History

[acidfree:2301 style=image align=left size=200]Jerusalem!
 
February 19, 2007-My Birthday!
 
Greetings all! We pulled into Jerusalem tonight, singing "We’re marching into Zion!" We are staying just outside the New Gate (new as in 1880's) at the Notre Dame Monastery and Guest House (which was finished over 100 years ago). Within half an hour of arrival, the priest in charge had taken us all to the roof on the fourth floor and underneath the chilly night sky oriented us to the city. Across the street is the city wall, built in the 1500's. We’re about a ten minute walk away from the old temple site, the Dome of the Rock, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditional site of [acidfree:2289 style=image align=right size=200]the crucifixion. Bethlehem and Bethany and the Mt. of Olives are all in sight...and we take off early in the morning for our first real day in Jerusalem.

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.

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.