Church Index

ASBURY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Before 1900 to Present

Location

1779 Bailey Bridge Road, Limestone, TN 37681 in the community of Asbury

History

The Asbury United Methodist Church has consisted of several buildings in its history. The first church is thought to have been built near the site of the present church before 1900. The present church was completed on Oct. 30, 1955 and dedicated on April 24, 1960. This meant that the church was paid for "in full."

The church for many years was a member of a two point charge composed of the Limestone Church. Finally in 1969, the Asbury Church after being a station church for several years, was put with the Mt. Wesley Church. Since that time they have continued to work together. Many projects including the Lord's Acre project is done with the sister church.

Pastors, incomplete

Reid S. Wilson Mack A. Houston Priscilla Bryan

1955 1971 1993

Cemetery

Eden-Greenwood Cemetery

Source: 1971 Asbury United Methodist Church Directory; 1993 Directory of Asbury United Methodist Church .

CHEROKEE METHODIST CHURCH

1958 To Present

Location

1904 Jamestown Rd., (at the intersection of Triangle and Jamestown Rds, off Cherokee Rd), Johnson City ,TN 37604

History

Cherokee Methodist Church grew out of the consolidation of Speedwell, College Heights and Miller's Chapel Churches. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held on 17 Aug 1958. A parsonage was purchased in 1967 with Taylor's Memorial Methodist Church. In 1969 the mortgage on the church was paid. The church was remodeled and dedicated on May 17, 1970. On Nov. 1, 1981 a groundbreaking ceremony took place for the multi-purpose Family Christian Center which was added to the rear of the sanctuary.

Activities

In October 1960, members of the Church worked hard to pay off the mortgage. They raised an acre of sugar cane on the land near the church. E.S. Taylor plowed the ground and 12 women planted the seed. In the Fall and after regular working hours, the men stripped leaves and tops from the cane and cut it. An old-time molasses evaporator and a large galvanized pan were borrowed from Spencer Barnett, a Baptist friend. They also borrowed a two-roller cane grinder from Joe Huffine. Work lasted about a week. No recipe for making the molasses was necessary, because most of the people were born and raised knowing the process. L.D. Dishner furnished the tractor to grind the cane. As the cane stalks were fed into the grinder, the juice was squeezed into a tub covered with a coarse cloth for straining. The juice was strained again before being poured into the pan for boiling. During the boiling process, men and women skimmed the molasses with long-handled ladles with seive-like paddles. About three hours were needed for one boiling. The pan neld nearly 50 gallons of juice which boiled down to approximately 7 gallons of sorghum. Women worked in the church kitchen pouring sorghum into jars and making it ready for sale. The women also prepared meals for all the workers. The cane patch yielded 75 gallons of delicious molasses. Members made molasses for the next four years.

Charter Members

Pastors

Bacon, John Y. Sproul, James Renfro Fritts, Robert E. Houston, Mack Campbell, S. Lee

1958-59 1960-61 1962-64 1965-68 1969-1971

Adcox, James Jenkins, James Pardue, Robert Petty, Raymond Humphrey, Richard A.

1972-73 1974-76 1977-78 1979-81 1982-83

 

COLLEGE HEIGHTS METHODIST CHURCH

1926-1958

Location

The College Heights Church was near the East Tennessee State Normal School, "just up the hill a piece from the school." The Church is now used as a two-unit apartment residence on the corner of College Heights Dr. and Southwest Ave. with its small cemetery along side.

History

The Journal of the 81st Session of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Church, Oct. 15-19, 1924 recorded that a mission known as the Normal Heights Church had been established at Johnson City. The church was dedicated on July 11, 1926. The church's name was changed to the College Heights Methodist Church because the Normal School, by an act of the Tennessee State legislature changed the school name to East Tennessee State Teacher's College in 1925.

The Methodist Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South merged in 1939.

The last funeral to be held in the church before the merger was that of Rev. W.G. Lee.

Pastors

Harshbarger, W.Z. Matney, Green W. Watkins, John Harrell, Dillard L. Dobbs, Cicero Ramsey, P.E. Jackson, Frank Y. Crowder, I.G. Ferguson, C.H. Lee, W.G. February, Frank Wilson, Reid

1924-1926 1927-1934 1934 1935-1937 1938 1938 1939 1940-1942 1943 1944 1945, 1954 1946

Lee, W.G. Steffner, Ed B. Allgood, C.B. Kilgore, L.E. Barthlomew, Charles Green, James R. Wampler, George Church Closed. Members moved to Speedwell Church

