Campbellsville, Tennessee

Campbellsville Churches

Old Building  1915 - 1967

THE HISTORY OF CAMPBELLSVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

The first Campbellsville community Methodist Church was organized around 150 years ago. For many years a small band of Methodists worshiped in a log school building on Big Dry Creek, two miles from Campbellsville.  In 853 they organized the Salem Methodist Church with David Jones as its first pastor.

The congregation worshiped in the old structure until the end of the War Between the States. Then a frame house of worship was erected on a nearby site and was at that time dedicated to the Conference.  Salem became one of the strongest rural churches of the section.  This was in 1880.


A tornado during the late afternoon of Friday, March 13, 1913, destroyed most of the building, leaving only the foundation, floor, pews, and the organ with a kerosene lamp sitting on it.

For some time, the Salem Church worshiped with the Cumberland Presbyterians at Campbellsville.  The two congregations remained together until a new site was procured and a new house of worship could be built in 1915.  R. M. Chenault succeeded J. K. Lee as pastor and saw the new church completed.  He was the first pastor to preach from the pulpit.

The name of the church was changed from Salem Methodist Church to Campbellsville Methodist Church in 1941.  MORE

Cumberland Presbyterian Church

     Hamilton Crockett Campbell, James Hannah and a Mr. Roper came down the Bumpass Trail and settled near a large spring, which today bears Campbell's name.  The settlement became known as Campbellsville, and has continued to this day.
     These early settlers began holding worship and prayer meeting in their homes; and started camp meetings during the summer under the trees.  They soon started a brush arbor meeting in a grove east of the spring, known as Poplar Grove; by 1820 a log church building had been constructed at that location, which became known as the Poplar Grove Church. MORE

Campbellsville Church of Christ


      Campbellsville Church of Christ began meeting in a dwelling purchased from G.C. and Ella Hartsell.  The members responsible for purchasing the property were Bro. O.M. Beeler, Bro. Bill Lucy, Bro. Alsup, Bro. Dave Lane, Bro. Jim Allen, and Sister Eunice Murphy Collins.

      The building was used as a meeting place until a church was erected in 1914.  On December 30, 1951, this building burned due to a gas explosion.

      A new building was erected in 1952.  The members met a Campbellsville High School during the time the new church was being built.


 



Webmaster Jennifer H. Stout Campbellsville, TN