Whispers in the Wind: A Walk Through Mount Carmel Church and Cemetery
There is a unique kind of quiet that you only find in historic southern churchyards. It’s not a heavy or somber silence, but rather a peaceful, living stillness—the kind where the wind rustling through old oak trees feels like it’s sharing secrets from two centuries ago.
If you ever find yourself driving down the rural roads of Tipton County near Covington, Tennessee, you’ll stumble upon one of these timeless sanctuaries: Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church and Cemetery.
To pull off the road here is to step directly into a living history book. Established in 1834 by pioneers heading west, Mount Carmel quickly became the heartbeat of a small, tight-knit frontier community. Across the road from a beautifully maintained, sprawling landscape home to approximately 800 graves stands the church itself—a breathtaking, historic structure completed in 1854.
A Sanctuary Built to Last
The church building, with its simple yet striking historic architecture, has stood as a silent witness to the changing world for over 170 years. Its enduring significance was officially recognized in 1984 when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
1834: Church established by westward settlers
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1854: Present church building completed
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1984: Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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2000: Congregation merges with First Presbyterian of Covington
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2005: Hollywood comes to town ("Walk the Line")
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2016: Regular services resume, bringing life back to the sanctuary
While the congregation officially merged with the First Presbyterian Church of Covington in 2000, Mount Carmel’s story didn’t end there. Hollywood actually came knocking in 2005, using the gorgeous historic church as a filming location for the Johnny Cash biopic Walk the Line. If you watch closely, you can spot several Tipton County backdrops in the film.
Then, in August 2016, the building experienced a beautiful resurrection of its own, opening its doors for regular services once again.
The Keepers of the Oldest Stories
If the church building is the soul of Mount Carmel, the cemetery across the road is its memory.
Every cemetery has its pioneers—the ones who laid down roots before the world grew up around them. Interestingly, the ground here holds memories older than the church building itself. The oldest headstone belongs to a Mrs. E.E. Licon. Born in the final decade of the 18th century (1792), she passed away on August 22, 1818. Standing before her weathered marker, you can’t help but wonder what Tennessee looked like through her eyes when it was still a rugged, untamed frontier.
Not far away rest two others who closed their eyes for the final time in the late summer of 1836, just a couple of years after the church was first organized:
- Austin Willis Sherrill: Born in North Carolina in 1797 to Enos and Elizabeth Lewis Sherrill, Austin made his way to Tipton County, where he lived with his wife, Louisa McErvin, until his passing on August 14, 1836.
- Mrs. E.G. Hall: The wife of Thomas S. Hall, she shared a birth year with Mrs. Licon (1792) and passed away just a month after Austin, on September 19, 1836.
Artistry in Stone
As you wander deeper into the 800 plots, the changing styles of craftsmanship tell their own story. Some markers are simple, softened by centuries of Tennessee rain, while others are grand statements of love and legacy.
A Personal Favorite: Rachel Johnston Hall
One of the most breathtakingly ornate headstones in the entire cemetery belongs to Rachel Johnston Hall. Born in Iredell County, North Carolina, on January 11, 1772, Rachel lived a long, full life for her era, passing away at the age of 67 on October 22, 1839. As the wife of James Thomas Hall, her beautifully carved monument stands as a stunning testament to the artistry of 19th-century memorial stonecutters.
If you look toward the skyline of the cemetery, your eyes will immediately be drawn to two towering obelisks. These massive, grand monuments belong to the Bernard and Sherrill families. Rather than marking just one life, these impressive pillars serve as a central anchor for generations of family members buried together.
Lives of Impact
The names etched into the stones at Mount Carmel aren’t just genealogical data points; they represent the hands that physically built this community.
Take Marion A. Hall, for instance. Long before Memphis became the bustling urban hub it is today, Marion walked its streets as a dedicated attorney, practicing law alongside his partner, Mr. Robert H. Stickley. Seeing his name on a headstone in this quiet place reminds us that the peace of Tipton County was always a welcome respite from the busy courts and city life—a sanctuary to return to at the end of the day.
Why Mount Carmel Matters
In a fast-paced world that constantly rushes toward the future, places like Mount Carmel Church and Cemetery matter deeply. It is a beautifully preserved bridge to our past.
Whether you are a history buff, a genealogy enthusiast, or simply someone who appreciates a quiet, reflective walk among old-growth trees and timeless architecture, this Tipton County treasure is well worth the drive.
The next time you’re near Covington, slow down as you drive down Mt. Carmel Road. Step out of your car, listen to the wind through the oaks, and remember the 800 souls who helped pave the way for the Tennessee we know today.
Mount Carmel Church HRHP Application
Mount Carmel – Overview
Mount Carmel Presbyterian Church | constructed around 1854, is a one story frame building. It is located in rural southwest Tennessee and is four miles south of the Tipton County seat of Covington, TN (pop. 6,030).
The exterior is a skillful combination of both Greek Revival and Gothic Revival elements. Of course the notable exterior features include tall, pointed-arch windows on the front and side elevations. The four corners of the building have large Doric pilasters. The front consists of a pointed-arch entrance. It has Greek key pilasters and, above, a stained glass window.
On the other hand, the interior is simple. The floors are the original wood. The pews are of the late nineteenth century and there are very fine Greek Revival reredos. Accordingly, the church is relatively unaltered, and retains a remarkable level of architectural and historical integrity.