1947, 1949 1948 1950-1951 1952 1953 1955 1956-1957   1958

EDEN UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1896 To Present

Location 1620 Mill Springs Road, Jonesborough, Tennessee in the 8th Civil District of Washington County. History It was affiliated with the Holston Methodist Episcopal Church conference 1896 - 1939 and the Holston United Methodist Church conference from 1939. The church was named Eden Methodist Episcopal Church, North until 1939 when the Episcopal Church North and Episcopal Church South were united and North and South were dropped. It has been connected with the following circuits: Jonesboro Circuit, Telford Circuit, Unicoi Circuit, Nolichucky Circuit, Cherokee Methodist Circuit Eden &endash; Bethesda - Speedwell, Bethesda-Eden Circuit, Bethesda &endash; Eden &endash; Embreeville Circuit. R.A. Fine and wife, Edna M. Fine, Ephriam Dulaney and wife, Nannie Dulaney for the love and esteem they had for the said church, transferred and conveyed until the trustees their interest in a certain tract or parcel of land on which is to be erected a house of worship. It is in trust for the use and benefit of the ministry and membership of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The deed was dated March 21, 1896. Jessee Dulaney, A.B. Huffine, George F. Walter, D.B. Huffine and G.A. Miller were the trustees when the land was given to the church in 1896. In 1945, the church was brick veneered and the entrance was changed to enter the church from Mill Spring Road. Later in the 1960s, an educational building was added. This renovation included turning the sanctuary around, the front entrance closed off and a new entrance made between the church and the educational building. The indebtedness from this project was paid in full in January 1969. The sanctuary was renovated again in 1979 which included stained windows, pew pads, new carpet, new ceiling beams, choir pews and new light fixtures. In 2004-2005 a new church was built and the older building demolished. Charter Members Charter members were R.A. Fine, Edna M. Fine, Ephriam Dulaney, Nannie Dulaney, Jessee Dulaney, A. (Absolam) B. Huffine, George F. Walters, D.B. (Daniel) Huffine and G.A. (George) Miller. Cemetery The cemetery is beside the church. From the files of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Church Archives, Kelly Library, Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA. Photos courtesy of Elaine Cantrell.

EMBREEVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Before 1900 to Present

Location

4026 Highway 81 S, Jonesborough, TN 37659

History

The church was organized before 1900 and affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The first building was in Old Embreeville on the road that runs along the river on property belonging to the Embree Iron Company. The Company built the present building and used it as a community center as well as a church. A deed for the church property was not acquired until 1942 when the Embree Iron Company began selling all of their property in Embreeville. P.E. Watson, E.C. Cline and Mrs. L.L. Renfro were the trustees and the property was acquired for $1.00. The first bell is still being used.

The church has belonged to the Speedwell Circuit, Nolichuckey Circuit, Bethesda-Eden-Embreeville Circuit.

Charter members

Sallie E. Bales Charlie Blevins Maria Treadway

Roxie Treadway William Treadway Fannie Tucker

George Tucker P.E. Watson Hazen Yates

Ministers

1905-1906 W.D. Sharp 1907 D. McCracken 1908-1910 N.F. Walker 1911-1912 W.E. Browing 1913-1914 M.A. Stevenson 1915 Paul M. Martin 1916-1918 C.E. Lunday 1919-1920 T.M. Bellamy 1921-1923 C.R. Cline 1924 Joseph Henley 1925 A.N. Dailey 1926 S. Mitchell

1927-1928 C.L. Cline 1929 C.W. Williams 1930 Francis R. Morris 1931-1932 W.L. Tate 1933 E.H. Yankee 1934-1938 R.F. Harris 1939 J.N. Smith 1940 F.Y. Jackson 1941-1942 M. Guy Fleenor 1943-1947 Ogleva Street 19481949 L. J. Turner 1950-1951 W. Stanley Humble

1952 William Bull, Jr. 1953-1955 John K. McDonald 1956-1959 Wallace Chappell 1959-1960 Jack P. Weikel 1960-1961 Worley Fleenor 1962-1964 Claude Quillen 1965-1968 Jack E. Brown 1969-1971 Paul E. Smith, Jr. 1972-1974 Woodrow Banks 1976-1977 Mack Turner 1978 Franklin Lewis 1978-1985 Herbert Dougherty

1985-1987 William Bull 1987-1989 Charles Martin 1989-1992 Sam Neeley, Jr. 1992-1995 Billy Kurtz 1995-1996 Jo McQueen Vest 1996-1999 Keith Moore 1999 Mark Huffine 2000, Jan.-Mar Connie Huffine 2000, Jun-Dec David Elliott 2001- Jan 2005 Terry and Reta Cloyd 2005, Jan-Jun Sam Neeley 2005 &endash; present Gene Deaton

