Nestled in the hills of northern Kentucky is the old, log church building where the congregation at Cane Ridge met. It is housed within a great stone building to protect it from the elements.   

In the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century in the United States, several men independently came to the conclusion that neither their doctrine nor their worship was in accordance with the Word of God and sought to change that.

Barton Stone was the pastor at Cane Ridge after he was ordained in 1798 at Cane Ridge.  At that time it was a Presbyterian church. In June of 1801, there was a great revival at Cane Ridge which, when concluded, had drawn an estimated 20,000-30,000 people.  It is said that it ended after only a week simply because the county had no more provisions for either horses or people.  Barton Stone and others had seen Baptist, Presbyterian, and Methodist preachers agreeing and proclaiming the gospel.  All over the US meetings like this were taking place and people were beginning to question the doctrines and theologies of their varied denominations.  Alexander and Thomas Campbell, Walter Scott, “Raccoon” John Smith, John Gano, David Purviance and others were all proclaiming the same thing during this same time period, a return to biblically oriented teaching and worship.

It is of note that the original members at Cane ridge referred to themselves as members of the Church of Christ, not members of the Christian Church.  Sadly, as earlier as the second generation of leadership, there came division.  Some would not hold the purist doctrine they had sought and began to add innovations and other "man-made" ideas.  An early result of the division was a movement to bring music into the assembly.  As a result, the Disciples of Christ were formed, the modern Christian Church.     

Contrary to some popularly held beliefs, Barton Stone began the movement for purity at Cane Ridge independently and prior to Campbell’s first visit to Kentucky.  They were fully decided by June 1804 when the Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery was signed.  Earlier, less dramatic movement can be discerned by the engravings on various ledger stones at Cane Ridge.  Since Campbell did not visit Kentucky until c1823 it would have been impossible for him to have had a major influence on the congregation at Cane Ridge, at least in its initial stages of formation since the ledger stones indicate those who had died as early as December 1804 were members of the Church of Christ, not the Springfield Presbytery.

The evidence of the early beginnings of the church at this location are engraved on the stones of the cemetery.  

There are many graves at Cane Ridge, several of which have these large ledger stones (see photos above and below) which allowed for lengthy epitaphs, on which one could read of the history of Cane Ridge.  Though many are worn beyond the ability to read, some are still legible in certain light.  Among them is that of Nathaniel Rogers.  In the words of his only son we see what the most important thing was to Mr. Rogers.

Here lies Nathaniel Rogers who was born July 25, 1755.

 He was a member of the convention which formed the Constitution of Kentucky in 1799. What is of far more consequence, he was a member of the Church of Christ in the bosom of which he died on the 22nd day of December, 1804, at the age of 49 years and reposes here amid those whom he loved so well.

His only son from a sentiment of respect consecrates this stone to his memory.

It was not until 1823 that various leaders noticed the similarities of the Stone and Campbell movements and united in what would be called, "The Reformation".  The Last Will and Testament of the Springfield Presbytery was a document prepared by Stone and others to consecrate and declare that they would no longer follow the dictates of man, but wholly give themselves and their congregation to the pursuit of Jesus and His perfect will for Christians.  For a brief history on Barton Stone and a full text of the Last Will and Testament, visit: http://www.watchmanmag.com/0201/020103.htm

Although today “The Shrine,” as it is called, is kept and preserved by the Disciples of Christ, it is actually one of the many locations where the early Reformation movement in this country gave a rebirth to the Church of Christ wherein the Christian Church finds its beginnings and the Church of Christ its reformation in our country.

All photos and text by Ron Scott, mrscott@lighthouse-christian.com