1811 to 1982
Location
Located on US Hwy 11E between Jonesborough and Limestone
History
An old log church built in 1811. As Lutheran families moved to that area, they probably used that church for Lutheran services since they erected Luther Zion Church in 1849 on the same site. In 1852 Fyatt Armentrout donated land nearby for a cemetery. The church building still stands, a one-room, oblong building painted white. The building was heated with two stoves, using wood for fuel. The stoves were made in Telford TN, and one is now in the Washington County museum in Jonesborough.
From about 1910 the membership declined until in April 1982 only two members were left. On August 15, 1982, the final worship service was held and the church ceased to exist as a Lutheran church. The building and grounds were sold by church officials soon thereafter.
Members
An early member of the church was Frederick Armentrout, descendant of Anna Elizabeth Armentrout (Ermentraud) who with her six sons came to America on the ship Samuel in 1759. They first settled in Lancaster County, PA. In 1839 Frederick Armentrout came to Washington County, TN with his wife and ten of their twelve children, buying 500 acres of land on Big Limestone Creek near Luther Zion Church.
Jacob Sellers with his wife, Priscilla Armentrout, and their six children followed Frederick to Tennessee and became members of Luther Zion Church. Families connected with the church in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s were the Propst family of Limestone and the Crumley family of the Telford area.
Abstracted with permission from
Cemetery
For cemetery data see Luther Zion Lutheran Church Cemetery.
Posted 29 May 2005; updated 30 May 2005