A Piece of History

The Old Jackson Hill Church



In 1908, the construction of this church building was completed on the Jackson Hill site. This made it the third building used by the congregation in the Jackson Hill community of southern Davidson County. Mr. Ciero L. Badgett served as the building chairman: and Tom S. Everhart, J. Walter Newsom, and Alex W. Surratt were responsible for the completion of the building.

The church was Methodist Protestant, also known as Southern Methodist and was part of a circuit of churches served by one minister.

It is the steeple of beautifully designed rural building that inspired the artist, Bob Timberlake, of Lexington, NC to paint his now famous work “Cicero’s Steeple”.

At different times consolidation of some of the smaller Methodist churches in the area had been discussed. The actual planning for combining the Jackson Hill and Newsom congregations was made under the leadership of Rev. John Oakley and Rev. Ray C. Stephens.

In February 1956, both congregations approved plans for a new church building to be built on a lot joining the Clear Springs Methodist Church .

In May, 1957, the last worship service was held in the Jackson Hill Church being conducted by Rev. Stephens.

On Sunday, May 6, 1956, Rev. M. Teague Hipps, the District Superintendent, called a Quarterly Conference of the trustees of Jackson Hill Methodist Church for the purpose of granting them the authority to sell the Jackson Hill church building. At the sale, D. Lee Smith purchased the church building and the land on which it stood. After Mr. Smith’s death in May 1976, arrangements were made by the Smith heirs to let the church building be moved to Denton FarmPark that same year to be restored and preserved.

When brought here the weathered church had been unused and abandoned for 21 years. Lumber, paint, shingles, glass, and months of craftmanship had restored this beauty to its 1950s appearance.

The Family of the late Brown Loflin, creator of the FarmPark, had placed his memoral next to the church for all his friends and family to pay their respects.

On Sundays during Denton FarmParks events, services are conducted in the church.

The rest of the time the church is open for viewing and for worship.

How to Greet a New Year

By: Christina Frost

Wow! Hard to believe 2023 has already arrived…

I’ll say there are things I love about January, and there are other parts about this fresh time of year I have mixed feelings about. 

Many of us are coming off a three month marathon of holiday activity–the lights, the food, all the time with family… Some of us are left feeling positive and full, ready to get back to our regular routines, while others of us might be feeling a little sad as we pack away decorations and try to figure out how to hold onto the golden glow of Christmastime.

Either way, all of us are met with the hope or pressure of a New Year’s arrival…Although we might have plans in mind, the future is still ultimately a blank sheet and that can feel somewhat daunting.

Some of us quit making resolutions years ago because change is harder than writing down goals on a piece of paper. While others of us prefer to hit the ground running and resolve to change our lives for the better no matter what.

But why does it have to be entirely one way or the other? Yes, it feels easier to either do nothing or to start dreaming giant dreams in January when everything feels like a do-over. Who doesn’t want to become a better version of themselves in 365 days or less?

Frankly, it sounds like a lot of pressure we’re putting on ourselves at the start of the New Year. 

Maybe though, we could set all that pressure aside and focus on the day in front of us. Yes, we can continue to reach for our goals one baby step at a time and there’s also nothing wrong with living an intentional life which does not have us striving for the gold every day.

This month, more than anything I wish for peace for all of us.

A peace to greet the New Year with or without goals. 

A peace to believe we are capable of making our dreams come true if we want.

A peace to know that life is often a marathon and not a sprint…

There are so many good and joyful moments awaiting us in 2023 and rigid expectations can potentially make us miss them.

Let’s hold the New Year with open hands and watch to see what’s waiting around the next corner…

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter!

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Newsletter Written by Heather Russell

Event Coordinator

Denton FarmPark

336-859-2755

dentonfarmparkoffice@gmail.com

www.dentonfarmpark.com