St. Michael's Catholic Church (Cedar Hill, Tennessee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Michael's Catholic Church
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 Location in Tennessee
Location in the United States
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| Location | 3553 S.Carter Rd, Cedar Hill, Tennessee 37032 |
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) |
| Built | 1842 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001817 |
| Added to NRHP | July 5, 1973 |
St. Michael's Catholic Church is a very old and important Roman Catholic church. It is located near Cedar Hill, Tennessee, in the United States. This church is special because it's the oldest Catholic church in Tennessee that has been used continuously. Part of its building is a log cabin from 1842. This makes it the oldest Catholic church building in the state. St. Michael's Catholic Church is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site.
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A Look at St. Michael's History
The story of St. Michael's Catholic Church began with four families. These families settled near Turnersville between 1838 and 1840. They wanted a place to worship. So, they bought a piece of land from the nearby Wessyngton plantation.
Building the First Church
The first church building was a simple log cabin. It was finished in 1842. This log building was about 22 feet by 32 feet. It was officially opened on May 8, 1842. This date is known as the Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael. When the church was built, its location was a busy stop for stagecoaches. These were like old-fashioned buses that traveled between Nashville and Clarksville.
School and Special People
From 1846 to 1855, the church also ran a school. It was called Saint Michael's Male and Female Academy. This was a boarding school, meaning students could live there. Later, in 1864 and 1865, a priest named Father Abram Ryan served the church. He was known as a poet.
Changes Over Time
The original log structure got a big update in 1934 and 1935. Workers covered the logs with clapboard siding. This siding came from an old Episcopal church that was taken apart at Glen Raven. The church building also got a major addition. This made its shape look like a "T" from above.
In 1942, the church celebrated its 100th birthday. To mark this special year, a bell tower was added to the front of the building. The bell inside the tower came from the same church that provided the siding.
St. Michael's Today
For a long time, St. Michael's was the only Roman Catholic church in Robertson County. That changed in 1944 when Our Lady of Lourdes church was started in Springfield. Today, St. Michael's operates as a "mission church." This means it is connected to and supported by Our Lady of Lourdes.
The church building was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 10, 1973. This helps protect its history for future generations.
