The mission of Dry Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church is to witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ by declaring the good news to the community and the world through our thoughts, words, and actions both as a congregation and as individuals. We are led by the Holy Spirit to be disciples of Jesus Christ, to study God’s word, to worship in an organized manner, to include prayer in our daily lives, to
love one another, to use our talents, to participate in Christian fellowship, to support the leadership of the Church, and to become evangelists. Dry Fork Cumberland Presbyterian Church finds its roots in the Great Revival that swept the frontier during the years 1799-1801. Large revival services were planned in 1800 near Gallatin, Tennessee; however, due to dry weather and water shortage it was moved to Blythe’s Big Spring , approximately three miles from the present site of the church. The response was overwhelming, with people traveling as long as three days on wagon and horseback to camp out for the three day revival. Thousands attended and hundreds were converted at this joint effort of the Methodists, Baptist and the Presbyterians - which included dozens of preachers. During the revivals a camp meeting ground was established on the present site, upon which a log structure was built by 1821.Reverend Richard Beard preached at this location. Beard later served as Moderator of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church denomination, chair of the Theology Department at Cumberland University (Lebanon, Tennessee), and was a leader in the revision of the denomination's Confession Of Faith (doctrine) in 1884. In 1831 there were 175 members of Dry Fork church, and then officially became a Cumberland Presbyterian Church. It was one of the largest churches in Sumner County Tennessee at the time. Bethpage, Tennessee was a thriving town that equaled other Sumner County towns. The first pastor of Dry Fork CP Church was Reverend Francis Johnston. The log structure burned down about the time of the War Between the States and was replaced by another until the present building was constructed in 1896. The Dry Fork Cemetery, located on the church campus, contains the remains of many of the early original settlers in this area, early church members, as well as two Revolutionary War soldiers.
