St. John's Episcopal Church (Ashwood, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St John's Episcopal Church
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Front of St. John's Church
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Columbia, Tennessee |
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| Built | 1839-1842 |
| Architect | Leonidas Polk |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000615 |
| Added to NRHP | July 8, 1970 |
St. John's Episcopal Church is an old and important church in Ashwood, Maury County, Tennessee. It was built between 1839 and 1842 by Bishop Leonidas Polk. This church was very active before the American Civil War. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), soldiers broke into the church. It was later used as a hospital for the Confederate States Army. After the war, church services started again. But they stopped in 1915 because not many people came. Today, the church is closed. It is only used once a year for a special visit.
Contents
Where is the Church?
The church is located about six miles southwest of Columbia, Tennessee.
Building the Church
The land where St. John's Church stands once belonged to Colonel William Polk. His son, Leonidas Polk, was a bishop. He started a church group in his own house, Ashwood Hall, in 1834. He was helped by James Hervey Otey.
In 1839, Leonidas Polk decided to build a proper church. The building was put up where a tall cherry tree once stood. This tree was cut down, and its wood was used inside the church. It helped make parts like the balcony. The church was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old European churches. It was similar to a church in Devon, England. It also looked like the Chapel of the Cross in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The church was finished in the summer of 1842. It was officially opened on September 4, 1842.
Church Life Before the War
The first regular pastor, Stephen Patterson, started in July 1845. People of all backgrounds attended the church. A new pastor, E. H. Cressy, came in 1848. The church bell was put in the tower in 1849. By 1858, James Hildebrand became the new pastor. Important local families, like Mary Elizabeth Martin and her son, attended services here.
The Church During the Civil War
On March 31, 1862, during the American Civil War, Union General Don Carlos Buell entered the church. His soldiers broke windows and caused damage. By 1864, the church was used as a hospital. It cared for soldiers from the Confederate States Army.
Just before the Battle of Franklin in November 1864, General Patrick Cleburne passed by. He said something like, "This church is so beautiful, it would be worth dying to be buried here." Sadly, Bishop Leonidas Polk was buried in a special room inside the church in 1864.
After the War and Today
In 1872, Richard N. Newell became the new pastor. He had moved from England. However, by 1915, church services stopped. Not enough people were coming to the church anymore.
In 1945, Leonidas Polk's remains were moved. He was re-buried at the Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana.
St. John's Episcopal Church is no longer a regular church. It is only used once a year for a special service. The graveyard next to the church is the resting place for four important Bishops of Tennessee.
Why This Church is Important
St. John's Episcopal Church is very important to history. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970. This means it is a special place that should be protected.
