Central Union Church is located in District 7 on the Rives-Mt. Pelia Road about five miles southeast of Rives. Part of the membership are Cumberland Presbyterian and part are Methodist. Both have pastors who take turns conducting worship services.

The original church built at this location was known as Obion Chapel. It is mentioned in Goodspeeds History of Tennessee and was a part of Sharon Circuit and served by circuit-riders. The church was built on a three-acre tract of land conveyed to the Methodist Episcopal Church South by Bartholomew W. Stovall for a church and schoolhouse. The deed was recorded on September 1, 1873 and witnessed by J. W. Colby and A. F. Stovall.

According to record books kept by the Cumberland Presbyterian congregation, the first session was called on the third Saturday of November 1866 and met at Obion Chapel. Elders elected and ordained were H. C. Maxwell, W. F. Callicott, T. W. Dickerson, S. B. Crittendon, and Alfred Canady. Crittendon Grove was admitted to the Obion Presbytery in 1867. The church was located on Central High Road a short distance north of the Rives-Mt. Pelia Road. It was built on a two-acre tract of land conveyed by S. B. Crittendon on October 18, 1871 to the Crittendon Grove Church for a church and schoolhouse.

As membership lessened, Crittendon Grove and Obion Chapel merged in 1938 to form Central Union Church. Elders at that time were J. W. Briggs, J. E. Wagster, R. C. Davis, E. T. Penn, G. B. Stovall, and C. C. Dickerson. Elders ordained since that time include W. W. Hamilton, H. C. Bowers, L. Nelms, and Daniel Nelms.

Before the congregations merged the Obion Chapel building was parallel with the road. It was then turned to face north and moved farther back from the road. Rooms for Sunday School classes were also added.

When the congregations merged, becoming Central Union Church, the Cumberland Presbyterian pastor was Rev. D. R. Dunnegan and the Methodist pastor was Rev. A.T . Hurley. The Central Union Church building burned on November 5, 1979 and worship services were held in the cafeteria at Rives School until the new church building was ready for use on September 28, 1980. The Dedication Service was Sunday afternoon, 2:30 P.M., November 16, 1980.