Blount County TNGenWeb

 

The Southern Methodist Church was built in 1853 on the lot near the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Harper. Many good ministers have stood behind its sacred desk. Those I would mention are Rev. J. D. Wyrick, who served in the first part of twentieth centry, and Rev. Paul Worley, now instructor of Religious Education at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia) from 1932 – 1936. We would like to honor the :memory of Rev. A. N. Jackson, Sr. (a retired Methodist Minister) who served us so well as superintendent of our Sunday School for several years. His favorite hymn “Blessed Assurance” was sung nearly every Sunday in our Church. This church building was torn down and the new church was built from these same bricks in 1943 where it now stands. It is known as St. Mark’s Method.ist Church since the Methodist Episcopal (Northern) and Southern Methodist Churches merged in the latter part of the 1930’s. Permit us to mention Russell Leedy, B. M. Ketchersid, John Greer, Robert Regan and John Wikle as the ministers of the new Church. C. C. Sherrodd and Robert D. Campbell have very capably served as Sunday School Superintendents.

 

The Northern Methodist Church which stood on lot adjoining property of Mrs. Everett Hubbs was burned about 1916 as a result of being struck by lightning. No building was rebuilt on this spot, but the lot continued to be used as a cemetery until the graves had to be moved in preparation for the waters of Fort Loudon Lake. The Louis­ ville Camp meeting of the Holiness Association was born Oct. 1894. It was in 1902 that the first meeting was held in the tabernacle which had been erected where it now stands on the property adjoin­ ing that belonging at present to Mr.Richard George. Rev. A. A. Wiles held his first meeting. Names that will be long remembered in those annual Camp meetings are Mr. & Mrs. R. L. Cox, Rev. Blanche (Coker) Fouche, Mrs. Yearout, Rev. & Mrs. Ephraim Dunlap, Miss Josephine Dunlap, Misses Jennie and Annie Anderson, Mr. Clabe George and Mrs. Clemens. In 1950, at the end of the forty-ninth annual meeting, the Campground was deeded to the East Tennessee District Church of the Nazarene. Nazarenes for miles around still come to gather annually for this old-time Camp Meeting.

 

In May 1947 Midway Baptist Church was built near the Tabernacle, this church started with 9 Charter Members but a present has 184 active members. Ministers serving this church have been R. E. Jinks and A. J. Rowland.

 

March 24, 1951, saw the organization of the Church of God with 8 Charter Members. Its first church building stands opposite the Post Office, Soon the congregation out grew this building and in June 1953 they moved to their new church home on a lot adjoining the property of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Quillen, Jr., Their membership now totals 84. Dan W. Underwood, son of Dan Underwood mentioned in the first part of history, served as pastor until the summer of 1955. James Robinson, son of Mr. & Mrs. Bart Robinson, is the present pastor.

 

In 1954 Light Pink Baptist erected their Church near the Old ight Pink Quarry. Their pastor is Neil Palmer.

 

May I mention that while we had our colored people living in our Community, they .supported the colored Methodist Church, the “Mary Louise Essler” Presbyterian Church and a Holiness Church. The Presbyterian members moved their membership to the 2nd Presbyterian Church in Maryville in 1943. The Methodist members moved their church on the hill just above the property of Richard Hatcher.

 

We are proud of our churches for we know that here lies the hope of civilization.