Zion Presbyterian Church (Columbia, Tennessee)
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Zion Presbyterian Church
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Zion Presbyterian Church in 1936
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| Location | 6.3 mi. W of Columbia off TN 99 |
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| Nearest city | Columbia, Tennessee |
| Built | 1849 |
| NRHP Reference # | 72001245[1] |
| Added to NRHP | June 13, 1972 |
Zion Presbyterian Church is a historic church in Maury County, Tennessee. The church building, constructed in Greek Revival style, was completed in 1847-1849 on the site of the congregation's original building that was built in 1807. The church is the oldest active congregation in Maury County.[2] The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972.
History
The church was established in the early 19th century by Scots-Irish families from South Carolina who moved to Maury County. In 1807, they organized and built a log church on 5000 acres (20 km²) of land they purchased from heirs of General Nathanael Greene, who had received the land as part of a 25,000-acre (100 km²) American Revolutionary War land grant. The log church was replaced with a small brick structure in 1813.[2][3]
In 1847, the church building was constructed in Greek Revival style by church members and slaves using brick, limestone, and timber. The architectural styling features stepped gables and a recessed open vestibule. A slave gallery was provided for the African-American members of the congregation. In 1880 stained glass produced by Tiffany was added to the church.[2]
Cemetery
Containing over 1500 graves, the cemetery of Zion Presbyterian Church is also of historical significance. In addition to many of the church's founding members, soldiers from the American Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the American Civil War are interred there. The cemetery contains a monument to "Daddy Ben," a slave who, during the Revolutionary War, refused to tell the British where his master was hiding, and survived three hanging attempts by the British.[2]
References
