“I’m a-goin’ to tha’ green-hill.” What if I told you those coded words led to the very place we stand before today? That place is the Greenhill New Church. It stands as a testament to faith and resilience. Its history is deeply rooted in the aftermath of the Civil War.
Following the Civil War, a group of Christians and former slaves united in New Providence. New Providence is in Tennessee. They organized the First Colored Baptist Church. It was later renamed the Greenhill Missionary Baptist Church. These pioneers had been secretly meeting. They met under a brush arbor overlooking the Red and Cumberland River junctions. This secret meeting place was near Fort Bruce or Fort Defiance. It provided a degree of protection and concealment.
The slaves used a coded chant to refer to their meeting place. That chant was, “I’m a-goin’ to tha’ green-hill.” In 1865, the congregation replaced the brush arbor with a church building. This was on A Street. That church building stood until the 1950s. It was destroyed by fire. The congregation purchased property on Walker Street. They acquired one of the old Fort Campbell Chapels. These chapels were declared “surplus” after World War II. The congregation rebuilt the chapel on Walker Street. That is where it stands today.
Now known as the Greenhill Church and Christian Outreach Ministries, it’s led by Elder Angela R. Jones. She is the church’s first female pastor. The church is affiliated with the Kingdom Builders Network. Bishop Horace Hockett leads that network. It is also affiliated with Born Again Church of Nashville, TN. Greenhill consists of members from different denominations. They come from various backgrounds and nationalities.
Clarksville natives and retired military personnel are active members. Active-duty members from Fort Campbell Army Installation also participate. They often serve for a season. Then they evangelize and spread God’s Word elsewhere. The Greenhill Church continues its rich pioneering history. This is through Vision 2015. The church purchased property to expand its territory. It supports the church with time, talent, and substance. It ministers to the needs of the people of Clarksville. It serves the surrounding areas.
The Greenhill Church is a monument dedicated to God. It is a spiritual institution serving mankind. Its legacy shall live on.