Red River Meeting House facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Red River Presbyterian Meetinghouse Site and Cemetery
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 Location in Kentucky
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Adairville, Kentucky |
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| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Built | 1800 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76000917 |
| Added to NRHP | June 18, 1976 |
The Red River Meeting House was the location of the very first religious camp meeting in the United States. This important event happened from June 13 to 17, 1800. It marked the beginning of the Second Great Awakening, which was a huge religious movement in the United States during the early 1800s.
The meeting was organized by a Presbyterian minister named James McGready. It took place in Logan County, Kentucky. Several other preachers also took part in this historic gathering.
Contents
What Was the First Camp Meeting?
The event that became known as the Revival of 1800 started as a regular Presbyterian church service. It was held at the Red River Meeting House in June 1800. As the religious excitement spread, hundreds of people came to the meetings. These gatherings lasted from Friday through Tuesday.
McGready's other churches were located at Muddy River and Gasper River. The meeting was a special chance for settlers to connect with new people. It helped them feel less isolated for a few days.
Eyewitness Accounts of the Revival
James McGready described the meeting in a letter written in 1801. He said it was the most amazing time they had ever seen. On Monday, many people felt deeply moved by their faith. The sounds of people crying out filled the whole building.
McGready wrote that people who used to swear or break the Sabbath were asking for help. Even children as young as ten years old were praying with strong feelings. He believed that ten people found new faith during this time.
Another Presbyterian minister, Barton W. Stone, also saw what happened. He wrote that many people gathered on a prairie in Logan County, Kentucky. They stayed for several days and nights, camping on the ground. Worship services were held throughout the camp.
Stone said the scene was new and very strange to him. He saw many people fall down as if they were "slain in battle." They would lie still for hours, sometimes groaning or crying out. After a while, they would feel better and shout with joy. They would then tell everyone about their experiences.
Different Views on the Meeting
The historian Paul Conkin believes the Red River meeting's importance to the religious revival might be overstated. He points out that McGready was just one of several preachers there. McGready's written account was shared widely. This account helped shape how people remembered the event. Conkin thinks that McGready's description might have been a bit exaggerated.
History of the Red River Meeting House Site
The first European settlers in this area were Ambrose Maulding and his family in 1780. They built a settlement known as Maulding's Station or Maulding's Fort. The first church building was constructed between 1789 and 1792. Some people say it was the first Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
In 1856, the original church building collapsed. The nearby cemetery then expanded onto the spot where the old cabin stood. A new white church was built close by, but it was taken down in 1929 because it was old and not used anymore.
Rebuilding Efforts Over Time
In 1959, a log cabin was built on the site. It was made to look like the original church. Sadly, this cabin burned down on May 2, 1992, for reasons that are still unknown.
After the fire, the Red River Meeting House and Cemetery Association was formed. This group worked to raise money for a new pioneer church. The replacement church was built in May 1994.
Historical Markers and Cemetery
A Kentucky Historical Marker (number 71) stands at the intersection of U.S. Highway 431 and Route 663. It says: "Three miles east is site of early pioneer church. Organized by 'A Society of Presbyterians,' 1789. Here the Great Revival of 1800 was conducted by the Rev. James McGready. First camp meeting held here."
The cemetery next to the meeting house holds the graves of many soldiers. These include veterans from the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. One special gravestone belongs to William McPherson. It has the Twenty-third Psalm carved on it in Gaelic.
The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.
Where is the Red River Meeting House?
The site is located three miles (about 5 kilometers) east of U.S. Route 431. You can find it along Route 663 and the Red River. It is in Logan County, Kentucky.
What Happens at the Site Today?
A simple camp meeting and gathering are held every year at the site. This happens during the local Tobacco & Heritage Festival, which is on the second weekend in October. The Red River Meeting House and Cemetery Association also has its yearly meeting there. This takes place on the second Sunday in September.
The site is owned by a private group. However, it is open to the public from sunrise to sunset, and it's free to visit. There are no special signs or buildings to explain the history, but visitors can still explore the grounds.
See also
- Second Great Awakening
- Revival of 1800
