by Peggy Richardson

This paper was presented at the March 2000 meeting of the Wayne County Historical Society held at Evans Chapel United Methodist Church on Eagle Creek Turnpike.

What inspired this rural community to build this church in 1898? If you are familiar with Methodist history, we know that circuit riders were a part of establishing the Methodist church. In the book “Organizing to Beat the Devil” by Charles FERGUSON, it states that of statistics of growth accumulated in its
formative years, Methodism was not a mass religious movement. It was a movement sustained at the community level by small groups. The groups formed a habitat in which the nurture of the individual was natural. Travel put the preachers where the people lived and made informal meetings easy. 

    I have reflected on my memories of this church. I remember that the men stayed outside to discuss the last week’s events regarding weather, crops or politics until the pianist started to play. They came in their newest overalls and the ladies in their newest dress. We always sat with the women on one side and the men on the other. It was not until I visited other churches that I realized this was unique to this church. 

    As a young child I remember wasps flying and at one point a bird’s nest in the top of the ceiling. It was at that time restorative work had to be done including interior painting and underpinning the church.

    One of my fondest memories was the day the bell was removed from the belfry. It was with incredible strength, determination and team effort that the men lowered the bell from the steeple to the ground using a rope as a pulley system with only a small niche in the eave of the church. I can only imagine the sense of
accomplishment when the bell was initially place in the belfry.

    I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Carroll Van West from MTSU to assist us in the correct and appropriate information for the nomination of the church to the National Register of Historic Sites and Places. I will use the information to describe the architectural significance of the church. 

    The church is a Gothic Revival one-story weatherboard building constructed in 1898. It has a steep front-gable roof. The original two-over-two double hung sash vertical windows are topped with triangular pedimented lintels and the windows retain the original hardware. Though no the original, the outer doors are a
simple cross and Bible paneled door. The interior is dignified by its simplicity. The original beaded-board ceiling and walls are intact. The floors are the original poplar floors. The pews were made by Jesse COPELAND. James F. DICUS carved the church pulpit and altar rail. There is 3 feet, 3 inches high wainscoting
covering all the interior walls. The window and door frames are accented with bull’s eye motif at the corners. The building was wired for electricity in 1948. It is not known where the altar furniture came from.

    The property was purchased in August 1897 from H. O. and Annie GRIMES. The purchasers were James F. DICUS, George PITTS, John P. BATTLES, Oscar DICUS, and H. A. GRIMES. It is only an oral tradition that traces the name of the church to J. O. EVANS, a man who helped a lot. Carpenters were Jess and Wayne COPELAND of Waynesboro, James F. DICUS and John and Will BARNETT of Clifton.

    From 1900 to 1930 was the most active time for the church with a very popular singing school of gospel music being taught here in 1922.

    In 1978, a Sunday School room was added with carpenters being N. A. FLOYD, John TOMPSON, Raymond MORROW and Randy MORROW, assisted by James FLOYD and Carolyn STRICKLAND. Wayne LINEBERRY dug the well for the restroom installation in 1983.

    This church has served the community well. It has been the site of weddings, birthday parties and community gatherings. It has also been a place of strength and comfort. This day pays tribute to the many families that have been a part of this church, names found in Mrs. Irene DICUS’ history of the church and recorded on the roll book. Our ancestors would be honored today to know that their efforts have withstood the test of time.