EARLY KNOX COUNTY CHURCHES

Goodspeed’s History of Tennessee (1887)

METHODIST:

In the fall of 1787 the elder of the Nollichucky Circuit received letters from persons low down on the Holston and French Board Rivers, informing him of their destitute condition.  It was decided, after consultation, that Thomas WARE, one of the ministers of that circuit, should visit them and attempt to form a circuit. He went in the autumn of 1788, and after a winter of toil and exposure succeeded in forming the French Broad Circuit.  But little is known of this circuit, except that it was probably south and west of the French Broad River, and included what is now Cocke, a part of Jefferson, Sevier, Blount and Knox Counties.  The next year Daniel ASBURY was assigned to this circuit, but as it does not again appear upon the records of the general conference until after the cessation of the Indian wars, it is probable that Asbury failed of success, and a portion of the circuit was attached to Holston.

 It is scarcely probably that either of these men organized societies in Knox County, but if they did they were south of the Holston and French Broad.  One of the oldest societies in the county was organized in the southeast portion of the French Broad River, near the Seven Islands, among the CUNNYNGHAMs, HUFFAKERs and GREENs.  Two of the early pioneer Methodist preachers went out from that region, Jesse CUNNYNGHAM and Jesse GREEN.  James GREEN, a brother of the latter, was for many years a local preacher.

Another society was organized at about the same time near where Logan’s Chapel and campground were afterward built, and perhaps one was established in the neighborhood of the FRENCHes, RULEs and GODDARDs, six or seven miles south of Knoxville.  The first church organized north of the river was at Macedonia, four miles east of Knoxville, where the AULTs, WAGONERs, HAYNIEs and LUTTRELLs lived.  This became a great rallying point for the Methodists early in the present century, and was one of the first places at which camp-meetings were held.

But little is definitely known of the early work in Knox County.  On November 1, 1800, Bishop ASBURY, while on his way from the Cumberland settlements to North Carolina, accompanied by Bishop WHATCOAT, and William McKENDREE, visited Knoxville, and were entertained by Joseph GREER, an old friend of ASBURY’s.  The Bishop preached in the “State House” to a congregation of about 700 people, only a portion of whom could gain entrance to the house.  ASBURY, in speaking of this day in his journal, says, “We came off in haste, intending to make twenty miles that evening, by Francis A. RAMSEY pursued us to the ferry, ferried us over, and took us to his excellent mansion.”  In the autumn of 1802 Bishop Asbury visited Knoxville twice, and on both occasions was entertained by Col. RAMSEY and Mr. GREER.  At neither time, however, did he hold religious services in the town.  November 25 he preached at the home of Justus HUFFAKER, a local preacher, living near Seven Islands in the French Broad.  This year had been one of great prosperity to the church in the Holston country, and two new circuits were formed.  The French Broad (Circuit), the one containing Knox County, extended westward from the west line of Green county, on both sides of the French Broad and Holston Rivers.  To this circuit during the next ten years the following assignments were made:

 In November 1812, Bishop ASBURY, accompanied by William McKENDREE, made his last visit to Knoxville.  This time he was guest of Father WAGONER,  “one of Otterbine’s men",  whose son afterward became a local preacher.  There had been great interest manifested in religion during the previous year, which is remembered for the large number of accessions to the church, and the conference from which Bishop Asbury was returning had established a Knoxville Circuit, to which Samuel H. THOMPSON was assigned.  He was succeeded the following year by Richard RICHARDS, a man of strong mind and of great popularity.  He afterward became addicted to strong drink, and was expelled from the church.  Later he reformed, and was again received into membership.  In 1814 James DIXON was assigned to the Knoxville Circuit.  He was a man of remarkably strong intellect, and defended the doctrines of his church with signal ability.  He carried on a protracted controversy in the papers with Dr. Isaac ANDERSON, the founder of Maryville College, and acquitted himself to the satisfaction of his church.  In 1819 he was again sent to Knoxville, and the following year had the care of the church at Greenville, in addition to his Knoxville charge.  During that time he became afflicted with epilepsy, and suffered in most remarkable manner.  He was helpless and almost unconscious for several weeks, and when his consciousness did return he had forgotten everything he had before known.  He could not read, and was compelled to learn his letter a second time.

