We know our weaknesses better than anyone. But we also know that amazing acts of goodness and kindness and forgiveness and grace take place here. This is the place where we learn to share with the homeless, the sick, the prisoner, the poor. This is the place we can find healing, forgiveness-- here we take our place in the family of Christ. We’ve been at it for 175 years, right here. And you’re a part of that tradition.
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 150th 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.
Is it enough to know that this water flows around God’s throne...or is there some way to refresh ourselves around its flow today? I’m intrigued by the vision of Ezekiel, who was surprised to see the water flow from beneath the threshold of the temple...Ezekiel said that the healing, refreshing water of God flowed from the sanctuary.
One-hundred and eighty years ago, give or take, a group of men and women gathered right here on the first day of the week, at the river, on Buffalo Creek to pray together, to break Bread together, to make their offerings to God. They cut trees and constructed a log church building, and called it the Buffalo Creek Christian Church. Buffalo Creek actually runs right through our property, we own both banks of the Buffalo here next to the church building.
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.
Courtesy of the Milligan College Archives
Photo courtesy of the Milligan College Archives.
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.
