Headrick's Chapel

 

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” (1 Corinthians 15:20–27a ESV)

 

Mary and I are still in the Smokies. The weather and fall foliage has been incredible. The picture I’ve attached today is Headrick’s Chapel, taken in Wears Valley, Tennessee, sometime ago. We’ve gone by this church many times on our way to Cades Cove. It is situated on a hill next to the main road. It cannot be missed by anyone travelling through this small mountain town. I haven’t stopped there, though I may before this trip is finished because of the “Legend of the Funeral Tree” that is associated with this church. It sits right on a curve high on a hill, surrounded on three sides by a beautiful, historic cemetery. Interestingly this iconic little church was born out of a literal bolt of lightning.

 

Throughout the 1800s, there was no church building there. Funerals were held entirely outdoors. Mourners would gather under the branches of a massive, ancient oak tree that stood in the cemetery to shelter themselves from the mountain rain and snow. But in 1902, a violent storm moved through the valley. Lightning struck the legendary "funeral tree," destroying it. According to the legend, it was “blasted to pieces.” Left with no shelter, the community knew it was time to build a chapel. A local named Peter Headrick donated the land, and the valley went to work. Because materials and resources were scarce, four completely different denominations joined forces to build it. They signed a unique deed that split up the weekends of the month so Baptists and Methodists could share the space in harmony.

 

Because it was designed and built to replace the funeral tree, community law stated that funerals always took priority over regular church services. Whenever a valley resident passed away, someone would climb up to the belfry and ring the heavy church bell exactly once for every year of the person's life. If the bell echoed across the ridges 82 times, the whole valley knew a long-lived elder had gone home. The chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001. No regular services are held there anymore, but that timeless bell is still tolled by valley residents to honor the dead.

 

Now, I don’t know if a bell will ring once for every year I’ve lived on this earth, but I know that my death will not be the end of my life! Our reading today clearly proclaims the victory Jesus has won on my behalf: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (v. 27). Bells, whistles, horns, maybe even an angel or two shouting “hallelujah!”… none of those things will matter as much as being taken in heaven to greet Jesus face-to-face and reunite with all those loved ones and friends who have already gone!

 

Now… every time I see this picture of Headrick’s Chapel, I can be reminded of that great day!