Posted 8 Nov 2005

FAIRHAVEN METHODIST CHURCH

1960 to Present

McKinley Methodist Church

The McKinley Methodist Church began sometime between 1870 and 1875. Early on this congregation met at the Bell School House, located not far from the present Seaver's Bakery. In 1900, the present site of the McKinley Methodist Church was acquired from Mr. H.H. Hise, and most of the present building was constructed by 1901. Within a few years, a small tract of Vines property was annexed and used mostly for a cemetery. During construction of the church, Mr. Hise wrote President William McKinley for a donation. When the President of the United States responded with an offering, the church was named after him. McKinley Methodist Church Cemetery

 

Tiners Hill Methodist Church

The Tiners (Tyners) Hill Methodist congregation began shortly before 1920 with a few interested persons meeting in homes. The present site, known in 1920 as 800 Tyners Street, was purchased and the present sanctuary and basement were constructed in 1921. Rev. Henley served the congregation before the church was built. After the church was completed, it was placed on a large circuit and served by Rev. W.I. Hannah.

Tiner's/Tyner's Hill Methodist Church Cemetery

 

The Merger - Fairhaven Methodist Church

On Oct. 26, 1960, a joint quarterly conference was held by Dr. R. Frank Porter, Johnson City District Superintendent, where the merger of the Tiners Hill and McKinley congregations was approved. There were 347 members in the newly merged church, the Fairhaven Methodist Church.

 

Attempts were made to purchase land between the two church sites, but none was available. Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Allison offered as a gift the beautiful tract of land where the new church is now located on the Old Jonesboro Highway. Construction began in 1961.

FAIRVIEW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1908 to present

Location

878 State Highway 81North, near the intersection of Leesburg Rd., Fairview Community.

History

Residents of the community had been meeting at the nearby Maple Grove Society of Friends (Quaker) Church, when they decided to build a church. Land was obtained from J.W. Smith. Timber for the project was donated by Virdie Bacon.* In December 1908 the first service was held in the new building. The bell for the bell tower and steeple was purchased for $40.00.** Dr. Robertson of the First Methodist Church in Johnson City dedicated the church in the Spring of 1909 as the Fairview Methodist Episcopal Church. The dedicated church was placed on the Sulphur Springs Charge, sharing its pastor with other churches in the area. Fairview became a single charge in 2005, no longer having to share its pastor.

 

Through the years additions were made to the church and grounds. The large Fairview Cemetery lies adjacent to the church

 

Pastors

Richard Walker, the first pastor

Chuck Nelson, 2008

 

Sources: *Johnson City Press, Saturday, 2 Aug 2008, Vol 88 (351): 4C, col. 1 

**Cox, Joyce and W. Eugene, eds. History of Washington County, Tennessee. Jonesborough TN: Washington County Historical Association, 2001, p. 1061.

JONESBOROUGH UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1822 To Present

Location

211 West Main Street, Jonesborough, TN 37659.

History

The Jonesborough United Methodist Church began in 1822 as a result of a revival series of prayer meetings in the home of a Mrs. Brown, held by R.W.H. Hill, a merchant of Huntsville, Alabama. The history of Methodism in Jonesborough actually dates earlier than this. There were Methodists in the area who had meetings in their homes prior to the organized church. After the revival, Jonesborough was made an appointment in the Holston District of the Tennessee conference. One of the most famous of the converts was Elbert F. Sevier, a grandson of General John Sevier, who gave up a promising legal practice to become a Methodist preacher.

The second session of the Holston Annual conference was held in Jonesborough on October 20, 1825. Every year since Jonesborough has been listed in the appointments as Jonesborough Circuit or Station. Shortly after this date a brick church building with brick floors and rough slabs for seats was erected in the southeastern part of town. The fifth session of the Holston Annual Conference met in Jonesborough in 1828.

In 1833, Jonesborough and Kingsport became a two-point circuit. Time marched on and about 1845, work began on the present sanctuary. The lot was purchased for $600.00 and the cost of the building was about $4,000.00; both were large sums for that day. The undertaking was a huge task for the congregation of less than one hundred members. We know for certain that the building was completed in 1847 because the First Quarterly Conference record is still available.

The outward appearance of the Church was similar to that of today except for two chimneys on each side of the sanctuary permitting four stoves for heating. Within the sanctuary was a balcony for the use of the slaves and free blacks. The records of 1849 indicate that there were 54 white and 8 black members in the Sunday School and 75 white and 47 black church members. The present windows, pews and choir loft were later additions. There were no Sunday School rooms except in the basement, which was entered from an outside door only.

