Country United States Website sinkingcreek.org Founded 1772 (1772) | Denomination Baptist Former name(s) Watauga River Church Phone +1 423-928-3222 | |
Location 2313 Elizabethton Hwy
Johnson City, Tennessee Address 2313 Elizabethton Hwy, Johnson City, TN 37601, USA Similar Fort Watauga, Syca Shoals, Syca Shoals State Hist, Blue Ridge Mountains | ||
Sinking creek baptist church johnson city tn
Sinking Creek Baptist Church is a church located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is considered the oldest church in Tennessee.
Contents
Men s day at sinking creek baptist church pt 3
History
Founded in 1772 by Matthew Talbot, the church was originally named Watauga River Church after a local tributary. Talbot owned a large farm in the immediate area of Sycamore Shoals where the original Fort Caswell (originally named after North Carolina Governor Richard Caswell and later named Fort Watauga) was constructed on his property. Talbot also owned and operated a gristmill on located approximately one half mile from the fort on Gap Creek.
Threatened by local native Americans, the church disbanded in 1776 and reformed the following year. During the late September 1780 mustering of Overmountain Men, Talbot provide beeves and corn meal for the Overmountain Men (including three of his own family members) assembling prior to their march over the Appalachian Mountains to the October 7, 1780 Battle of Kings Mountain that occurred at present day location of Kings Mountain National Military Park near Blacksburg, South Carolina and along the North Carolina/South Carolina border.
In 1783 the original building was built with pews made of flat logs. A vehicle crashed into the church in 1965 and it was rebuilt.