Rodney Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rodney Presbyterian Church
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Rodney Presbyterian Church - 2014
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 Location in Mississippi
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Alcorn, Mississippi |
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| Area | 22 acres (8.9 ha) |
| Built | 1832 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001018 |
| Added to NRHP | February 6, 1973 |
Rodney Presbyterian Church is a very old and important church located in Rodney, Mississippi, in the United States. It has a fascinating history, especially from the time of the American Civil War.
Contents
A Look at Rodney Presbyterian Church
Building the Church
The land for the church was given by a wealthy plantation owner named David Hunt. He lived nearby at Woodlawn Plantation. People sometimes called him "King David" because he owned so much land.
A minister named Jeremiah Chamberlain started the church building project in 1829. The church was finished in 1832. It was built in a style called Federal architecture. This means it had a special look with red bricks, rounded arches, and a unique bell tower with eight sides.
The Church During the Civil War
The church played a special part during the American Civil War, which happened from 1861 to 1865. On September 13, 1863, something exciting happened.
A minister invited some sailors from a Union Navy ship, the USS Rattler, to attend church service. But during the service, soldiers from the Confederate side suddenly came into the church. They wanted to capture the Union sailors.
When other Union sailors found out what happened, they were very upset. They fired a cannonball at the church! The cannonball hit the front wall and caused damage. You can still see this damage today.
A Close Call for Eliza Ogden
A young woman named Eliza Ogden was at the church service that day. She was friends with David Hunt's daughter, Elizabeth. When the commotion started, a man sitting next to Eliza quickly helped her. He lifted her up and pushed her out a window to safety.
Just as she went through the window, a bullet hit the window frame right where she had been! Eliza hurt her ankle from the fall, but she was safe. Years later, she would show a bullet she kept and tell the story of that day to Elizabeth Hunt Ogden's children.
A Historic Landmark
Because of its important history and unique architecture, Rodney Presbyterian Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it is recognized as a special place that should be protected.