In 1875, the steeple was remodeled from a four sided structure to the present eight sided spire. The bell, which was placed there soon after the Civil War, remained in the steeple and has the inscription "Cast by Vanduzzen & Tift Buckeye Bell Foundry, Cincinnati, 1866."

The stairway to the balcony was removed and two Sunday School rooms were built beneath the balcony, One on each side of the entrance. The box pews were replaced with curved pews and a crude central heating system was installed in the basement.

New windows were installed in 1892, otherwise there were few structural changes in the building. The present windows were installed in 1928. In April 1948, an extensive restoration and redecorating project was completed. This included new plaster throughout, complete rewiring and lighting, painting, new pews, carpeting, pulpit furniture and additional classroom space in the basement. A new crystal chandelier was imported from Czechoslovakia, before the beginning of hostilities of World War II in Europe. The cost of the chandelier was $1,200.00. In 1972, the tower chime system was installed. In 1959, an educational unit was built to the front of the sanctuary. One major change was made in the sanctuary at this time, the addition of a choir loft at the front. Previously, the choir had been in the corner to one side of the pulpit. A stained glass window was given by Mr. Rollin Britton in memory of his wife, which was placed in the front of the sanctuary.

In 1966, the adjoining property was purchased to provide more adequate parking space. In 1904, the end apartment of the historic "Three Sisters' Row Apartments" was purchased for $1,050.00 to be used as a parsonage until 1950. A parsonage was purchased on Locust Street from 1950-1971. In 1971, the new parsonage on Allison Drive in North Jonesborough was completed.

Following the north-south split in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1844, the Methodist Church in Jonesborough became a part of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. After the Civil War, northern ministers took control of the church as a result of an unpaid lien against the property. The "southern" congregation then held services in the Washington County Courthouse. In 1870, the dispute was settled in court and the southern group recovered possession of the property. In the years following, the church continued to grow, and in 1987 had 491 members.

Source: History of Washington County, Tennessee, 1988 ,by the Watauga Association of Genealogists-Upper East Tennessee, p.81.

MARVIN'S CHAPEL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1885 To Present

Location At the intersection of Old Boones Creek Rd. and Thompson Rd., Jonesborough, TN. History In 1882 the Prichett family deeded an acre of land for the church. The deed states, "for and in consideration of the love we have for the cause of Christ and from an earnest desire to promote his heritage on earth, we do give and grant these presentsŠ for the use and benefits of the Methodist Episcopal Church South," The original frame structure was erected during the summer of 1885. The name "Marvin" was given to the church in honor of Bishop Enoch Marvin who died in 1877, just a few years prior to the organization of the church. J.W. Wolf was appointed as the first minister. For years the Church was part of the Johnson City Circuit, but it later became part of the Jonesborough Charge. The sanctuary of the original building was completed and dedicated in 1937. In 1953, the parsonage was built, and Marvin's Chapel and Fairview became a charge that continued until May 1998. The seed for a new sanctuary was planted in 1982 when Rev. Rusty Taylor was pastor.In 1985 the church purchased 1.99 acres adjacent to the church and used a portion of that land for a paved parking lot. Rev. Dennis Loy conducted a ground-breaking ceremony in 1990. In 1991 the congregation assembled in the old sanctuary and were led in a procession by the older adults to our new church. Nineteen and ninety-eight marked a major turning point in the life of Marvin's Chapel United Methodist Church. Under the direction of Rev. Darryl Ross and through two years of planning, Marvin became a Station Church. On Martha Yeoman's first Sunday at Marvin, Fairview sent a beautiful floral arrangement to congratulate us on becoming a Station and to send their best wishes. Ministers Forty-five pastors have served the church since it's founding in 1882. The first five pastors changed appointments after approximately one year. The sixth, J.R. Chambers, stayed for four years and each of the other pastors stayed form one to six or more years. Many of these early pastors rode horses to fill appointments and to visit their members. They were not always paid in case but may have been paid in summer vegetables, flour, meal, dried beans, etc. The ministers were: J.W. Wolf John Boring W.R. Barnett F.D. Cnimley W.D. Mitchell J.R. Chambers J.D. Acres J.F. Wampler R.E. Smith E.H. Bogle M.D. Mitchell J.H. Grosclose D.A. Herron G.D. French B.W. Lee J.F. Folgeman P.P. Martin W.I. Hannah H.D. Hamilton L.A. Harmon Charles B. Davis F.H. Yankee W.H. Dial G.W. Atkinson Ben B. St. Clair Frank Thompson Ed Steffner E.L. Shupe O.C. Wright Sterling Turner Roy Scoggins A.F. Wilke John S. Deck M.C. Weikel Buford Hankins Jack Mosier Robert Frost David Warden Frank Settle J. Russell Taylor Virgil Booher Dennis Loy Robert Countess Darryl Ross Martha Yeomans From the files of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Church Archives, Kelly Library, Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA.

