New Hope Church was formed during the days when this part of the country was the frontier. Those who worshipped here saw the Great Revival and lived through the formation of the Cumberland Church.

In 1799 a few people from North Carolina, who were members of the Presbyterian Church, began meeting every Sunday to read the Scriptures and pray together near their homes just north of the Cumberland River in Wilson County, Tennessee. They continued to meet and were being served occasionally by circuit preachers until 1810.

In the fall of 1810, the people held their first camp meeting. This was so successful that another was held in 1811 on land bought for this purpose. In 1812, Rev. Hugh Kirkpatrick organized this group of Christians as the New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church and served as their minister. Preaching once a month, he served this congregation until 1816.

Church records show there were 230 members by 1849. However, the growth in membership was severely affected by the War Between the States and, later, when a number of members affiliated with the newly organized Melrose Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the Cairo Bend community. By 1880, the church began to experience renewed growth and, needing more space, moved to its present location in 1886.

Classrooms were added to the sanctuary in the 1950s and a Fellowship Hall was added in the 1960s, which is now classroom space. The Melrose Cumberland Presbyterian Church closed its doors in 1980 and that congregation reunited with New Hope. A new Gym/Family Life Center was built in 1989. The original frame sanctuary, structurally unsound after 120 years of faithful service, was replaced by a beautiful new brick sanctuary in 2006. God has truly blessed New Hope during its long history.

Mission. The people of the frontier were people of vision and faith. They saw the wilderness and envisioned fields and towns and good living. The church today is still on the frontier of living. We see a lost world and envision the Joy and Happiness of God’s Salvation.

New Hope Church believes that the purpose of its preaching and teaching ministry is to bring people to the realization of their need and acceptance of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. It has as its goal to help people to grow in grace and love and to enable them to live as loving disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. We at New Hope profess to that faith and that task.

1812
April 7-9, 1812 - Cumberland Presbytery
Elder Representative from Spring Creek and New Hope - Samuel Motherell
[Source: Minutes of Cumberland Presbytery, April 7-9, 1812]

1813
April 6-9, 1813 - Cumberland Presbytery
Elder Representative from New Hope and Spring Creek - James Stewart
[Source: Minutes of Cumberland Presbytery, April 6-9, 1813]