Christianity in Eastern Kentucky

My apologies for the delay in posting lately. I've been on the road most of the past two weeks. Both for business and for pleasure. In the pursuit of pleasure, I spent a week driving to, through, and from eastern Kentucky with my father of 77 years. After many years of research by myself and others into the origins of my paternal ancestors, we discovered a rich history of pioneer life in the hills of Appalachia. Dad wanted to see the terrain and topography before departing this world for the next.

In my reading on area history, I had learned that Christianity entered Kentucky through settlers, mostly Episcopal, and the circuit riders, mostly Methodist. Thus, Kentucky began and eastern Kentucky remained a staunchly Protestant Christian territory. Driving along creeks and up over mountains seemed only to confirm the areas history. Numerous small white churches, usually Baptist or Church of God, dotted the landscapes. Larger towns might harbor a brick or stone Methodist church.

While exploring the bigger towns like Middlesboro, Pineville, Harlan, Prestonburg, and Salyersville, I was amazed to find Catholic churches. Not new catholic churches, but old Catholic churches. That had not been in my reading. Turns out that had I bothered to check with the Diocese of Lexington beforehand, I need not have been surprised. Nearly every community of size in eastern Kentucky has a Catholic Church.

Nonetheless, dad was very happy to have seen Stinking Creek, stood atop the Cumberland Gap, traversed the length of Martin's Fork, toured Prater's Fort, and visited Hazel Green, the alleged birthplace of his father. Dad also discovered that if one wants homestyle cooking one need only visit the closest Cracker Barrel restaurant. The national chains and Chinese buffets have taken over Appalachia. God bless and preserve Jerry's Restaurant in Prestonsburg. They at least offered a vegetable plate.

Source: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington