) Hiwassee River What a great shot of the Hiwassee Union Baptist Church! Or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/self-respecting-tenness... 11 Things No Self-Respecting Tennessean Would Ever Do Or here: www.onlyinyourstate.com/tennessee/beautiful-east-tn-photos/ 15 Insanely Beautiful Photos Of East Tennessee That Will Make You Want To Visit or here: www.tngenweb.org/
Alpine Institute - Christ Church Presbyterian The Alpine Institute was a Presbyterian mission school located in Overton County, TN. Operating in one form or another from 1821 until 1947, the school provided badly needed educational services to children living in the remote hill country of the Upper Cumberland region. In 2002, several of the school's surviving structures were added to the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district. John Dillard (1793–1884), a minister affiliated with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Southern Appalachia, established the Alpine School atop Alpine Mountain in 1821 and expanded the school in the 1840s. The school was burned by bushwhackers during the Civil War and again by the Ku Klux Klan in the years after the war. The school was re-established in 1880 at its current location at the base of Alpine Mountain, and under the leadership of future Tennessee governor A. H. Roberts continued to thrive into the following decade. In 1917, the better-funded Presbyterian Church assumed control of the school and helped it develop into one of the state's most competitive rural schools. The Alpine Institute was located along Highway TN52 (Jamestown Highway) in the Alpine community, just over 10 miles east of Livingston. This community is situated in a valley carved by Nettlecarrier Creek (which empties into the Obey River just east of Alpine), and is surrounded by high ridges on all sides, most notably the 1,826-foot Alpine Mountain, which rises prominently to the south. A one-lane road, Campus Circle, accesses the church and adjacent buildings. While Alpine Institute's main school building no longer stands, several important structures associated with the school have survived. The Christ Church Presbyterian (a Gothic Revival-style church, which was completed in 1934) is well-maintained and still used for religious services. The school's gymnasium is now used as a community center, and the manse is still in use as a residence. Other surviving structures include the shop building and a dairy barn. The gymnasium, church, and shop building were all built using the same type of native stone.
Huntingdon First Presbyterian Church Located in Huntingdon, TN along US70 just east of the town square. The date 1910 appears on the cornerstone.
Old Bible at Silverdale Confederate Cemtery - Chattanooga, TN There are plenty of historic Civil War sites in and around Chattanooga, and some are better knwon than others. I had never heard of this one when I stumbled across it on my way to McKay's Bookstore which is just down the road. If I had known about it, I would have gotten there when it was earlier. It's a tiny cemetery of about 150 soldiers. surrounded by the old Lee Highway on one side and I-75 on the other. This Bible, which appears to have been there for a long time, has been exposed to the elements, but still it is under an awning. The rocks, which hold the pages in place, have been turned to Deuteronomy 9-10. (If you know the significance of this passage in the context of a cemetery, let me know.)
Atwood United Methodist Church This building was built in 1943. Atwood is a small town in Carroll County, TN along US70A/79