MAYBERRY COMMUNITY METHODIST CHURCH

(Formerly Vincent United Methodist Church)

1896 to Present

Location

877 Mayberry Rd. Jonesborough, TN.

History

Vincent United Methodist Church was organized in 1896 and services were held in the old Mayberry School, located across the road from the present church building. After a short life as the Mayberry Methodist Church, the congregation affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church September 30, 1898. The property was given to the church by George W. and Nancy May and Madison and Sarah Loyd. The property included both May and Loyd parcels for the church and a May parcel for the cemetery. Much of the building materials were transport on men's shoulders from the closed Lebanon Presbyterian Church on Taylor Bridge Road, because the dirt road was too muddy and gulled for horses and wagons. Materials from the Old Dutch Meeting House was also used in the construction of the building.

The donors sentiments as stated in the deed were that they "all and each were anxious to have a Methodist Church," and their dream was fulfilled when they obtained and submitted to the Episcopacy letters of Support from the former Lebanon Presbyterian Church and Old Dutch Meeting House officers, which were also in the community. Trustees for the newly formed body were G.W. Swingle, Mose Bailey and A.J. Loyd. No records exist of charter membership.

The present church building was erected in 1899 and the congregation assumed the name, Vincent Methodist Episcopal church, perhaps after one of the early preachers. Vincent Methodist Episcopal Church became Vincent United Methodist Church following the merger of the Methodist Protest Church, the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church South in 1939. Before 1939, the church was on the Telford Circuit and afterwards on the Nolichucky Circuit. Vincent became a single charge in 1989. In August 2005, the name was changed again to Mayberry Community Methodist Church.

Ministers

1923-1929 E.G. Browning 1929-1934 C.R. Cline 1934-1935 E.U. Yankee 1935-1936 Charles Mchaffey 1936-1937 Fred Rowe 1937-1938 S.A. Hopper 1938-1940 T.E. Goodman 1940-1941 F.Y. Jackson, Jr.

1942-1943 M. Guy Fleenor 1943-1948 Ogleva Street 1948-1950 Lewis J. Turner 1950-1952 Stanley Humble 1952 W.M. Bull 1953-1955 John K. McDonald 1955-1960 Wallace Chappell 1960-1962 Kenneth Henderlight

1962-1964 Charles Lynholm 1964-1966 P.A. Hawkins 1966-1969 J.E. Harris 1969-1972 Billy Joe Hawk 1972-1976 Carol R. Cowan 1976-1982 Glen Milburn 1982 W. Darrell Ross

1982-1989 Lewis Weaver 1989-1991 James Walter 1991-1992 James E. Smith 1992-1994 Charles Armes 1994-1997 Garland Thayer 1997- John Hitechew

Cemetery The cemetery is in good shape. GPS location: 36.12.34N 082.29.56W

Source: files of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Church Archives, Kelly Library, Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA., 2005.

McCARTY METHODIST CHURCH

1821 To Present

Location

Corner of Hwy 11E and McCarty Church Rd., Jonesborough, TN.

History

In 1821 Philip McCardle (whose granddaughter, Eliza, married Andrew Johnson, future President of the United States) deeded one acre of ground to Henry Ruble, Isaac Hair, John G. Ruble, and Robert Paine, trustees, to be used for a Methodist Episcopal church and cemetery. Subsequently a log structure was built on the site. The log church building was also used as a school for many years. Originally, the church was known as McCardle's Meeting House, but over the years the name became "McCarty." In 1866, a frame church building was erected. During the early years, ministers held services at the church on the first Sunday of each month.

Early Members

Trustees of McCarty Methodist Church in the late 1890's were William R. Murr, George W. Murr, John Cloyd, L.W. Simpson, Aaron Croyle and Charley Stayer. Surnames found on the church roll during the 1880's and 1890's include: Armentrout, Brown, Moore, Marsh, Ling, Longmire, Long, Lovegrove, Jones Croyle, Cloyd, Miller, Murr, Patton, Stayer, Simpson, Rogers, Pritchard, Mongold, Collins, Self and Simmerman.

Cemetery

Information about the Old cemetery and New cemetery is in the cemetery section.

Reference: History of Washington County Tennessee 1988, by the Watauga Association, p.80.

MILLER'S CHAPEL METHODIST CHURCH

1937 to 1959

Location

Spice Hollow Road

History

The founders first met in the tool shop of John Roe. In 1939 Oscar Miller donated a lot where a small frame church was built.

