Hopwood History

This year also marks the 200th anniversary of the Declaration and Address, a "charter document" of the Christian churches/churches of Christ. This writing was an appeal for Christian unity penned by Thomas Campbell in 1809. The major tenets of this plea included these professions:

1. "That the Church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one; consisting of all those in every place that profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him in all things according to the Scriptures..."

Throughout this next year we will celebrate our heritage as a historic congregation in the Stone-Campbell Christian church/churches of Christ tradition. The Hopwood congregation celebrated its 150^th Anniversary in 1984; our sign and cornerstone both read “1834" as the date the church was established. Early documents indicate that the Hopwood congregation, originally the “Buffalo (or Buffaloe...or Buffalow!) Creek Christian Church” is a bit older.

Josephus and Sarah Eleanor Hopwood served God at Milligan College and at the Buffalo Creek Christian Church for many years in the late 1800's and early 1900's.  Josephus was president of Milligan and Mrs. Hopwood was known as a wonderful teacher and mentor of students.  Check out my sermon, "Holy Spirit Heresy!" telling about the time Mr. Hopwood was tried for heresy at the Buffalo Creek Church. After the church building was renovated in the 1930's, the Buffalo Creek Christian Church was renamed the Hopwood Memorial Christian Church.  The picture on the right shows the old Buffalo Creek Christian Church in the foreground, together with the old Administration building that later burned and another building that stood near what is now the nursing building.  Note the way that the steeple was re-used when the church was renovated.  Photos courtesy of the Milligan College archives.

Buffalo Creek Chr. Church and Milligan College

Courtesy of the Milligan College Archives

Josephus and Sarah Eleanor Hopwood 1886

Photo courtesy of the Milligan College Archives.

Hopwood History

Hopwood's Rich Heritage

Here's a picture of the "new" Hopwood building taken from the dedication service bulletin.  Compare with the earlier picture and see how the old building was incorporated into the new.  The front entryway had a single door; a coal furnace upgraded the old stove in the sanctuary. Both this picture and the following picture from earlier days were taken from about the same perspective.

This wonderful picture (click to enlarge) comes to us thanks to the Patton family.  This is the way the Hopwood church looked back when it was known as The Buffalo Creek Christian Church. This structure was built in the late 1800's after the first log building burned  The church was remodeled in the 1930's.  This structure is still contained within our present sanctuary structure...what you're looking at here still forms the basic framework of our sanctuary (see the windows?) without the raised platform up front and the vestibule area. The picture is taken from the perspective of what would be the front of our building. Notice as well where the front door was placed.  When the church was rebuilt (with funds raised by the King's Daughters in the 1930's), a basement was dug and this structure was pulled over the basement, then the entryway vestibule/stairs section and the platform/altar sections were added.  Then the whole building was covered with stone.  Thanks Marvin and Joyce, for this great picture.