Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church
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Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church, 2008
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Stone Dr. (Hwy. 11W) and Afton, Kingsport, Tennessee |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1845 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001845 |
| Added to NRHP | October 02, 1973 |
The Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church is a really old church in Kingsport, Tennessee. It used to be called the Boatyard Presbyterian Church and later Kingsport Presbyterian Church. It started way back on May 20, 1820, and is the oldest church of any kind in Kingsport! It's part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) family.
Contents
A Look Back: Church History
How the Church Began
The church community first came together in 1820. At first, they met in a simple building made of logs. This log building was located where the church's cemetery is today. The cemetery is still used and has many old graves from the 1800s.
The first leader, called a pastor, was Rev. Robert Glenn. He served the church from 1820 to 1826.
Building the New Church
From 1826 to 1852, Rev. Dr. Frederick Augustus Ross was the minister. He owned a large home called Rotherwood Mansion in Kingsport. Dr. Ross did not take any money for his work at the church.
Under Dr. Ross's leadership, the church grew very quickly. Soon, the log building was too small for everyone. Dr. Ross paid for the building we see today in 1845. People who worked for him helped build it. The new church building was officially opened on July 18, 1846.
Dr. Ross also gave the church a big brass bell. This bell was made in West Troy, New York, by a famous company called Meneely Bell Foundry. It still rings to call people to worship today! The church building is a great example of Greek Revival architecture, which was a popular style back then. It's also one of the oldest buildings still standing in Kingsport.
Challenges and Changes
The American Civil War (1861-1865) was a tough time for Kingsport and for the church. After the war, fewer people attended the church. Many different pastors served for short times between 1865 and 1910.
In 1910, railroad tracks were built just north of the church. Because of this, the church building had to be moved a few yards south. It was also turned to face east, instead of north as it originally did.
When the City of Kingsport was officially created in 1917, most of the church members left. They started a new church called First Presbyterian Church in downtown Kingsport. Only five members stayed at the Old Kingsport Church. For about 20 years, the church building was used as a community center. However, the Sunday School program stayed active through the 1920s and 1930s.
Rebuilding and Growth
The church was officially reorganized in June 1937. It slowly began to gain more members. The first pastor of the reorganized church was Rev. Albert H. Mutschler. He helped fix up the old building. He also oversaw the building of new Sunday School rooms and a basement. In 1950, a fellowship hall (a place for people to gather) was created under the main church area.
In the summer of 1953, the church building was moved again. It went to its current spot off Stone Drive (U.S. Route 11W). The land for this move was given by Mrs. Octavia Patton.
The 1950s and 1960s were a time of fast growth for the church. It had many programs and lots of young people. The church had the most members (190) in the early 1970s. Since then, the number of members has slowly gone down. This is a trend that many older churches have experienced.
A Historic Landmark
The Old Kingsport Presbyterian Church building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Today, the church continues to be active in the Kingsport area. The historic building has received many repairs and updates inside and out in recent years.
