When people first drive through downtown Fayetteville, TN, they are often surprised by two things: [1] the large brick building two blocks east of the square into which the road seems to disappear (actually it’s a sharp curve where the street’s name changes); and [2] this building, which is often mistaken for a library or a museum, is actually a church sanctuary.
Our congregation, a traditional small-town Presbyterian group, would not score extremely high on the “Modern Evangelical Scale.” The oldest congregation in town, which will celebrate its 200th anniversary in five years, we still have a worship service each Sunday in a Greek Revival sanctuary built in 1854. A second service, as an alternative, was begun in the fellowship hall more than six months ago, but that’s an altogether different conversation.
In spite of the fact that we have added versatile, spacious modern facilities as recently as 2004, the idea of “advertising” our church by identifying it with lettering on the building is one that has taken several years to gain acceptance. As I type, a nearby sign company is finally adding tasteful lettering to our building that identifies us, not only as a church, but as a specific congregation.
During the several-year process of our “external identification” conversation (i.e., “Why should we bother to clearly identify ourselves?”), some friends and I wrote a song that describes our evolution:
The Building in the Curve by the Graveyard?
(Sung to the tune of “Church in the Wildwood”)
There’s a building in the curve by the graveyard
What do the people there do?
There’s a ‘holiday’ tree in December
But other than that there’s no clue.
Oh come, come, come, come
Come to the building in the big curve
Gather ‘neath the columns off the square
There’s a ton of room in that building
Only God knows what goes on in there.
A museum in the curve by the graveyard?
Loveliest spot in the town.
No sign to tell of its relics
Housed on floors upstairs or down.
Oh, come, come, come, come;
Come to the curve in the graveyard.
Come to the museum now.
No spot so historic and scenic,
To teach us of why and how.
Library in the curve by the graveyard?
Coziest spot off the square.
No sign to tell of its books;
But surely some must be there.
Oh, come, come, come, come;
Come to the big library.
Come see the books red and blue.
Sit and enjoy quiet reading,
Any day but Sunday’ll do.
There’s a church in the curve by the graveyard?
No lovelier spot on the earth.
Why keep this good news a secret?
Why not tell all of its worth?
Oh, come, come, come, come;
Come to the church with no sign;
Come to the church in the bend.
Hospitality claims to be lurking,
If only you find your way in.
There’s sign! It’s a church! By the grave yard.
So we know that we’d be welcomed there
We can sing; we can praise our creator
Jesus Christ’s children gather in here.
Oh come, come, come, come
Come to the church at the columns
Come and you’ll hear The Good News.
There’s a sign on the front of the building
That says FPC welcomes you.
© 2006 Todd Jenkins, Dan & Karen Tice