In 1815 John HENNINGER was assigned to the Knoxville Circuit.  He was succeeded by Nicholas NORWOOD in 1816, Josiah B. DAUGHTRY in 1817, and George ATKIN in 1818.   The next year Knoxville was made a station and Knox Circuit, to which Robert HOOPER was assigned, was formed.  Meanwhile several new churches had been organized in Knox County.  One of these was a few miles west of Knoxville, when a building known as Manifee’s Meeting-house was erected.  Another church and camp-ground was established three miles northwest from the town, and was called Lonas’ Camp-ground.  About 1833 the camp-ground was removed to Fountain Head Springs, six miles north of Knoxville, where a log church was built at a very early day.  A church and camp-ground was also early established at Hopewell, thirteen miles east of Knoxville, and another at Mount Pleasant, seventeen miles northeast.  April 7, 1810, John MANIFEE made a deed to two acres of land lying north of Beaver Creek to John CHILDRESS, Solomon McCAMPBELL, Jeremiah TINDALL, George LUCAS, Daniel YARNELL, Michael YARNELL and Thomas WILSON trustees, for the purpose of building a meeting-house and camp-ground to be fee to all denominations.  This was known as Bell’s Camp-ground, and was frequently used by the Methodists.

At precisely what time a Methodist congregation was organized at Knoxville is not known, but it occurred about 1816 or 1817. The principal mover in its organization was Rev. John HAYNIE, who had united with the church at Wagoner’s in 1809, and who had now removed to Knoxville to labor for the cause of Methodism.  He at once began preparations for building for the cause of Methodism.  He at once began preparations for building a house of worship, and through his friend, a Mr. NELSON, he obtained as a site a lot on the hill, in East Knoxville, from Hugh L. WHITE.   A small frame structure was erected, and on account of the liberal donation received from Judge WHITE it was named in his honor.  Among the most prominent of the early members of this church were John HANEY, Frederick AULT, Henry GRAVES,  J. ROBERTS, William SEAY, Mr. HUDIBURGH, Mr. FORMWALT and Joseph BELL.  A Sunday-school was organized previous to 1822, and was probably the first in the county.  Henry GRAVES was the first superintendent.

In 1824 the Holston Conference was organized in a small red house on the south side of Main Street, not far from the church.

From 1820 to 1840 Knoxville constituted a station only a portion of the time.  For short periods it was at two or three times included in Knox Circuit to which were then assigned two ministers.  In 1836 a brick church was erected upon a lot on Church Street, donated by Dr. James KING.  It cost about $5,000 and was first occupied by the Southern Commercial Convention.  The old church on Methodist Hill was then given to the colored members, who continued to occupy it until the beginning of the war.  Previous to that time the colored member, of whom there was a considerable number, had worshiped in the same house with the white members.  Later, a minister was assigned to East Knoxville, who gave one-half of his time to the colored congregation, and the other half to a white congregation which assembled at Temperance Hall.  During the war the house on Methodist Hill was destroyed by the Federal troops, who also occupied the brick church.

At the close of hostilities the Methodist Episcopal Church, South began the work of collecting its scattered members and reorganizing congregations.  In Knoxville they found themselves extremely weak.  Only one of the old board of trustees, Samuel T. ATKIN, remained, and their property was in the hands of the Methodist Episcopal Church.  Not discouraged, however, they obtained a lot, erected upon it a new church and brought suit to recover their former property.  Meanwhile they held services in the First Presbyterian Church.  After considerable litigation, a favorable decision of the courts was obtained, and the Methodist Episcopal Church was ordered to restore the property to the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

In 1877 the erection of the present excellent brick building standing upon the site of the old church was begun, and on February 3, 1878, it was dedicated by Bishop WIGHTMAN.  The members of this church now number over 600.  In 1870 a congregation was organized in North Knoxville with about sixty members.  A plain and unpretentious frame building was erected on Broad Street and dedicated on June 25, 1871.  The congregation and membership grew very rapidly, and soon became one of the most popular churches of the city.  Nine years ago, under the ministry of Rev. W.W. BAYS, it became necessary to enlarge the house and render it more commodious.  The pastors who have served this church were:

The church has very recently erected an elegant brick building on the corner of Broad Street and Fifth Avenue, which, when completed will be one of the most imposing church edifices in the State. It will cost about $20,000.  During the past two years the membership has increased 255 and now numbers about 500.  In some respects this church has no equal in the Holston Conference.  The official board is aggressive, plucky and determined, while the ladies of the communion are one of the chief sources of power.