Plans for the merger of Speedwell, College Heights and Miller's chapel began during 1955. The church building was given to the Miller's Chapel Baptists in 1957, since they did not own the land. The deed stated that the land would be returned to the Oscar Miller family when it was not longer used as a church.

The Methodist membership continued to worship at Miller's Chapel until Jan. 1959 when the Cherokee Methodist Church was opened. The original Miller's Chapel building is no longer standing.

Families

The first congregation consisted of: Rev. G.W. Lee, Sam Crowe, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Dave (Norie) Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson Hodge, Mr. and Mrs. Alec Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. John Roe and children. Other families of the congregation included: Cecil and Lena Stinson, Georgia Keene, Ben Huffine, Earnest Shew, Wiley Reed, Wiley Harris, James Strickland, Harry Scott, Earl and Edna Richardson, Robert and Jewel Stinson, Howard and Grace Harris, and Mrs. Eva Roe, a charter member.

Pastors

Dail, W.H. Street, Ogleva Lee, W.G. Fritts, R.E. Mason, Frank G. February, Frank Wilson, Reid Traubaugh, Robert Allgood, C.B.

1939 1940-42 1941, 1946-49 1943 1944 1945, 1954 1946 1947 1950-51

Kilgore, L.E. Arnold, James T. Green, James R. Wampler, George Given to Baptist Church Members to Cherokee Methodist

1952 1953 1955 1956-57 1958 1959

 

MT. WESLEY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1882 To Present

Location

586 Mount Wesley Road, Telford, TN

History

The first church, 20 - 25 feet square, was built in 1882 and was called Slemons Hill. In 1900 or 1901 a larger building was constructed and the name was changed to Mount Wesley by the Holston Conference. However, it was called "The Hill" for many years.

It was first known as the Jonesborough Circuit and later changed to the Telford Circuit in 1919 consisting of eight churches. Mt. Wesley was first organized as the Methodist Episcopal Church before the merger with the Southern Methodist Church in 1939. In 1943 it became a six point charge.

The present structure was begun in July 1953 and the first service was held on 30 May 1954.

In 1969 the Methodist and the United Brethren Churches merged to form the United Methodist Church and Mt. Wesley was placed on a two point charge with Asbury.

Ministers

George Cox D.L. Howell A.C. Ketron T.H. Conner S.A. Hopper Rev. Shoupe Rev. McDonald D.L. Howell

Rev. Gillespie T.E. Goodman Charles Mahaffey Fred Rowe Harold Harris W.E.O. Robeson Walter Gates E.M. Trammel

M.F. Goss Joe Dew Raymond Geisler W. Ray McDougle Harold Ray Robert Tickle Newton Dickens Luther Lawson

Edd Clawson Oral Lingerfelt Mack Houston Elmer Cleek Arnold Williams Woodrow Banks Sheridan Buck

Albert Ailor E.B. Jeffers Lenoir Culbertson Randall Walters James Walter Michael Sluder Pricilla Bryan

Cemetery

Located at 586 Mount Wesley Road, Telford, TN. Cemetery is well kept and quite large. For more information, see the Cemetery Section.

Source: 1993 Directory of Mt. Wesley United Methodist Church .

PLEASANT GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Location

Ten miles northwest of Jonesborough in the 17th District.

History

About 1846, Dr. Richard Baskett was passing by and saw a light on the site of the present church. Realizing it was a good location for a church, he suggested that one be built here. The first church building was log. Later, a frame building was erected and used until 1956. In that year, Lina Bailey and her son, Leonard, donated more land and a brick building was constructed.

Ministers

The Reverend William Milburn was one of the early ministers.

Early Members

The first member was Nancy Stuart, wife of Aaron Keys. Descendants of the Keys and Stuart families are still on the church roll. The first trustees of the original log church were: William Walker, Richard Baskett, Aaron Keys, John Mahoney, and Isley Fraker. In 1905, the congregation included families with the following surnames: Bailey, Baskette, Bowman, Brown, Clark, Cochran, Dougherty, Eads, Ealey, Hartman, Harris, Jones, Keys, Martin, McMackin, Mitchell, Musselman, Rodgers, Sellers, Shields, Stafford, Stuart, Walters and White.

Cemetery

Information about the Pleasant Grove Methodist Cemetery is in the Cemetery Section.

