Knox County Churches - Goodspeed (1887)

EARLY KNOX COUNTY CHURCHES

Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee (1887)

EPISCOPAL:

Until 1844, ten years after the first bishop of the diocese of Tennessee was consecrated to his office, no Episcopal Church had been organized in East Tennessee. Several attempts had been made to establish a church at Knoxville, but each had resulted in a discouraging failure. In March, 1844, Thomas W. HUMES, who was a candidate for the ministry, began to serve as a lay reader on the morning of each Lord’s day, but, owing to the deep prejudice existing in the community against the Episcopal Church, the movement met with strong disfavor, and the congregations were small. On the 9th of June, Rev. Charles TOMES, of New York, by appointment of the bishop, took charge of the parish, and entered upon his work with energy and zeal. The services were at first conducted at a dwelling-house, but were soon transferred to a small building at the northeast corner of Gay and Church Streets, which was donated for that purpose by Andrew R. HUMES. This building was neatly fitted up as a chapel, and was occupied for over two years. On July 22, 1845, the corner-stone of St. John’s Church was laid with appropriate exercises by the bishop of the diocese. At about this time T.W. HUMES, having been ordained a deacon at Columbia the preceding March, became an assistant to the rector. On September 21, of the following year, Mr. TOMES resigned the rectorship, and was succeeded by Rev. Mr. HUMES, who continued in that position, with the exception of about two years in the early part of the war, until 1869, when he also resigned. During the two years previous to September, 1863, the rectorship was occupied by Rev. William VAUX, of Loudon.

In the year 1844 the communicants of St. John’s Church numbered twenty-one. Upon the resignation of Mr. TOMES in September 1846, they had increased to forty-one. During the next fifteen years of Mr. HUME’s first incumbency about 154 were added, and about 132 were lost by death and removal, leaving in September, 1861, a membership of sixty-two. During the next two years this number was diminished so he found only thirty-six communicants; they were increased during the next five years to ninety. Rev. William GRAHAM succeeded to the rectorshp in January 1869, and served until the autumn of 1870. He was followed by Rev. John H. SMITH, who resigned at the end of nearly four years, and was succeeded by Rev. Thomas DUNCAN. Mr. DUNCAN ministered to the congregation very satisfactorily for nearly six years.

In 1867 Dr. HUMES, the rector of St. John’s church, and his assistant, William MOWBRAY, laid the foundation of the church of the Epiphany in North Knoxville. The first services were held in the cemetery. The next Sunday the basement of a steam mill was procured, and this was used for a time. Through the instrumentality of Charles McGHEE a lot was soon after obtained, and during the next year the present church, located on Broad Street, was completed. Mr. MOWBRAY served the church as rector for about two years, when, after an interval, he was succeeded by Rev. Everard MEADE, who continued in charge of the church for several years. The next rector was A. A. McDONAUGH, who also remained about ten years. The present rector is Rev. A. BUCHANAN. The church now numbers over 100 communicants, and is in a highly prosperous condition.

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