Mt. Moriah Christian Church
The original picture was generously contributed by Millie
Belew, thanks Millie!
A Pendleton County Church
Copied from "Kentucky Heritage" magazine 1982
Written by Julie Bentle, Pendleton County High School
Transcribed and submitted by Nancy Bray.
Thanks Julie and Nancy!
'TIS THAT OLD MT. MORIAH RELIGION'
"A sower went forth to sow."
And the sowers planted the original Mt. Moriah Christian Church between forks of
the Mt. Moriah Road off Highway 17 in Pendleton County, Kentucky. The one
room, weather boarded, white church was surrounded with a yard, a walk made of
stones, and posts used for hitching horses. The exterior was built similar
to that of the Bethel Church which is still standing on Highway 17. The
church had two doors, one on each side of the building. The interior
contained three sections of benches - a middle section and two sections on each
side. The pulpit was built by Jim and Calvin Newkirk. Also situated
in the church was a potbelly stove. Although no information had led to the
very beginning of Mt. Moriah, an old record indicates that the church property
was donated by LaFayette Jones in 1884.
In 1909, the Mt. Moriah congregation felt a desire to revitalize its almost dead
church. The present preachers, Joe Sargent and Aquilla York, invited
William McGarvey Lenox to preach. Lenox was a student minister at
Transylvania Bible College in Lexington. He came to Falmouth by train
every Saturday and preached Saturday night, Sunday morning, and Sunday night for
ten dollars. Usually he did not receive the full salary but preached
anyway, even if the payment was fifty cents, vegetables, eggs, or nothing.
Rob Cummins, driving his horse "Barney." took Brother Lenox back
to the depot at nine P.M. every Sunday night.
At Brother Lenox's first service at Mt. Moriah, twenty-five people joined the
church. The first song sung was "Glory to His Name" and his
first sermon was "A Christless World." Charles LaFollett and
Resa Cummns were married on September 23, 1909, the first Mt. Moriah wedding
officiated by Brother Lenox. This was one of hundreds of weddings he
performed over the years.
Some of the memorable families who attended Mt. Moriah were named Newkirk,
Fryer, Cummins, Campbell, Dearborn, England, Grizzell, Sargent, Sorrell, Purdy,
and York. These people traveled to church in buggies, spring-wagons, and
on foot. The women were dressed in hats and long dresses, and the men wore
suits and ties. And of course as tradition is seen today, the men sat on
the right side and the women on the left. It has been said that so many
came to this church, there was not enough room inside; some had to stand outside
looking through the windows. Sunday School was always held, whether in the
morning of the afternoon. The organist was Cora Cummins, and her sister
Lillie directed the singing. Unlike today's services which are relatively
calm, services then were often enlivened by a disturbance in the churchyard.
For a time on every Sunday two young men, both vying for the attention of
the same young lady, chose church time for a showdown.
In the winter of 1910, tragedy struck Old Mt. Moriah. During the morning
service, people heard a strange noise from the attic. Thinking the noise
must have been mice, the congregation ignored it. But while Brother Lenox
was eating the noon meal at Charles Fryer's house, the cry was heard. "The
Church is on fire!" Immediately everybody was rushing toward the
church. Upon arrival, it was too late. The building was in flames
and nothing was saved except two benches and the pulpit, which now stands in the
rebuilt church. It was determined that a faulty flue had started the fire.
Church was not held for a while afterwards. Though old Mt. Moriah was
gone, some were determined to keep her going. So the services continued at
Mt. Moriah School, where Barney Ashcraft taught. The school was located on
Highway 17, not far from the old church site. In the fllowing spring of
1911, a new church was in the process of being built on land donated by Charlie
Ruber. The site was located on Highway 17 about one-third mile from
Highway 17.
Every member donated their lumber and time for completion of the new church.
The white-framed, one-room church had a door in the front and four stained
glass windows on each side. In the center of the interior sat a potbelly
stove, surrounded by dark brown theatre-style seats. Coal oil lamps were
used for a while but were later replaced by a Delco plant.
On August 29, 1911 a huge Mt. Moriah crowd displayed their pride as they
gathered in the new churchyard for a grand dedication day. Brother H. C.
Runyan of Latonia was the speaker. Brother Lenox also played a major role
in erecting and dedicating the church. Although the new church was
unfinished, a collection was taken which paid for the remainder of the new
materials. A table was set and a large dinner was served. There were
so many in attendance, there was not enough room in the yard for everybody to
eat. Some ate at Carrie Purdy's house next door. Church officers at
that time were Josiah Sargent, Enoch Sorrell, Charles A Fryer, A. I. York, J. W.
Newkirk, William Dearborn, Crayton England, and William Grizzell.
Mt. Moriah's fellowship activities included picnics and ice-cream socials.
These gatherings were held on the Edward's property at Catawba at the
Licking River. Baptisms were held at Falmouth under the wooden bridge on
the Licking River.