In 1885 a second church in North Knoxville was built by the co-operation of the two older congregations, and is known as Centenary Church.  It has a membership of 114.

In 1886 a neat frame house was erected on the old site on Methodist Hill, and a congregation now worships there under the ministration of Rev. W. H. BATES.

Among the other congregations in the county belonging to the Methodist Episcopal Church South are

At two or three different times a periodical, under the auspices of the Holston Conference, has been published at Knoxville.  The first was the Holston Messenger, established in 1824 by Rev. Thomas STRINGFIELD.  It had formerly been published at Huntsville, Ala., as the Western Armenian and Christian Instructor.  It was continued at Knoxville but a short time.  On May 5, 1846, the first number of a weekly paper, the Methodist Episcopalian, appeared, and continued as such about four years, when it was changed to the Holston Christian Advocate, which was also published about four years.  In December, 1862, a religious weekly called the Holston Journal was established under the management of C .W. CHARLTON, but upon the evacuation of Knoxville, the following September, it suspended.  Since 1884 the Holston Methodist, originally established in Bristol, was removed to Knoxville, where it is now issued by the Holston Publishing Company, of which W. H. VALENTINE is business manager.  The editor is Rev. R. N. PRICE.  The Methodist is a large eight-column folio weekly, and is one of the best church papers in the country.

On May 27, 1864, a call for convention of members and preachers of the Holston Conference, loyal to the United States Government, to be held in Knoxville on the first Thursday in July, was issued by William G. BROWNLOW, J.A. HYDEN, E.E. GILLENWATER, William T. DOWELL, James CUMMING, Thomas RUSSELL, William H. ROGERS and David FLEMING.  At the appointed time fifty-four delegates assembled in the Episcopal Church, and organized by electing E. E. GILLENWATER chairman, and Robert G. BLACKBURN secretary.  The most important action of this assemblage was the adoption of the report of a general committee favoring a return to the Methodist Episcopal Church, subject to the approval of its general conference.  This action was ratified by that body at its next meeting, and under its authority the Holston Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at Athens on June 1, 1865. During this year the First Methodist Episcopal Church at Knoxville was established under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. John F. SPENCE. The officers elected were W. G. BROWNLOW, R. D. JAUROLMAN, E. N. PARHAM and C. W. De PUE, trustees and S. P. ANGEL, William RULE,  H. C. TARWATER, F. M. WHEELER and J. F. AMBROSE stewards.  For three years services were held in the courthouse and the First Baptist Church.  In 1867 the erection of the present church on Clinch Street was begun, and completed in 1869. It is a large and commodious brick structure, having a seating capacity of 600. The congregation is a large and growing one, numbering at present over 300 members.  A Sunday-school is also maintained with a membership of over 200.  In 1872 a second church was organized by Thomas H. RUSSELL with about thirty members, and soon after a house of worship was erected in Asylum Street.  It is a brick structure and cost about $4,000.  The members now number about 120. A Sunday-school, of which Charles McGLOTHEN is superintendent, is maintained with a membership of over 200.  There are now in Knox County thirty-five congregations under the care of the Holston Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with an aggregate membership of 1,931 in full connection, and 207 probationers.  The circuits and congregations are as follows: 

Knoxville:

Knox Circuit, W.C. DAILY, pastor;

New Salem Circuit, M. A. RULE, pastor:

Little River Circuit, P. H. HENRY, pastor;

Thorn Grove Circuit, R. O. AYRES, pastor;

Loveville Circuit, J. M. DURHAM, pastor:

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