Cane Ridge Meeting House

Paris, Kentucky's Cane Ridge Meeting House was constructed in 1791, and was one of the largest log structures in the country, and the largest in Kentucky. In 1801, the structure became the center of the Second Great Awakening in Kentucky. There are reports that thirty thousand people gathered at Cane Ridge for this gospel meeting. This gospel meeting preached rejection of Calvinism with an emphasis on personal salvation, and also the rejection of drunkenness, gambling, fighting, and sexual immorality. The leader of this movement was a man by the name of Barton W. Stone. Stone was a former Presbyterian minister, who wanted to get back to the basics of the Bible. This involved doing away with man made creeds, traditions, and denominations. This early religious movement laid the foundation for the Churches of Christ. In 1832, Stone joined forces with Thomas and Alexander Campbell and the Restoration Movement began. This movement took place in Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Tennessee. Cane Ridge, Kentucky, and the Cane Ridge Meeting House, have the distinction of being dubbed "the place where the Church of Christ or the Christian Church began." The Cane Ridge Meeting House was restored in 1932, and in 1954 a stone "superstructure" was constructed around the original building, for protection. It is interesting to note that during the 19th century, one of Kentucky's largest plantations and homes was constructed around the Meeting House. In an 1877 DeBeers map of the county, the Meeting House was marked, but the large plantation and other more modern church buildings were not. Due to the Cane Ridge Meeting House being enclosed in a larger stone structure, both buildings have been ruled ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. However, in 2003, the area around the Meeting House was listed in the National Register under the name "Cane Ridge Rural Historic District." The legacy of the Restoration Movement lives on through wonderfully preserved buildings such as the Cane Ridge Meeting House.

Interior of the Cane Ridge Meeting House.

Artist depiction of Barton W. Stone preaching during the 1801 Cane Ridge gospel meeting.

The stone "superstructure" that serves as protection for the Cane Ridge Meeting House.

At Moore Historical Consulting my #1 priority is historic preservation. Do you own a historic home, commercial building, or farm? If so contact me today to learn more about the historic preservation strategies I offer. These include nominations to the National Register of Historic Places, nominations for a Permanent Conservation Easement, nominations to the Century Farms program, and writing text for historic makers. At Moore Historical Consulting I make exploring and preserving your past fun and easy.