Knob Creek Church of Christ
Encyclopedia
Knob Creek Church of Christ at Dukedom
, Kentucky, was the first Restoration Movement
Church to use the name "Church of Christ
."
Some of the early settlers arriving in southern Graves County, Kentucky
and northern Weakley County, Tennessee brought with them the teachings of Barton W. Stone
and the "Christians Only" movement, and wanted to have a local church where they could worship. These settlers located John Parkhill from Calloway County, Kentucky
and sent one of their members to summon him to help found the congregation. In June, 1834, Parkhill established the congregation, incorporating the "Christians Only"
teachings of Stone and the "Reformed Baptist"
teachings of Alexander Campbell, Stone and Campbell having merged their movements in 1832.
The church was established in the home of member Simon Foy and his wife Charlotte Simms Foy, who had immigrated to the area in about 1828 from Limestone County, Alabama, and whose homestead was on Knob Creek, near the present Clinard farm. The first church building was erected in about 1845, south of the Foy homestead on the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, about a mile west of where the present building stands. Although no longer located on Knob Creek, the congregation retained the original name. This was the first Restorationist congregation to use the name "Church of Christ", a name now in use by thousands of Restoration Movement
congregations worldwide.
The founding members were Simon and Charlotte Foy, their daughters Charlotte and Elizabeth, their sons James and William, John Johnson and his wife Elizabeth, and Uell Olive.
The Church has since been through three buildings. The latest was built in 1957 and currently sits on Stateline Road, east of Dukedom, Kentucky on the Kentucky/Tennessee state line. It currently has 19 members. The church jokes about sitting on the state line, and the line is literally in front of the communion
table. The minister stands in Kentucky and preaches to the congregation which sits in Tennessee during the services. Many other Churches of Christ have branched from this particular church and are still in existence today.
Dukedom, Kentucky and Tennessee
Dukedom is an unincorporated community in both Graves County, Kentucky and Weakley County, Tennessee in the United States, straddling the state line in the western part of both states...
, Kentucky, was the first Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
Church to use the name "Church of Christ
Church of Christ
Churches of Christ are autonomous Christian congregations associated with one another through common beliefs and practices. They seek to base doctrine and practice on the Bible alone, and seek to be New Testament congregations as originally established by the authority of Christ. Historically,...
."
Some of the early settlers arriving in southern Graves County, Kentucky
Graves County, Kentucky
Graves County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Kentucky. It was formed in 1824. As of 2000, the population was 37,028. Its county seat is Mayfield. The county is named for Major Benjamin Franklin Graves, soldier in the War of 1812...
and northern Weakley County, Tennessee brought with them the teachings of Barton W. Stone
Barton W. Stone
Barton Warren Stone was an important preacher during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century. He was first ordained a Presbyterian minister, then was expelled from the church after the Cane Ridge, Kentucky revival for his stated beliefs in faith as the sole prerequisite for salvation...
and the "Christians Only" movement, and wanted to have a local church where they could worship. These settlers located John Parkhill from Calloway County, Kentucky
Calloway County, Kentucky
Calloway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1823. As of 2010, the population was 37,191. Its county seat is Murray, Kentucky. The county is named for Colonel Richard Callaway, one of the founders of Boonesborough...
and sent one of their members to summon him to help found the congregation. In June, 1834, Parkhill established the congregation, incorporating the "Christians Only"
Christians (Stone Movement)
The Christians were a group arising during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century. The most prominent leader was Barton W. Stone. The group was committed to restoring primitive Christianity...
teachings of Stone and the "Reformed Baptist"
Disciples of Christ (Campbell Movement)
The Disciples of Christ were a group arising during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century. The most prominent leaders were Thomas and Alexander Campbell. The group was committed to restoring primitive Christianity...
teachings of Alexander Campbell, Stone and Campbell having merged their movements in 1832.
The church was established in the home of member Simon Foy and his wife Charlotte Simms Foy, who had immigrated to the area in about 1828 from Limestone County, Alabama, and whose homestead was on Knob Creek, near the present Clinard farm. The first church building was erected in about 1845, south of the Foy homestead on the border between Kentucky and Tennessee, about a mile west of where the present building stands. Although no longer located on Knob Creek, the congregation retained the original name. This was the first Restorationist congregation to use the name "Church of Christ", a name now in use by thousands of Restoration Movement
Restoration Movement
The Restoration Movement is a Christian movement that began on the American frontier during the Second Great Awakening of the early 19th century...
congregations worldwide.
The founding members were Simon and Charlotte Foy, their daughters Charlotte and Elizabeth, their sons James and William, John Johnson and his wife Elizabeth, and Uell Olive.
The Church has since been through three buildings. The latest was built in 1957 and currently sits on Stateline Road, east of Dukedom, Kentucky on the Kentucky/Tennessee state line. It currently has 19 members. The church jokes about sitting on the state line, and the line is literally in front of the communion
Eucharist
The Eucharist , also called Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Blessed Sacrament, the Lord's Supper, and other names, is a Christian sacrament or ordinance...
table. The minister stands in Kentucky and preaches to the congregation which sits in Tennessee during the services. Many other Churches of Christ have branched from this particular church and are still in existence today.