The original record book of the Mt.
Zion Church, which is now in the safe keeping of the Kentucky Library
Manuscript Department, tells us about the first worship service at Mt.
Zion.
A list of names of members who have
covenanted with each other and the Lord to live together in fellowship
and in keeping the ordinances of the Lord's House to be known as the
Church of Christ at Swan Creek, Warren County, Kentucky, October 11,
1852.
Millard Fillmore was president of the
thirty-eight United States. Napoleon III become Emperor of France.
A New York Times newspaper cost one penny. You could attend a New
York theater show for fifty cents. The "Uncle Sam" cartoon figure
first appeared. Railroad service had just opened between New York
City and Chicago. The big inventions of the year were the fire
engine, elevator brakes and Smith's Cough Drops.
The original list of members at Swan
Creek included Mr. William Brown. A short history of Swan Creek,
written by Charles Davenport said that Mr. William Brown was a business
man, a Christian and a Mason. The locks and dam had been built
around 1845 by James Ford and Thomas Stevens. Mr. Brown used the
power of the water rushing over the dam to turn the millstone.
The mill house was a 4 1/2 story
structure. Brown's Mill served the people north and west of the L&N
Railroad in Warren County and had customers from Butler and Edmonson
Counties as well. Mr. Brown was one of the largest land owners in the
area. The William Brown family had worshipped at Green River until they
had a "falling out" over a doctrinal issue and decided Greencastle
needed its own place of worship and that it would be structurally larger
than Green River Union. Therefore, the building at Mt. Zion was
constructed four feet longer than Green River Union. Mr. Brown donated
three acres of land to be used for worship and a burying ground. Some
of the workmen who constructed the original church house were slaves
owned by William Brown. The foundation stones, steps and mounting
blocks were quarried from the bluff behind the building where scars from
the workmen's tools may still be seen. The building was constructed
from yellow poplars that grew on the steep hillside nearby. The walls
and ceiling were plastered with sand from the river which was mixed with
hog bristles for binder. There were two sets of doors at each end of
the building between the posts. The ladies sat on the side next to the
river and used the doors on that side. The men sat on the opposite
side.
Also located near the river at
Greencastle, there was a hotel and saloon, run by Commodore Burchfield,
a store, a post office, a blacksmith shop, a school taught by Ben Ellis,
and a doctor, S.B. Johnson, M.D.
According to Mr. Charles Davenport,
great crowds of people attended the Mount Zion Church. One early
preacher was Levi Morgan. His thirteen children made up the choir. The
Mount Zion record book listed 197 members in the year 1883.
On September 29, 2002 the church
observed its 150th year of establishment. Minister David Eadens preached
the sermon with nearly 300 people in attendance. Many members adorned
themselves is clothing styles from the 1800's. Numerous preachers from
Mt. Zion's past attended the service and events of the day. A ribbon
cutting was held after the service to dedicate the addition of a new
fellowship hall, nursery, two classrooms, and a women's restroom. A
dinner was held shortly after on the grounds of the cemetery. A book of
Mt. Zion's memorable events was compiled and passed out to members and
visitors. It was a great day for the church at Mt. Zion.
As our church has a rich past, may we
look to the future to bring others to the cause of Christ!
PREACHERS OF MT. ZION & DATES THEY SERVED
R.B. Thompson 1922-1923
R.C. White 1936
Paul Woodward 1938
Ernest Nash 1939
Dennis Short 1940
Bro. Gardner 1944
Amos Macpherson 1944
Bro. Ashlock 1945
Sam Binkly 1946
James A. Davis 1947
Bill Smotherman July 1949-1951
Raymond Hazelip 1952-1953; 1957
Bro. Pence 1954
Bill Long 1954
O'Neil Nash 1955-1956
Elmer Smith 1958-1960
Ed VanHooser 1961-June 1964
Dave Evans 1964-1971
Jesse Wallace Jones 1972-1975
Stokley Hall 1976-1985
Edward Mosby 1986-July 1987
Kenny Miller August 1987
J.A. Floyd Jr. Sept. 1987-Dec. 1987
David Eadens 1988-2007
Gary Hays - Present pulpit minister