Beth Salem Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Beth Salem Presbyterian Church
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Athens, Tennessee |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1920 |
| MPS | Rural African-American Churches in Tennessee MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000728 |
| Added to NRHP | June 22, 2000 |
Beth Salem Presbyterian Church is a very old and important church located in Athens, Tennessee. It holds a special place in history, especially for the African-American community in the area.
This church is known for its long history and its unique building style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000 because of its importance.
Contents
A Church with a Rich History
The Beth Salem Presbyterian Church community started in 1866. This was soon after the American Civil War. White missionaries helped to organize the church. This made Beth Salem the very first African American church in a large farming area. This area included McMinn, Meigs, and Polk counties.
Early Days and First Buildings
When the church first began, the members met in a simple "brush arbor." This was a shelter made from tree branches and leaves. It provided a cool place for services.
Later, a local white woman donated land for the church. On this land, a log church was built. This log building was not just a church. It also served as a public school for the community.
Around 1920, the log church building was sadly destroyed by a fire. But the community did not give up.
Building the Current Church
After the fire, a new church building was constructed. This is the building you can see today. People donated lumber to help build it. Both Black church members and their white neighbors worked together. They volunteered their time and effort to build the new church. This shows how the community came together.
What the Church Looks Like Today
The church building built in 1920 is a simple, one-story structure. It has one main room and is shaped like a rectangle. It is made of wood and has a front entrance with a pointed roof, called a gable.
The outside walls are covered with "weatherboard" siding. This is a common type of wood siding. The roof is made of metal. This building style is typical for many rural African-American churches from that time. It shows a simple, local way of building that was common in the countryside.
In 2000, Beth Salem Presbyterian Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