William McGarvey Lenox was considered the life of the church. He was born
to William and Esther Lenox on March 26, 1880 in Harrison County, Ky. On
the first Sunday in September of 1904, he received his first pastorate at the
Ebenezer Christian Church in Mercer County. In 1909 he attended
Transylvania Bible College. At that time, Lenox had two girlfriends and
performed the difficult task of choosing which one to marry. He chose Adda
May McCauley because "she was the smarter", (according to Bro. Lenox)
and they were married on June 16, 1909. After graduating in 1911, Lenox
continued his preaching at Mt. Moriah. In 1913 he went to Pueblo,
Colorado, and ministered five years, returning in 1918. Brother Whitehead
of Falmouth served as the intern minister during Lenox's absence.
Brother Lenox preached at Mt. Moriah once a month. His other churches were
Antioch Mills, forty-three years; Oakland, forty-eight years; Pleasant Hill,
twenty years; Fairview, and Colemansville. Besides being a minister,
he was also a farmer and teacher. He raised tobacco and taught at Mt.
Auburn, McMahon, Pleasant Hill, and Mt. Vernon schools. While he was
conducting a funeral or doing another type of ministry work, his wife Adda was
the substitute teacher. Lenox was also the master of the Orion Masonic
Lodge in Falmouth.
August 22 - September 2, 1938 were the days of celebration for the twenty-fifth
anniversary of Brother Lenox's ministry with Mt. Moriah. Brother Lenox was
pastor and evangelist of this twelve-day event. Church officials at the
time were J. W. Newkirk, B. E. Tayor, Lee Bobb, W. N. Dahms, C. W. York, Emert
Abercrombie, W. H. Bentle, John Sullivan, Thurman Bryan, Will McGill, and Arthur
Loomis.
New Mt. Moriah had undergone many changes in the building since its beginning.
A vestibule was built which had a door on each side and a window in the
front, but was later changed with two doors in the front and a window on each
side. More of the structure was changed in the 1950's. Emert
Abercrombie and Ed Taylor built the baptistery, which had been strongly
recommended by Brother Lenox. Elvin Sampson built a choir loft on the left
side of the church. Oil heaters replaced the old stove; and a few years
later, a basement was built by Orville O'Neil. At that time, an oil
furnace was installed which replaced the heaters.
Mt. Moriah had developed activities for its church and community. During
World War ll, the church displayed plaques containing the names of those members
who were soldiers. A quartet was organized in 1948. Its singers
included Mary Doan, Omer Bentle, Leland Bentle, and Lorine Ballinger. The
group sang at many community funerals. Also organized in 1948 was a church
choir. It was composed of Evelyn Purdy, Cecil Bryan, Dessie Bishop, Carl
Brownfield, Leslie Bryan, Clarice Aucter, Charles Sullivan, Mabel Sullivan, Tom
Purdy, and Dorothy Sargent as well as the quartet members. Dressed in
their white capes and singing from the choir loft, these members' voices were
heard every Sunday morning. Shirley Jacob was the pianist for both the
choir and quartet.
During the Christmas seasons came the Christmas programs. These shows
ranged from simple singing sessions to large, curtain-drawn productions. In
the summers, children anticipated Bible School, which gave each child a chance
to learn about Jesus, make new friends, and to make crafts. The Ladies'
Aid was established in July 1936, with Carrie Lovelace as the first president.
This active group consisted of Mt. Moriah women who frequently undertook
activities to benefit the church. Working from early morning until
afternoon, they made quilts for the Widows and Orphans Home. By braiding
rugs, making door stops, and having bake sales and rummage sales, they raised
money to buy church property such as the stove, swinging doors, and window
fixtures. Excluding the quartet, these programs are still in existence
today. September 26, 1954 was a grand celebration day for Brother Lenox
honoring his fifty years of ministry and forty years at Mt. Moriah. Over
three hundred people, mostly from his churches in the county, gathered at Mt.
Moriah to honor this outstanding minister. This event came as a complete
surprise to Brother Lenox. Dozens of greetings were received from half the
states in the Union. After special worship services and speeches of
gratitude, the Reverend was presented a bronze plaque stating his fifty years of
faithful service. The plaque remains in the church. Afterwards a
noon dinner was served. Situated on the table was a huge cake trimmed in
white and gold lettered with "50th Anniversary."
Being in the ministry sixty years, William McGarvey Lenox retired in 1966,
having served Mt. Moriah fifty years. He was loved by the community and
will be remembered for his wonderful service. He had conducted innumerable
weddings, funerals and baptisms. Brother Lenox died on March 18, 1969.
Part of his estate was willed to Mt. Moriah. Adda died in 1980.
But Mt. Moriah still lives. Succeeding ministers were Jim Powell, Bill
Horton, Dr. Lester Rampley, David Edwards, Mark Prevo, Chuck Behrens, and Steve
Vandergrift. These preachers came from the Lexington Theological Seminary.
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." The members
who love their church sowed their service in hopes that the youth will reap and
keep the church growing throughout the ages. Though there were tearful
times, sowers and reapers today shout in joy, 'Tis That Old Mt. Moriah
Religion!"