Forging a New Era

By Anna Grace Moore
Photos by Kelsea Schafer

Transcending generations, love is the bridge between cultures, connecting diverse people groups by their shred of shared humanity. The catalyst for social reform, love has the power to forgive sins, foster relationships and even forge a new era of peace and prosperity during the darkest of times.

The Rocky Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church (RRCPC) has weathered the last 170 years–a remarkable feat–by loving its members and the community well. Reverend Karen Schmidt just so happens to be the first-ever female pastor of the church out of its extensive history of 30 different ministers.

Dating back to 1889, the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination was one of the first to ordain women as ministers. Schmidt became pastor of RRCPC on Oct. 1, 2023.

“What led me here specifically to Rocky Ridge is again this idea that this group of people love God and they love their church and they love the history of this church and they love each other,” she says. “I have felt terrifically honored that they saw in me the heart of a pastor.”

Schmidt, who previously served as a senior living chaplain before becoming head pastor, believes that RRCPC does a good job of loving community members “where they’re at,” not forcing them to change who they are when they walk through the front doors. As a chaplain, she would often receive questions such as “Why does God let bad things happen to good people?” “How do I know God is even real?”

She says while much of her job involved praying and loving on grieving individuals, the weight of the job rested heavy on her heart as she was often one of only ones providing counsel. It was not until she came to RRCPC that she saw the significance a church family has in supporting its community–during the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.

Faith, Family and Fortitude

According to Schmidt, the church’s history is rich in perseverance. The first dwellers settled in the Rocky Ridge community around 1815 just after the turn of the century.

An 1820 census listed several families including the Actons–of which Acton Road is named–the Baileys, the Armstrongs and the Watkinses as some of the church’s original members. At the time, there were no organized faith groups in the area until 1853, when Rev. Robert Bailey began preaching to a small crowd in a “brush arbor” near the settlement.

RRCPC was born from these services–officially becoming a church on June 5, 1854, with exactly 11 charter members: John, Passa, William, Elizabeth and Z.W.H. Acton; Kitsey Jane and Zelphia Levi Armstrong; and Daniel, Drucilla, Martha and S.H. Watkins. Together, Revs. Bailey and Emerson Acton served as the church’s first ministers.

However, Rev. George M. Simpson, who was a circuit preacher, was actually the first-ever paid staff member. Interestingly enough, he was paid by room and board and food such as chicken, ham and canned goods; money was scarce, but the community’s support never wavered.

Not long after the first brush arbor services was the church’s first sanctuary–a hand-crafted log cabin–erected. During the 1880s, the building unfortunately burned to the ground, but again, the RRCPC community persevered and rebuilt what they could.

“They’ve been here for 170 years because they work to fulfill the Great Commission,” Schmidt says. “There’s been an ebb and flow of the congregation. Part of what I think has kept them here is a family connection. They’re family in Christ. They’ve shared life together.”

In 1914, the church relocated from its original spot at or near where AAA is located now to its current site at 2404 Altadena Road; yet, the city of Vestavia Hills would not be incorporated until 36 years later on Nov. 8, 1950.

The newly built church cost members $1,600 to build. It only had one room, but it was full of love.

Members sectioned off corners with curtains to create areas for Sunday school classes. In the center of the building rested a “potbellied” stove, which provided warmth during the colder months.

It is noted that members Marion and Jessie Jones arrived earlier than others, firing up the stove to heat the building before services each week. Marion would also clean each pew with a rag, wiping the coal soot away.

A nearby spring allowed for ample drinking water and water for baptisms. The church weathered the Great Depression with much difficulty, but annual services such as its “singings” and children’s day programs created joyous occasions that kept spirits high.

The church saw heightened growth during this era. The children’s day programs, which were started by Horton Bailey and Alma Acton, proved successful and tenured lifelong members such as Jessie.

Willie Williams created the church’s annual Christmas program, contributing to the congregation’s ever-growing members. And yet, this one-room church fostered all of this growth.

One-hundred years later, this white-frame structure still stands and is now RRCPC’s adult Sunday school wing. Rev. Bob Ezell (1937-1946) started one of first, major renovation projects at the church, involving the excavation of the basement area to house five classrooms and a library in the 1940s.

While Ezell started the project, it was completed during Rev. Carl Easterwood’s pastorate. Jessie was appointed to fundraising, and one of those she sought help from was none other than Will Acton.

Will did not have very much money, but he faithfully donated what he could–75 bushels of corn. These were sold for $75 to help fund the renovation. Under Rev. R.L. Shurbet’s pastorate (1950-1956), renovations including indoor plumbing were made to the church.

Shurbet was called home to Heaven all too soon in 1956. His wife, Eugenia Shurbet, wrote in a June 1956 newsletter her hopes for the church’s ministry: “May I urge that none of us spend time in regret and remorse by wondering ‘why’ or ‘if?’…My prayer is for you that you may know the truth of the words which meant so much in the life of our loved one that we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth.”

From that dark period, RRCPC enjoyed happier times under several ministers over the years. The church received a parking lot, fellowship hall, kitchen, secretary’s office, pastor’s office, additional classrooms, a nursery and more.

Although the church started with only 11 members, its congregation has grown to about 70 members over the last 170 years, and the values of faith, fortitude and family are ever-present.

“We are oriented towards relationship with each other, relationship with God and relationship with our community,” Schmidt says. “It’s not about selling Jesus. It’s not about selling Rocky Ridge. It’s about caring for people right where they are at that moment.”

A New Era

Looking forward, Schmidt says RRCPC will continue to live out the Gospel, raising up the next generation of disciples to spread the love and ministry of Christ Jesus. Everyone, no matter his upbringing, faith, political or spiritual beliefs, is welcome to attend church and learn more about the Savior.

In the end, Heaven will not be white-washed. It will not be filled with only Republicans or only Democrats or only anyone in between.

Heaven will be a beautiful diversity of men and women–children of God–from all different parts of the Earth and of colors of skin. RRCPC aims to foster even just a fraction of the community of Heaven–one where everyone is loved, welcomed and cherished.

After all, there is no greater command than to love the Lord and His people well.

Rocky Ridge Cumberland Presbyterian Church is located at 2404 Altadena Road in Vestavia Hills. The weekly church service occurs at 10:45 a.m. each Sunday morning. To learn more about the church or how to get involved, visit rockyridgechurch.org or follow the church on Facebook (@Rocky Ridge Church).

Luke 10:27

“And he answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’”