Reference: History of Washington County, Tennessee 1988 compiled by the Watauga Association of Genealogists, page 81-82

ST. PAUL A.M.E. ZION CHURCH

Location 201 Welbourne St., Johnson City, TN History St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church had its beginnings in 1872 in the log school on Roan Hill. June 21, 1878, P.P.C. and Elizabeth Nelson sold property on the top of "Piney Knob" (the hill behind Munsey Methodist church) to the trustees of the A.M.E. Zion Church for $25. This is the earliest deed found to date in which the name "colored" was not attached to the name of a black church. In 1879 the congregation moved from the log school to a "framed church house" at its present location on the corner of Welbourne and Millard Streets. Judge Robert burrow transferred the Welbourne Street property to the St. Paul Church on January 21, 1890, in exchange for the Piney Knob property. In 1909, the congregation constructed its second building, and in 1919 it had outgrown this structure and planned a grand brick structure on the Welbourne Street site. Rev. D.G. Moose, nicknamed "Moose the Builder," lead his congregation in a massive building program that resulted in the building of the present structure. Ada Owens Moose, wife of Rev. Moose, led the women of the church in weekend sales of various food items to aid in their finances. A construction bond dated February 28, 1921, lists Janes Construction as builders of the brick church, which had a full balcony and basement and seated more than 40 people.

Rev. James William Martin, St. Paul's pastor in 1928, was named Bishop of the A.M.E. Zion General Conference. By the 1940's St. Paul was known as the "first church" of the East Tennessee &endash; Virginia Conference. Source: In the Footsteps of Faith:  a Tour of 14 of Johnson City's Century-old Churches, September 2005. Posted 8 Nov 2005

SPEEDWELL METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH

1855 To 1957

Location

Between Cherokee Road and Cherokee Creek on the left, just below the point where Buncombe Hill Road enters Cherokee Road, Jonesboro.

History

In 1855 William Walters donated the land to Daniel Huffine, John Walter, Robert O'Donald, George Walter, Jesse Slagle, Jacob May and Joseph Leonard. (Deed Book 35, p. 7-9) for a Methodist Episcopal Church South to be built. Sam Walter laid the foundation. The church was built of logs supplied by the Walter family.

The church was on the Erwin Mission in the Jonesboro District in 1889-1890. In 1891 the church and mission were placed in the Morristown District until 1939.

Sometime during the period of the log church, a black preacher named Barnet Cummins from Jonesboro came to preach. While he was there Maj. J.W. Weeks was converted and became one of the early leaders of the church. Preacher Cummins preached until he was 104 yrs. old.

In 1905 the log church was taken down and Fay Andes sawed logs into boards for the new church. Controversy arose over a Williams pump organ to be used in the church. Will Walter did not think they should have an organ in the church, consequently he never stepped foot into the church again. Samual Walter was the song leader, followed by Oscar Walter. Nola Shell France was the church's first organist in 1906. The next two organists were Evelyn Weeks Miller and Etta Walter Martin.

The last official worship service was held in July 7, 1957. The following Sunday, the members were in the Cherokee Methodist Worship Service with members from the College Heights Methodist Church. They continued to worship in the Speedwell Church building as the Cherokee Methodist Church until the new building at 1904 Jamestown Road was completed. The old building was sold to Lowell Ellis for $2500 and made into two apartments.

Cemetery

The cemtery is one of the oldest on the eastern side of Washington County.

Members

Families that formed the early membership were the: Andes, Bennett, Huffine, Leach, Shell, Slagle, Stinson, Walter and Weeks families. Some of these people came into the church from the Mount Carmel Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

Pastors

Most pastors served one - two years.

Walker, Edward W. Crumley, F.D. Cross, J.B. McConless, Samuel A. Evans, W.P. Stewart, R.A. Cross, J.B. Sharp, W.D. Hendricks, W.A. McCracken, David Flogleman, W.I. Sampson, G.W. Walker, Newman Browning, William E. Waysor, M.J. Stevenson, M.A. Martin, Paul P. Lundy, Clyde Enoch Bellamy, T.M. Cline, C.R. Henly, Josephus Dailey, Archer N.

1889, first pastor 1890-1891 1892-1897 1898 1899-1900 1899-1900 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1908 -1910 1911 1912-1913 1914 1915 1916-1917 1918-1919 1920-23; 1927-28 1924 1925

Mitchell, J.S. Williams, C.W. Morris, Francis Benthall Tate, W.L. Yankee, E.H. Harris, Ray Smith, John N. Jackson, Frank Y. Jr. Fleener, M. Guy Street, Ogleva Turner, Lewis J. Humble, Stanley Bull, William M. Jr. Wampler, George Bacon, John Y. Church closed.   Members moved to Cherokee Methodist Church.

