History

The church here at Trousdale was spawned from the demise of the "mother church" at Fountain Springs. The Fountain Springs community was located
between Jacksboro and Pocahontas on the old Shelbyville road about two miles from where we are now. Fountain Springs had a sizable population and
sported a Grist Mill, Store, Post Office, Blacksmith Shop, Cemetery and church. The church was built around 1830 or so and continued until after the civil
war. The population decreased and the church building became a victim of decay and neglect. It eventually collapsed and the logs began to rot. The only
remnant left of this community now is the cemetery.

Shortly after the death of this "mother church", three separate congregations emerged: Trousdale, Pocahontas, and Shady Grove. All three have survived
and are with us today.

The original church building for Trousdale was built in 1902. It had a seating capacity of 75 with no indoor restroom or baptistery. It was adjacent to the
cemetery, and next to the present building. The original church building had the pulpit in the front but after a renovation it was moved to the back, as most
are.

After the new building was constructed in 1967and occupied, the old building was donated Brown Town Church of Christ. It was moved intact to its present
location and is still in use today. The only item that remains from the original building is the bell that is still rung each Sunday morning at the beginning of
services. This current church building originally had seating capacity of 125, a baptistery and indoor restrooms. A kitchen and fellowship room with
classroom space was added. Recently, in 2003, a foyer was added as well as another wing that includes three classrooms and two handicap-accessible
restrooms.

Sadly, there are no early records of the Trousdale congregation. We do not know who the first elders were or who preached the first sermon. The earliest
records begin in the 1930's. Rotational preaching was in effect, which meant that a visiting preacher would preach one Sunday out of the month. The
remaining tree Sundays would consist of singing, a Sunday school lesson, The Lord's Supper, Collection, and Prayers. This continued until the
congregation could afford to hire a full-time preacher. Special mention should be made of Brother Roy Wilson, who for many years served the Trousdale
congregation as elder and was instrumental in the building of the new church that we enjoy today. There were many lean years at Trousdale with
attendance as low as three to six people and a contribution as small as eleven cents.