St. Marks Presbyterian Church (Rogersville, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Marks Presbyterian Church
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of N. Hassen and W. Kyle Sts., Rogersville, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1912 |
| Architectural style | Shingle Style |
| MPS | Rural African-American Churches in Tennessee MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000132 |
| Added to NRHP | March 10, 2006 |
St. Marks Presbyterian Church is a special old church in Rogersville, Tennessee. It was an important place for the African-American community there. This historic building is known for its unique design and its connection to a local college.
Contents
The Church's Story
Starting the Congregation
The church community, called a congregation, started around 1875. Its first minister was William H. Franklin. He led the church for many years, until 1926.
Connection to Swift Memorial College
William H. Franklin was also the president of Swift Memorial Junior College in Rogersville. This college and St. Marks Church were very close. Students and teachers from Swift Memorial College had to attend church services at St. Marks twice a week. This shows how important the church was to the college's daily life.
Building the Church
The church building is located where N. Hassen and W. Kyle Streets meet in Rogersville. The land for the church was bought after 1885. It was part of the campus for Swift Memorial Junior College. The church building itself was built in 1912.
Church Design and Features
The church is made of wood and sits on a brick foundation. It has special decorative wood shingles, which are a key part of its Shingle Style architecture. The roof is high and peaked, with a tower on one side.
Inside, the church has beautiful stained-glass windows in the main worship area. The building has two front doors. In the past, the western door was used by women, and the eastern door was used by men. Men and women also used to sit separately during services.
Changes Over Time
Swift Memorial College closed in 1955 because it had money problems. The next year, St. Marks Church and other college properties were sold to Hawkins County. However, the St. Marks congregation was allowed to keep using the church building. From 1973 to 1979, a day care center even operated in the church's basement.
Becoming a Historic Place
As time went on, fewer people attended St. Marks Church. The congregation stopped holding regular services in 2000 and officially ended in 2002.
Even though the congregation dissolved, the building's importance was recognized. In 2006, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened because the church was very important to the local African-American community. It was also recognized as a great example of 20th-century Shingle Style architecture. This type of architecture is not common in East Tennessee.