1926 1929 1930 1931-1932 1933 1934-1938 1939-1940 1941 1942-1943 1944-1947 1948-1949 1950-1951 1952-1955 1956 1957-1958 1959

Some Church Officers

1945 Oscar Walter, SS superintendent Ray Scott, secretary Marjorie Walter, treasurer Mrs. Robert Ball, pianist Mrs. Oscar Walter, Ladies teacher Stanley Shell, Men's teacher

1947 Randall Walter, superintendent Doris Treadway, secretary Preston Scott, treasurer

 

Source: History of Cherokee United Methodist Church of Johnson City District, Holston Conference, by Dr. Richard A. Humphrey, 1983. Posted 8 Nov 2005

TELFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Location

1775 Old State Rt. 34, Telford, TN 27690

History

The church at Telford was first known as the Methodist Episcopal Church founded in the mid-1800s. The original building was a large wooden structure with two doors on the front. It was lost to a fire in the early 1950's. Many of the church records were lost in this fire and could not be replaced.

The first service in the new church was held on May 18, 1952. Pastor M.F. Gross, District Superintendent Rev. Woody Stone, and bishop Roy H. Short were present and participated in that first service in the new building. The land in which the original and the present structure stand was a gift. The contractor for the structure was Richard Ellis Sr. who worked close with the building committee of Guy Wiseman, Horace Hartman, Sr., Robert Hunt Sr, Guy Maloney, J.L. Murr, Roy Mauk and E.O. Shanks.

The current name of Telford United Methodist Church was adopted in 1958 when the Methodist Episcopal Church united with the Evangelical Brethren Church. Through the years Telford United Methodist Church has been a beacon in the community. As progress was made in evangelism notable additions were required &endash; a new fellowship hall on the west end of the building, the paving of the parking lot, and a new front entrance with a handicap ramp.

There has been an association and alignment with a number of other churches in the area to form "charges" for shared pastors. The last charge was a two-point charge with new Victory United Methodist Church, which ended in 1996. Other churches that Telford has been on "charges" with are Limestone, McCarty, Mt. Wesley and others.

Telford United Methodist church has an active youth program and active membership. One of the most active groups is the "Keenagers" which is comprised primarily of senior citizens, however, everyone is invited. This group meets the third Thursday of each month for a meal and fellowship and to work together on church projects. The membership, as of September 16, 2000, is 160.

Source: Files of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Church Archives, Kelly Library, Emory & Henry College, Emory, VA, 2004.

"J.J. Yearger and J.R. Hughs in 1868, in my presence, got Josiah Earnest to fix deed to Earnest Chapel Church, it merged into Methodist Church at Telford Depot."

Source: John Fain Anderson Collection, 1796-1938 (b. 1844), East Tennessee State University, Archives of Appalachia, Box 70295, Johnson City, TN 37614-0138

VALLEY VIEW UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

1945 to Present

Location

The church is eight miles north of Jonesborough near Sulphur Springs and Fall Branch.

History

The Valley View United Methodist Church began as a mission church in an open-air service in front of a country grocery store, Hartman Center, in 1945. The 36x50' building is a cinder block construction, plastered and painted white which seats 200. Stained glass memorial windows complete the church.

Rev. George Atkinson preached the guiding sermon on a September Sunday in 1945 while he was serving the Sulphur Springs area. The first service was the outcome of a growing feeling by Rev. Atkinson from his visits with many of the homes of the community and their inaccessibility to any nearby church.

After the initial service, the circuit minister announced that a Sunday School would be organized the following Sunday in a 150 yr. old log building a few hundred yards away. The log house had been used for storing tobacco. Fifty-three attended the first Sunday School in October 1945 and grew to an average attendance of 65 with as many as 81 being present at times. Shortly after the Sunday School started, Rev. Atkinson held a well attended revival in the log structure. Eleven converts were announced.

For a time, two Sunday School classes were held in the home of Mrs. Bessie Hartman across the road from the old log building. Mrs. Hartman gave one-half acre for the church and an additional quarter acre was purchased. The new church was built on the Bob Hartman farm near the old log building.

The new church building was entered into on Nov. 10, 1946.

Members

Charter Members in 1946 included:

Earl Cloyd Mrs. Earl Cloyd Mrs. Jay Cooter

Mrs. Mattie Gray Mrs. Bessie Hartman J.W.S. Hartman

Mrs. Ruth Reed Bobby Sarver Mrs. Oscar Shelton

Mr. Charles Stafford Mrs. Charles Stafford

Pastors

George Atkinson M.C. Philippi James Henry O.C. Wright R.R. Haynes Bishop J. Chestain Frank Mason

1945-48 1948-50 1950-52 1952-54 1954-56 1957-58 1958-61

Bob Smith Hershal Davidson Ben Barnes Robert E. Clark ----- Virgil Booker Andrew Greer

1961- 1962-65 1965-69 1969-71 1971-74 1974-81 1981-87

Submitted by Elaine Cantrell, P.O. Box 1131, Jonesborough, TN 37659.

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