Mt. Zion Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Diverse Community Unites to Save Church
The front facade of Mt. Zion Christian Episcopal Methodist Church in Union City, TN.
Credit: Emily Elliston
When a group from the Tennessee Preservation Trust (TPT), a Statewide Partner of the National Trust, visited Mt. Zion Christian Methodist Episcopalian Church in Union City, Tennessee in October 2006, they found a structure in need of a new roof and a church in need of a new congregation. Abandoned years before, the building was threatened by neglect, its deterioration accelerated by vandals and its demolition pursued by members of the city council. Despite recognition of the site's significance to the community's history (it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places), its advocates lacked an organizational voice to oppose the threats. For the building to survive, a small, diverse group of supporters across the local, state and regional communities would need to unite in their efforts.
The Gothic revival Mt. Zion CME Church was built c.1896 in Union City, the seat of Obion County in the northwest part of the state. Like other African-American churches, it was an important influence throughout the twentieth century, providing guidance and unifying the community through the social changes of the era. As the town evolved, the neighborhood around the church declined. By 2006, the congregation lacked the resources to maintain the structure or even to continue church operations.
As a Union City native, Pastor Darrell Turner understood the historic importance of the church and sought to rebuild the congregation. The structure, however, had received little maintenance since its construction and required substantial work on the roof. The small, newly-formed congregation raised $250 and the Christian Methodist Episcopalian district office donated $400. The bulk of the funding, however, came in a $10,000 gift inspired by a eulogy Turner had given. The donor chose to remain anonymous.
Meanwhile, local preservationist Emily Elliston had taken on the cause as well. She began exploring sources of funding for the church's preservation, campaigned for its inclusion on the TPT's Ten in Tennessee Endangered List in 2007, and it was Elliston who helped organize the 2006 tour of Union City's historic sites and brought the group to Mt. Zion CME.
The interior of Mt. Zion CME Church in Union City, TN.
Credit: Emily Elliston
"Most of the group had never been inside the church before, but thought it was quite beautiful," said Elliston.
Working in cooperation with Turner, Elliston organized the funding for the project. She contacted the National Trust Southern Office in Charleston, SC to express interest in a grant from the Southern Intervention Fund, designated for emergency stabilization work. The absence of an established Union City nonprofit preservation group necessitated a creative approach to the process, as the church could receive the grant only through a certified 501 (c)(3) organization. To fill this role, Senior Program Officer Nancy Tinker recruited Memphis Heritage to receive the funds and immediately transfer them to the Mt. Zion project. Establishing this cooperative relationship was essential to the administration of the grant.
At first, according to Elliston, the church congregation was reluctant to accept the grant out of concern that in doing so they would surrender control of the building and even their religious autonomy. Eventually, those suspicions subsided as a sense of trust developed among the loose coalition for Mt. Zion.
After soliciting estimates from several roofing companies, Turner chose a team from Hamilton Roofing that was predominantly white. While Turner's decision surprised some in the mostly black community, his reasoning was simple: they were the only ones who ventured onto the steep roof to get a closer look at its condition during their preliminary site visit.
Working on the roof was difficult, but the team was impressed by the interest the project generated. Traffic increased around the site as people routinely passed to check the progress. Several members of the old congregation still lived in town and took particular interest.
The roof of Mt. Zion CME during the stabilization project.
Credit: Emily Elliston
Lacking a publicity campaign, the project relied on physical evidence of the efforts and repairs to garner broad base of community support. In addition to ethnic and social distinctions among the donors, religious divisions gave way to the uniting effect of revitalization as several churches from various denominations expressed support for the project. Most notably, Catholic priest Father Richard Cortese pledged the donation of an electronic chime system to occupy the church's bell tower and play hymns. Before the church can have the new system installed, however, the structure of the tower must be secured. Additionally, the church hopes to obtain funding to restore the tower to its original appearance with louvers on three sides.
The project has been successful, both in stabilizing the roof and cultivating support for the neighborhood's historic resources. Currently, Elliston has joined others seeking to rehabilitate an old grammar school. The Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Tennessee, which has occupied the building for several years, is moving to a larger facility. If the diverse group of Mt. Zion supporters wishes to unite once more, they need not venture far: the old grammar school sits across the street.
