Click here to buy the book.
34 Churches featured in Historic Presbyterian Churches of Tennessee
 Thirty-four Presbyterian churches built before 1850 are featured in a book published by Evergreen Foundation called Historic Presbyterian Churches of Tennessee.
Have you ever wondered which church bell also alerted the city of fires, which church used its same bricks three times during different construction, which church had no building for 17 years, which church was used as a hospital and barracks, which church stored arms to repel attacks of Indians?
The book, which is loaded with photographs, makes a great gift to honor those having weddings or who have been married in these churches and are celebrating anniversaries, says co-author Jovanna Emerson. Copies are $30 (plus $2.75 tax) and only 3,000 are available.
 Tom Stanford, photo editor of the Nashville Tennessean for the past 10 years, took the photos and Mary Ann Van Osdell, author of Hands Pointed UP, edited.
Launch parties will be held in November in Nashville, Greeneville and Knoxville. They are free and open to the public.
The idea for the book came from a similar project of New Orleans Catholic churches, a book Van Osdell was glad to have purchased prior to Hurricane Katrina as a keepsake for her parents who were married in one of the churches. "We found that the Tennessee churches endured fires, transformed into hospitals during the Civil War and faced financial hardships," she said.
 "The influence from Tennessee's historical churches has spread through the years not only to the immediate communities, but other states and countries," said Emerson, who has made contact with all 34 pastors to foster relationships between Evergreen and the churches.
The churches have been the sites of ordinations, family receptions, appointments of commissioners to Presbytery meetings and mission projects. They have shaped religious lives of legislators, physicians, businessmen and educators.
"Tennessee's Presbyterian churches have a faithful story to tell across the decades and centuries -- a drama of courage, a miracle of endurance," said Ray Waddle, former religion editor of The Tennessean." Two missions of mercy meet in the production of this book, the witness of the Presbyterian churches celebrated here, and the vision of Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries."
 Adds Judy Pace Christie, former editor of the Jackson Sun, "If you love stories of faith and commitment and tradition and history, you will enjoy this wonderful book. With its strong narrative and striking photos, this collection tells stories that are unique to Tennessee" and yet transcend time and place. They bring memories of old, favorite churches where God's word is preached and where life's lessons are learned."
A ministry of the Presbyterian Church (USA), Evergreen, founded in 1959, provides services to nearly 1,100 people with developmental disabilities in five states. Headquartered in Bossier City, La., Evergreen has offices in Memphis, Dickson, Nashville, Knoxville and Greeneville.
For more information or to purchase a copy, contact Emerson, regional director of development, Evergreen Presbyterian Ministries, 466 Metroplex Drive, Suite A-224, Nashville, TN 37211, 615-833-9500 or .
Click here to buy the book.
Back To Press Releases |