Mount Carmel – Exterior
To illustrate, the exterior of the church faces west. It is surrounded by open farmland. The church is located at the top of a low hill and is called the same as the church. In fact, Mt. Carmel is the highest point in Tipton County.
The informal landscape covers about five acres and has many mature trees. A small one-story framed education building of recent construction to the south of the church. To the southwest is the congregation’s cemetery. It is on the west side of Mt. Carmel Road.
Mount Carmel – General Shape of Church
The church is rectangular in shape. It measures 36 by 60 feet with a gable roof covered with standing-seam metal sheets. The building has an open foundation of stuccoed brick piers. Furthermore, the narrow wooden siding is original on all four elevations.
Mount Carmel – Front of Church
The front of the church is distinguished by a low gable end with a wide entablature and Doric corner pilasters. In the three-bay facade, two tall, pointed-arch windows flank a pointed-arch entrance with an early double-leaf door and pilasters having a Greek key capital. Equally important are the 6/9 double-hung sash windows have clear glass panes. They are simple Gothic tracery in the apex, and original louvered shutters.
Above the central entry, is a tracered window with late-nineteenth-century stained class. A flight of five stone steps leads to the doorway. The identical north and south sides have five long, pointed-arch windows exactly like the two on the front side. There are Doric corner pilasters and a wide entablature on each side. In contrast, the rear is entirely plain with no windows or pilasters.
Interior
The interior consists of a vestibule with two small corner rooms. It has a large sanctuary with a Sunday School room above the vestibule. The building has plaster walls and an eighteen foot ceiling. The floors are of the original wood. Two early double-leaf doors lead from the vestibule into the sanctuary. In the large simple sanctuary there are two aisles between rows of pews. However, the pews not original. The current pews are nineteenth century pews used to replacements for the original closed box pews.
At the front, behind the low dais, a well proportioned and detailed Greek Revival reredos of four Doric pilasters stand. These pilasters support a wide entablature and a low pediment. On the dais are early Gothic Revival chairs and a lecturn. Originally, an open gallery was above the vestibule at the rear of the sanctuary; however, this area was enclosed around 1900 to serve as a Sunday School room.
The simple gasolier style electric ceiling fixtures are not original. But they are in keeping with the general historical period of the pews.
A small one-story framed education building, constructed in the 1970s, is the only other building on the nominated site. It is a gable-roofed structure with a simple Doric portico. A nineteenth century bell rests on a short wooden tower to the south of the education building.
Significance
Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church is nominated under National Register criterion C for its architectural significance to Tipton County and West Tennessee. It is one of the finest nineteenth century churches in that region. The frame design skillfully employs both Greek Revival and Gothic Revival features as expressed on the exterior in the tall pointed arch windows and Doric corner pilasters. And, on the interior, by a pedimented Doric reredos.
Origins
The origins of the church go back to the winter of 1834 when twenty-four people gathered in a log house. The house was that of Rev. James Holmes, a former Presbyterian missionary to the Chickasaw Indians in Mississippi. As a result of this meeting, on the small hill of Mt. Carmel, a church was organized. Elders and deacons were elected. And, funds were subscribed for a church building.
During the church’s construction, members met in Rev. Holmes’ stable in an area designated for his horse.
The church was originally a little to the west of the present building. It had two doorways with steps and it faced north. Although the architect is unknown, the contractor was a Mr. Crenshaw. This structure later burned, and the current church was erected around 1854. Sadly, no description of the original church construction remain.
First Pastor
The first pastor was Rev. Hugh Wilson. He was a missionary with Rev. Holmes in Mississippi. The original church membership consisted of twenty-one whites and three blacks. However, membership began to expand steadily. As a result the church was one of the largest Presbyterian congregations in West Tennessee by the time of the Civil War. And at the turn of the century, the membership reached a peak of over two hundred members.
Simultaneously, the church completed one of its principal goals. It began helping educate the young people of the region. Founded by Rev. Holmes in the 1840s, the Mt. Carmel Academy soon became one of the most important secondary schools in West Tennessee. Of course there were separate schools and curriculums for boys and girls. Students came from several neighboring states as well as from Tennessee. Thus the children boarded with church members during the week. And, the students took their classes in Mt. Carmel buildings which are no longer standing. As a result of public education, the school closed around 1900.
Architectural Overview
Finally, Mt. Carmel Church is an outstanding example of eclectic architectural trends of the mid-nineteenth century. Its fine composition of Greek Revival and Gothic Revival features and its exceptional craftsmanship give the building a sophistication rarely seen in rural West Tennessee. For example the significant architectural elements of the exterior are well proportioned. The Gothic windows have their original clear glass and tracery. There are detailed Doric pilasters at the corners of the building. Likewise there is a pointed-arch front doorway demonstrate a Greek key motif.
Also the austere interior is noteworthy for its rare Greek Revival reredos, late-nineteenth-century pews, and original wooden floors.
Boundary
In conclusion, the nominated property is bound on the west by Mt. Carmel Road. It is bound on the north by an unnamed county road. And bound on the east and south by adjoining property lines. The east side boundary includes the northern half of the congregation’s ten acre parcel. This parcel of land is located on the east side of Mt. Carmel Road. Thus the nomination includes the minimum land needed to protect the architectural and historical integrity of the church.
Furthermore, the Mt. Carmel Cemetery is on the west side of Mt. Carmel Road and is not included in the nomination.