The origin of the name Moriah is where God commanded Abraham to take his only son Isaac to offer him as a burnt offering. Also the hill at Jerusalem where Solomon built the Temple. The Jews believe the altar of burnt offerings in the Temple of Jerusalem was situated on the exact site of the altar on which Abraham intended to sacrifice Isaac. Today, the Muslim Mosque, the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem presently is situated on the site called Moriah in the Bible. (From Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary).

John H. Hodgin gave the land for the Mount Moriah Church and Cemetery about 1855. The first church was a log church building located in the cemetery. It was replaced with a large weatherboard building. Finally, the third was a new block building, erected across the road from the cemetery in the mid 1940's. The fourth Sunday in May is Homecoming and its a very big day, when scores of people return. (From Rebecca Vineyard and Louise Clenney - Henderson County Times 20 May 1981).

According to records at the Henderson County courthouse the Moss Tie Company gave land to the elders of Mt. Moriah Methodist Church in 1940. On a Saturday in 1940, the Elders - Tim Bailey, Jim Bailey and Perry Bailey met on land given by the Moss Tie Company. ALong with many others they started clearing the land to build the concrete block building where the church now stands. Some of those workers were Auther Stanfill, Perry Bailey, Tom Bailey, Jim Bailey, W.P. Holmes, Floyd Wright and Rayford Holmes. The Baileys used a double block and line to pull out the trees by the roots. They used Mule Power with the block and line. No Bull Dozers were used. Brother Murphy, who lived in Scotts Hill, helped build the new church. Brother Murphy helped build the Scotts Hill Methodist Church. He would walk from Scotts Hill to Mount Moriah to work on the church.

According to Louise Martin (retired school teacher) the Methodist stopped having church services there in 1954, the fourth Sunday in May. From 1954 - 1984 the Mt. Moriah Church was non-denominationa. It was a vacant building for the most part during this time. Brother J.B. Wallace attended Mt. Moriah church before the 2nd World War. He was a member of the church when it was a weather boarded building. After 1954 when they stopped having serviced, J.B. Wallace, more than anyone else, continued to keep the building in shape and in good repair so that people could still use it for funeral services and revivals. He would ask others for donations and help with the work himself. Hubert Petty helped with getting a new roof on the building. John Howard Hutcherson preached there for many years. Sometimes once or twice a month.

Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church was organized June 30, 1984 with council members, Brothers - Cooper Moody, Dennis Reeves, Odell Cable, Greg Stanford, Clyde Johnson, Lebert Stribline, Robert Reeves, Elbert Reeves and Jodie Bolden.

Pastors have been -
Jodie Bolden 1984 - died 15 March 1939
Odell Cable 1989 - Resigned 21 April 1991 (Membership doubled under Bro. Cable)
Dereck Jowers June 1991 - July 1991
Rickey D. Tedford 1992

Deacons ordained 8 April 1990
J.B. Wallace - died 16 January 1992, Jesse Bennie Doyle who died 1991 and Floyd Wright.

Sunday School Teacher have been - J.B. Wallace, Linda Horner, Nancy Williams, Betty Swafford, Judy Bolden, Betty Elway & Paul Clark.

Bookeeper - Exell Wallace
Secretary - Marth Jean Burcham
Piano Players - Nancy Bolden & Martha Jean Burcham

Charter Members:
Frank Washburn, Peggy Washburn, Kim Washburn Pusser, Earlene Powers, Martha Jean Burcham, Jodie Boldan, Nancy Boldan Williams & Zeola Boldan

Members through April 1991 -
Jodie Bolden (deceased 1989), Zeola Bolden, Martha Jean Burcham, Earlene Powers, Nancy Bolden Williams, J.B. Wallace, Exell Wallace, Betty Swafford, Jerry Swafford, Zelma Cox, Linda Horner, Charlotte Clark, Daniel Clark, LaRue Bolden, Robert Burcham, Tracy Horner, Judy Boldan, Missy Middleton, Gertie Moody, Rev. Odell Cagle, Rebecca Cagle, Floyd Wright, Millie Booth, Jesse Doyle, Ollie Doyle, Cherry Powers Wright, Ricky Bolden, Neal Hamm, Tammy Hamm, Betty Elway, Noverta Rushing, Donna Nolan, Gene Nolan, Michelle King, Jeremy Elway, Paula Franks, David Elway.

Members in WW 1
Vester Buck, Franklin Buck, Ernest R. Freeman and Vester Phillips

Members in WW II
Duel R. Chummey, Ovid Pike, Kenneth Ervin, Alvis A. Attaway & Ray Stanfill

Members in Korean War
Colly Moody

Click here for Mt. Moriah Cemetery Cemetery