We Bet You Didn't Know This Small Town In Tennessee Was Home To The Oldest Church In The State
By Chris Dodge|Published January 04, 2023
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Chris Dodge
Author
My name is Chris Dodge and I live right here in the great state of Tennessee. My family and I are full adventurers filled with passion to see the amazing things our state has to offer. We are avid hikers and have explored many different places in Tennessee and beyond but we are always thankful to be living in such a glorious state.
When something stands the test of time, the story of resilience over trials can be incredibly gripping. The same is true for the oldest church in the state. Sinking Creek Church in Elizabethton, Tennessee, not only is the oldest church but also comes with a fascinating history. This building has been standing for well over 200 years, and the hope is for it to stand for many more years to come.
Sinking Creek Baptist Church sits alongside the bank of the creek with the same name on the Elizabethton Highway.
Known affectionately as the "Old Log Church," this building has been standing since 1783. The structure still consists of its original logs, but it isn’t quite like it used to be. Structural damage has been taking its toll, but efforts have been made to repair this cherished relic.
Sinking Creek Baptist Church is still operating to this day. However, the congregants have a much newer building to worship in.
The brick building that was built in 1963 is the new home for the congregation, but they never abandoned their roots. The new building is located on the same property as the original church, so they are always close to the history that shaped the church into what it is today.
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During the late 1700s, life was filled with hardship, and survival was the highest priority.
Between farming and building a new life, explorers had a lot of struggles. No matter how difficult life can be, people are always the same, and we need each other. This group began gathering in 1772, but the church wasn't built for another eleven years.
In the early days, written accounts were found stating that services were halted because of Native American attacks. About a decade later, services were halted again because the country was thrown into war. The Civil War had ravaged the land, but the church survived. Then, the structure experienced yet another brush with destruction. A runaway truck ran into the church, but it survived again. Through attacks, war, and accidents, the church has survived.
If the log walls could talk, they would tell you about the many lives that had been changed over the hundreds of years.
Many people could still remember the days of meeting in this historic church. Locals could tell you that the building used to have brick around the outside and a steeple on top. Maybe someday soon we will see it return to its former glory.
You can see this Old Log Church to this day on the same property as the newer brick church.
Things may look a little different than they did over 200 years ago, but the church still lives on.
Sinking Creek Church in Elizabethton, Tennessee is the oldest church in the state, and it is a wonder that it still is standing after all these years. This building is a testament to hard work and the resilience of the people that have remained loyal for all of these years. We can look at stories like this and be proud of the longevity, and hard work of those who came before us. It’s tales like this that give us hope for a brighter future.
