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Rocky Springs Church of Christ The Oldest Continuous Church of Christ In Alabama
A Little Bit of History Of Rocky Springs As you enter the Rocky Springs church building you will find a bronze plaque presented by the Alabama Society Daughters of the American Revolution stating that this is the “Oldest Church of Christ in the State.” According to old church records, life was quite different from ours today. There were dangers from hostile Indians, for this was Indian Territory. Cherokee Indians were abundant in the area as the Indian removal was not until 1828. It was said men of the church were posted outside of the building during services to guard against the Indians. In the year 1807, Thomas Jefferson was President of the United States and we had slavery. There was no Jackson County, Alabama. Our new nation was only 31 years old. It was prior to the war of 1812. It is stated in the records of the congregation that valiant men served with honor in all wars of our country. Early in the 1800’s, a number of Presbyterian and Episcopalian pioneers had moved from North Carolina and Virginia into the Tennessee River Valley and adjoining areas of Tennessee, some of them founding a community in Warren County, Tennessee, which became known as Old Philadelphia. These were religious people, without a preacher, and they studied the scriptures together. Soon they were worshipping as one body, calling themselves Christians and the church only as the church of Christ. A post road from Knoxville to New Orleans was opened in 1805 and some two years later, when the territory of Alabama, then largely occupied by Cherokee Indians, was opened to white settlers, among the first to arrive and settle in North Alabama was a group from Warren County, Tennessee. Some of these people located near the post road at the foot of Summerhouse Mountain and built a community called Antioch. This was in 1807. Among these white settlers were William J. Price, who was baptized in 1811 at Old Philadelphia, Tennessee, his wife, and a slave named Moses. They selected a home site near a spring they found by following a game trail, and named the place Rocky Springs. It was a plantation located a little more than a mile south of Antioch. W. J. Price was a prominent leader in the church until his death in January 1868. His grave lies just across the street from the church building in the Rocky Springs cemetery. A community grew up around the Price home on the post road to Rocky Springs. A post office, trading post, tavern and stables for changing horses on the stage coaches were all built here. On June 12, 1847, the congregation moved into a new building at Rocky Springs and 82 members all committed themselves to the Lord. William Price had deeded the property to the church where, even to this day, it still stands. The records recognized the elders: Elisha M. Price, William King and Andrew Russell. In June 1851, the congregation had grown to 130 members. Deacons and elders were present in the church at this time. The Civil War was most disastrous to the church. A letter written by Washington Bacon pointed out that there were ten widows and thirty-five children in the congregation and they were destitute. Many of the men of the church had been called to fight in the war, and most were killed. In the winter of 1864, the church building was burned by the Union Army. Most of the remaining members were scattered, but some returned in 1865, resumed worship and slowly began to rebuild, completing the building in 1870. By 1875, the congregation had outgrown the building and a larger one was constructed. The present building was erected in 1912, and additions have been made in the years since then. As a point of information for those who mistakenly suggest that the church of Christ was founded by Alexander Campbell, it may be shown that Old Philadelphia church of Christ came into existence not later than 1810, that the Antioch (Rocky Springs) church began in 1807, that Campbell arrived in America September 29, 1809, and did not preach his first gospel sermon until July 15, 1810 at Washington, Pennsylvania. Campbell did not cease to work within association of the Baptist church until 1827. Thus, congregations of the church of Christ were in existence in America for at least 19 years before Campbell laid aside his denominational ties and began to worship according to the New Testament pattern. Today, the Rocky Springs church is a small congregation, still striving to worship God in spirit and in truth and extending a warm hand of welcome to all. -Contents taken from a brochure produced by the church of Christ at Rocky Springs.
Directions To Church Building The Rocky Springs Church of Christ is located on Hwy 72, just southwest of South Pittsburgh, Tennessee, in the Alabama town of Bridgeport. In Southern Tennessee on I-40, take the Hwy. 72 exit at South Pittsburgh. Heading west on Hwy 72 (Also known as the old Cherokee, "Trail Of Tears") Just after crossing the Alabama line you will enter the city limits of Bridgeport. Continue past the exit for Bridgeport, and begin looking to your right for a sign, advertising Rocky Springs, the oldest Church of Christ in Alabama. Turn right and the church building will be on your left. GPS Location
Buried In The Cemetery Across The Street Are Some Of The Original Christians Who Followed The Cumberland Gap From Viola, Tennessee To Settle In Alabama Before She Became A State
Some of the early settlers who came down the Cumberland Gap who were instrumental in starting the church at Rocky Springs. GPS N 34º57'461" x WO85º45'091"
Preachers Buried At Rocky Springs A.B. Blazer
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