Fields of the Wood facts for kids
Fields of the Wood is a special Christian park located in Cherokee County, North Carolina. It covers more than 200 acres of land and is owned by the Church of God of Prophecy, which is a Christian church group. The park is most famous for having the world's largest display of the Ten Commandments. This amazing display is 300 feet wide and is built right into the side of a mountain.
Contents
The Park's History
How Fields of the Wood Started
Fields of the Wood was the idea of a man named A. J. Tomlinson. He lived from 1865 to 1943. Tomlinson was the main founder of several Christian churches called the Church of God. Many of these churches have their main offices in Cleveland, Tennessee.
In 1940, Tomlinson, who was then the leader of the Church of God of Prophecy, came back to this area. He wanted to create a special place to remember where he believed God had shown him the true church in 1903. He thought it was interesting that in the same year he started his church in North Carolina, the Wright Brothers made their first successful airplane flight in the eastern part of the state. Tomlinson believed that a chapter in the Book of Isaiah in the Bible had predicted both these events.
Naming the Park
Tomlinson named the park "Fields of the Wood." This name comes from a verse in the King James Version of the Psalms (Psalm 132:6). It says, "We found it in the fields of the wood." In 1941, Tomlinson officially opened the site with a sermon. During this event, airplanes rented by the church dropped gospel tracts (small religious papers) from the sky. This was done to follow a verse from the Bible (Deuteronomy 32:2) that says, "May my teaching drop as the rain."
Some temporary markers were put up at the park in 1940. However, most of the permanent buildings and displays were built after 1943. This work was led by Tomlinson's son, M. A. Tomlinson, and other leaders of the Church of God of Prophecy.
What You Can See at the Park
Main Attractions and Monuments
Fields of the Wood has many different markers and monuments. Some of these are important to Christians everywhere. Others are special mainly to members of the Church of God of Prophecy.
Here are some of the things you can see:
- Displays that show the three crosses on Golgotha and The Garden Tomb. These are important places in the Christian faith.
- A baptismal pool where people can be baptized.
- "Prayer Mountain," which has 29 monuments with quotes from the Bible. It also has four markers that tell the history of the Church of God of Prophecy. At the very top of this mountain, there is a "Prayed and Prevailed" marker. Visitors often leave written prayers here.
- Near Prayer Mountain, you can see a small airplane that used to be part of the "White Angel Fleet."
The Ten Commandments and All Nations Cross
On another hill called Burger Mountain, you will find the huge display of the Ten Commandments. The letters on this display are 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide. The whole display is bordered with concrete sections that are 1 foot thick. It stretches 300 feet from one side to the other.
At the top of Burger Mountain, there is a concrete "All Nations Cross." This cross is outlined on the ground. Around it, there are 86 flag poles flying flags from some of the countries where the Church of God of Prophecy has ministries. When the park was first built, this was the largest Christian cross in the world.
Visitor Facilities
Three short walking trails lead down from Burger Mountain. At the bottom, you can find restrooms, picnic tables, a gift shop, and a café. The park does not have a campground or a very large place for big church meetings.
Nearby Historical Sites
About half a mile from the main park, there are other important historical sites for the Church of God. These include:
- The house where the first General Assembly (a big church meeting) took place in 1906.
- The site of a school where religious meetings were held in 1896. During these meetings, people practiced glossolalia, which is speaking in what they believe are spiritual languages.
- A marker that shows where the Holiness Church at Camp Creek was located. This church was an early version of the Church of God.
Awards and Recognition
Fields of the Wood has received praise from the local community. It was voted as the best attraction in Cherokee County in the Cherokee Scout newspaper's Readers' Choice awards for both 2023 and 2024.
