Church Christ, Episcopal was constructed in 1887, and has been in continuous use since. Members still gather every Sunday morning for worship services in the same building thatthousands before them met to pray and worship.
The church is built of poplar and pine, cut from the forests surrounding Rugby. It was built by Cornelius Onderdunk of Dutchdescent and Rugby's resident architect. The architectural style is called Carpenter Gothic.
The church is painted its original colors and contains all its light fixtures and early furnishings, including the organ. An 1849 Harmonium Reed Organ is still in use. It is made of rosewood veneer, and the reedsystem still makes the original sound. The organ is the oldest of its type in use in the countrytoday.
Visitors should spend a few minutes surveying the interior of the virtually untouchedsurroundings. Exquisite stained and painted glass windows were purchased from Germany byBishop Quintard, Second Bishop of Tennessee, and were given in memory of Margaret Hughesand Mary Blacklock, mother of the first rector of Christ Church, Joseph Blacklock.
Historic Rugby is completely separate from the church, which is owned by the East TennesseeDiocese, but the church grants permission for Historic Rugby to give tours of the facilities.
Last Updated November 25, 1996