St. John's Episcopal Church (Columbia, Tennessee)

St. John's Episcopal Church
Front of St. John's Church
Nearest city Columbia, Tennessee
Coordinates 35°34′27″N 87°8′20″W / 35.57417°N 87.13889°WCoordinates: 35°34′27″N 87°8′20″W / 35.57417°N 87.13889°W
Built 1839
Architect Leonidas Polk
Architectural style Gothic Revival
Governing body Private
NRHP Reference # 70000615[1]
Added to NRHP July 8, 1970

St. John's Episcopal Church is a historic church in Columbia, Tennessee, United States.

History

Built in 1839 in the Gothic Revival style, it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1970.[1] No longer an operating church, it is only used once annually for services. The attached graveyard is the burial site of four Episcopal Bishops of Tennessee.[2]

Oral history says that Gen. Patrick Cleburne (1828–1864) was passing by St. John's just days before the Battle of Franklin (30 Nov 1864) and he remarked to his aides something like, "This is such a beautiful church that it would almost be worth dying so one could be buried here." If the comment is true it is remarkable, for just a few days later Cleburne would be killed at Franklin and his remains were initially interred at St. John's before being permanently removed to Helena, Arkansas.

According to Bob Duncan, the Maury County historian, the church is known as a plantation church; meaning it was built by the Polk family, for the Polk family. All of the wood and bricks used in its construction were provided on site. Slaves sat next to their master's family during the worship. The church stopped using the facility for regular worship in 1915. It has never been restored yet remains in remarkable condition. All of the pews and furniture in the church are original. The only electricity found today is for the security system.

Memorial plaque

The following memorial plaque was installed on the front of the church in 1947:

Erected in 1842 for worship and spiritual instruction of white and negro people, built under supervisions of the Rt. Rev. Leonidas Polk, Bishop of Louisiana, on land given by him and with labor and materials contributed by him and his brothers, R.K. Polk, G.W. Polk, L.J. Polk, and Dr. W.J. Polk. Delivered into care and custody of the Bishop of Tenn. as the property of the Diocese of Tenn.
Consecrated Sept 4, 1842, by Rt. Rev. James Hervey Otey, D.D., Bishop of Tenn., assisted by Bishop Polk.
Bishop Otey, whose remains rest in the church-yard, was born Jn. 27, 1800; consecrated in Christ Church, Philadelphia, Jan. 14, 1834; died April 23, 1863, in Memphis, Tenn.
At the Battle of Franklin in Nov. 1864, the following Confederate Generals were killed, and among others were buried in St. John's Church-yard by Chaplain Charles Todd Qunitard, M.D., their bodies afterward being removed to their respective states.
Maj.-Gen. Patrick Cleburne Brig. Gen. H.B. Granberry
Brig. Gen O.P. Strahl Brig. Gen. S.R. Gist
Annual pilgrimages, held on the last Sunday in May with services led by Bishop of Tenn., were initiated in 1921.
Custody and upkeep of the property is in charge of St. John's Association, organized May 25, 1924.
Rt. Rev. James M. Mason, D,D. President, Wm Dudley Gale, Treas.
This memorial erected 1947 by
Diocese of Tennessee
St. John's Association
Tennessee Historical Commission

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13.
  2. ↑ St. John's Church, Maury County Historical Society. Accessed 2009-06-03.

External links