Tracy City in Grundy County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Christ Church Episcopal

Southeast Tennessee Religious Heritage Trail

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 27, 2022

1. Christ Church Episcopal Marker

Inscription. The Episcopal Church was slow to start in Tennessee with the first congregation dating from 1827 and the first Bishop, James H. Otey, consecrated in 1834. At the beginning of the Civil War there were only 27 clergymen and 1500 communicants in the state. Bishop Otey died in 1865 and was replaced by Charles T. Quintard, whose administration brought great expansion of the church.

On the 12th Sunday after Trinity 1868, Bishop Quintard conducted the first Episcopal services in Tracy City under a sawmill shed near the train depot. The parish met in a building called Temperance Hall until 1873, when through the efforts of three widowed sisters, Mesdames Nance, Randolph and Garner, Christ Church erected its first building. The building was the first church erected in Tracy City.

The Rev. Henry Easter served Christ Church from 1891 to 1896 and during his term as priest he hand carved and assembled a new alter, Bishop's Chair, Priest chair, lectern and communion rail.

In 1928 the existing structure was erected to replace the 1873 structure, which was damaged by severe windstorms. The Rev. Easter's hand carved furniture was moved

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to the new church and is still in use today. In 1952, The Father Adamz Parish Hall was dedicated by Bishop Barth and in 1968 during the church's Centennial Celebration a new Rectory was dedicated.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 35° 15.478′ N, 85° 44.15′ W. Marker is in Tracy City, Tennessee, in Grundy County. It is at the intersection of 10th Street and 5th Street, on the right when traveling north on 10th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 530 10th St, Tracy City TN 37387, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau

and in the Highland Rim.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, March 27, 2022

2. Christ Church Episcopal Marker

Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A different marker also named Christ Church Episcopal (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Tracy City (approx. 0.2 miles away); Frank White House (approx. 0.2 miles away); Mountain Goat Railroad & Trail (approx. 0.2 miles away); Henry Flury & Sons Grocery (approx. 0.2 miles away); "Skirmish at Tracy City" (approx. 0.2 miles away); Arthur St. Clair Colyar (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fiery Gizzard (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tracy City.

Also see . . . History – Christ Church Episcopal, Tracy City, TN. On August 30, 1868, the first service of Christ Church in Tracy City was conducted in a sawmill shed across from the railroad depot in this frontier town fueled by coal and timber. (Christ Church Episcopal) (Submitted on March 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 27, 2022. It was originally submitted on March 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 419 times since then and 20 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 27, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.