By Shavonne Potts
spotts@salisburypost.com
CHINA GROVE ó Mount Zion United Church of Christ is hosting a dinner and cemetery tour to raise funds to benefit its building fund.
The church, located on South Main Street in China Grove, will have the dinner on Oct. 8 at the ěHutî behind the church. After the dinner descendants of some of the people buried in the church cemetery will share their familyís history.
Attendees will eat at 6:30 p.m. and tour with a guide as early as 7 p.m. There will be anywhere from 8 to 10 people on a tour.
The church began a capital campaign in November 2009 and has been working since that time to build. The new addition will house the preschool, youth area, kitchen and Sunday School area.
ěWe have been very fortunate with cooperation of architects who are moving right along,î said church member Carole Brooke.
The church regularly has fish fry dinners and other fundraising meals to supplement the pledges theyíve received. This is the first time the church has held such a fundraiser.
The cost for the tour and the meal is $20 and tickets can be bought in advance at the church. The church is located at 1415 S. Main St.
Co-organizer Betty Corriher said they are trying to show what it might have been like living years ago.
Organizers will use as many authentic artifacts as possible including a butter churner and an antique rifle.
Tour guides, many of whom will be descendants, and participants will be dressed in period clothing.
ěMost of these people are third and fourth generation,î Corriher said.
The cemetery dates to the early-to-mid-1800s and was used by multiple churches during that time.
Descendants of George Savitz, who was a patriot and landowner, will participate in the tour, Corriher said.
The graves are not all clearly marked, but tours will take place at about 10 gravesites.
Norman Sloop, a retired doctor, is a descendant of David Correll and will be in attendance.
Correll would be considered a modern day herbalist, Corriher said.
He kept a diary or day book that will be read from during the tour.
For more information and to make a reservation, contact the church at 704-857-1169.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.