Stories about the Mountain Dale Church

Note: This page includes three different works of Lessie Edna (McClure) Crump. Great Aunt Lessie was a sister of my grandfather (Sam McClure), and she was the family storyteller of that generation. The church at Mountain Dale was dear to her heart, and to the hearts of other family members, and some of them are buried in the cemetery there. Part of the land for the cemetery was donated by Sam McClure's grandfather, Pleasant McClure, so it is actually on the farm property.

I don't know when Lessie wrote these pieces, but it sounds as if two of them, at least, were written in the 1950's. Lessie, her husband Joe, and their family were the last members of the McClure family to live on the "Old McClure Home Place," as it was called by family members. I'm including two photos of Lessie and Joe. The first is in very poor condition, but I was able to at least repair it enough so you can see them as a young married couple, evidently with their young daughter Edna. The second photo shows them later in life. Lessie was born June 13, 1888 on the McClure Home Place, and died December 27, 1973.

Dedication to Mountain Dale Church

T’was many, many years ago
they built the old church there.
And dedicated it to God
for worship and for prayer.

Fond memories round it gather,
It is sacred to our heart.
For in the years that have gone by
this church has played a part.

T’was here our children and our friends
made their covenant with God.
T’was here the last words were said
‘ere we laid them beneath the sod.

Years ago people gathered here
from far and near.
To sing the old hymns
they loved to hear.

T’was a beautiful sight
to see.
For it was here at Mountain Dale
they loved to be.

But those old Saints – who loved the Lord,
who loved His praises to sing,
have gathered round the Heavenly Throne
with Christ the Savior – King.

Years pass on and some are left to do his work,
but we remember the Master said –
“Go, bring the lost ones to the fold
and give the hungry bread.”

Author: Lessie Edna (McClure) Crump

A Brief History of Mountain Dale Church

The story of our church is a story of joy and sorrow. In the beginning, our story starts with a group of people who met in the Mountain Dale school house to worship.

As near as I can remember, the Mountain Dale Cumberland Presbyterian Church was organized in the school house in 1908 by Rev. John A. Russell, who became pastor of our church at that time with around forty members. Later, as the school house became too small to accommodate the larger attendance, plans were made for the building of a new church.

A good friend and neighbor, Uncle Jacob Koser, donated a corner of his land for the church. Ross A. Alcorn gave the oak trees and a sawmill was obtained. Willing hands of neighbors cut the trees and after many months of labor, the logs were sawed into lumber.

Charley Coonis and my brother, John McClure, were active in the building of the church. With the help of neighbors, the erection began in 1910.

Aunt Nancy Foster, a very faithful and loyal worker, rode horseback over the countryside, going from house to house, getting contributions for the church. Unfortunately, before the church was completed, Aunt Nancy became very ill and suddenly passed to her reward on November 12, 1912. It was regretted very much that she did not live to see the church completed as she had worked so hard for it. But the people, inspired by her devotion for the church, carried on the work to completion. In 1913, the beautiful white church by the side of the road was completed.

How well do I remember that first Sabbath day in our new church. How sweet the tone of the church bell echoed o’er the hills, calling people to worship.

Charter members of the church include: Mrs. Floyd Bryant, Mrs. Henry Moore, Mrs. Joe Crump, Harry Bennett and Tom Foster. Among the ones who joined the church when it was organized include: Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Foster, Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Bryant, Mrs. Minnie Hamilton, Mrs. Ben Bennett, Floyd Bryant, and Mrs. Nora (Bennett) Van Zant.

Some of the ministers I can recall who have preached in our church include: W.A. Burney, W.R. Reid, Mrs. Reid, Mrs. Eva Hughs, Plase Davis, Wilbur Cravens, S.E. Rumfelt, and Vernon Cravens.

As goes the way of life, so goes the way of churches. As time went on, many changes were made in our community. A number of our workers passed on to their reward. Some moved to other places, and we awakened to the fact that we had no church anymore. People had grown disinterested in church affairs. Finally, a few faithful members made plans to revive our church. Rev. S.E. Rumfelt was chosen to hold a revival. Our church was blessed with a number of souls saved. The church was reorganized with sixteen members. For a few years we had good revivals and a number of ministers were ordained in our church.

Then once again, sorrow came to our church. Time, in its flight, brought a change once again. It was a hard struggle to carry on with only a few workers. So, 1956 was the end of a good second beginning of our church.

It was on a Sunday afternoon, I took a little walk. For awhile, I stood and looked at our broken down church. Then I sat down on the steps of the church and I began to daydream. All at once, I seemed to hear voices coming from the church – voices of departed friends and loved ones singing old hymns such as: “I Am Bound for the Promised Land,” “Amazing Grace” and “How Firm a Foundation.” Then I seemed to hear the Master say “How often would I have gathered thy children together as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings – and you would not.” “Behold! Your house is left unto you – desolate and forsaken.”

May we pay tribute to all persons who have been a part of our church and to all of our beloved dead. Let us look back on the years gone by – We can rejoice in the memory of our many times of worship at the Mountain Dale Church.

Written by: Lessie Edna (McClure) Crump

Thoughts of the Mountain Dale Church

You have heard of “The Church in the Wild Wood”
and “The Little Brown Church in the Vale.”
But the church that stands out in my childhood
is the church at Mountain Dale.

Time was when the church was proud
and the bell rang true and strong.
The girls and boys, the ladies and men
made a wonderful, happy throng.

But time goes on and the church grows old
and people no longer meet.
There is no one there to take the hand
oft’ time stretched out to greet.

Some have gone on to the great beyond
and some have moved away.
Some grew careless in the work
and some just stayed away.

Now the roof leaks and the windows are out,
the bells no longer ring.
The seats are empty, the pulpit gone,
and naught but bluebirds sing.

What a sad day when the people met
and had a country sale.
With grief in our hearts, we had to part
with our dear old church at Mountain Dale.

Author: Lessie Edna (McClure) Crump

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