The Tree in the Churchyard
A Bicentennial History of Meadow Creek Presbyterian Church
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"Within nine months sixteen year old Nellie Houston had lost her mother, watched her brother kill her fiance', testified at the trial of her brother and father, saw them off to prison, and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl whom she named Irene. Who helped her deal with all her troubles? Who gave her the strength to carry on?"
A Time of Troubles... A Murder in the Family
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About the Book
The congregation of Meadow Creek enjoys dinner on the grounds in the shade of a massive red oak tree. Many of the people seated around the tables are descendants of Revolutionary War veterans and have lived on the south side of the Nolichucky River all their lives. Most of them are farmers. They love this place. They’re very good at what they do. And they treasure their church. For two hundred years, the congregation has met here, and it hasn’t always been easy. The Christian life never is.
About the Author
Ruth Kross has been a teacher most of her working life after graduating from Calvin College in 1970. She left the classroom in 1992 and earned an MA in History from Florida Atlantic University. After serving three years as the Director of Education at the Ft. Lauderdale Historical Society, Ruth and her husband re-located to Greeneville, Tennnessee. Shortly after arriving, she was able to secure a position as an Adjunct Professor of History at Tusculum College, founded in 1794, and considered to be the oldest college west of the Appalachians.
Greeneville, Tennessee, is not only located in one of the most picturesque places in America, it is also a place of historic significance. It was the capital of the Lost State of Franklin, birthplace of Davy Crockett, home of President Andrew Johnson, and a Unionist stronghold in Confederate Tennessee.
David and Ruth Kross joined Meadow Creek Presbyterian Church in 2000 and made many new friends. Ruth then used her training as a teacher and historian to research and write the history of this little country church. The purpose of this book is to show how God worked through ordinary men and women to maintain His presence, and work out His purposes in this wonderful place.