A History of
Tuckston United
Methodist Church
1889 – 1989
by James Hefner and Elsa
Ann Johnson
This year, 1989,
Tuckston Church is celebrating its one hundredth birthday. The Centennial
observance gives us an opportunity to look into the past to see how the church
was founded and to consider our plans for its future. The Centennial
theme is “Memories of the Past . . . Challenges of the Future.”
In gathering the
material to write this brief history, I was given a copy of Miss Elsa Ann
Johnson’s historical paper which covered the Church’s history through
1960. In further conversation with Miss Johnson and others of the
congregation, I was able to bring her history up to the present time.
Miss Johnson is
a remarkable lady. Eighty-six years young, she has been a member of
Tuckston for 74 years and an active member of the Stella Hancock Bible Class
for more than 45 years. She taught school in Clarke and the neighboring
counties for over 30 years, first at Henton Brown School near Bogart, and then
for three or four years at Tuckston School in the early 1920s. Her work
then took her to Gaines School, Bostwick, Winder, Winterville, and finally back
to Gaines School. She has made a great contribution not only to the life
of Tuckston but to the life of the entire community.
I am very
grateful for her assistance in the writing of this history of Tuckston Church.
Jim Hefner, Chairman
Centennial Committee
The History Of Tuckston Methodist Church
In writing the
history of Tuckston Church, it seems appropriate to include something about the
community prior to the organization of the first church to be located
there. In most rural communities there is usually at least one
progressive and forward-looking man or woman who is interested in the welfare
of the community. John and Elizabeth Tuck were just this sort. Mr.
Tuck was so concerned about the local children growing up in the neighborhood
without a school that he secured a teacher, at a small salary, to teach during
the three summer months, and the county agreed to pay the teacher’s salary for
three months during the winter. The school sessions were held in a small
tenant house on the Tuck farm for several years. Later on, a one room
school house was built on property now occupied by the Tuckston cemetery.
Elizabeth Tuck,
wife of John Tuck, also had a great concern about the lack of a Sunday School
and Church for the neighborhood, and with the help of Miss Emma Nabers, the
school teacher, Mrs. Tuck set about to remedy the lack of a church
facility. These two good Christian women spent much time in prayer for
guidance in their plans. They began by inviting the school children and
their parents to a Sunday afternoon meeting in the school house. A
neighbor lady, Mrs. Mollie Greer, and the Rev. W.M. Coile, a Winterville
minister, were asked to help organize a Sunday School. This first Sunday
School was officially organized in the spring of 1889.
The founders of
this Sunday School were about equally divided between Methodists and Baptists,
so the founders decided to operate as an interdenominational school and to use
Union Sunday School literature. After using this literature for one year,
a decision was made to use both the Methodist and Baptist literature in
alternate years. Throughout these early years the school and Sunday
School seemed to operate hand-in-hand with teachers and community folk working
equally hard for both causes.
After using the
little one room school house for some time, the patrons and other interested
citizens decided to remodel and enlarge it.
Among the first
teachers to come to Tuckston was Miss Lillie Young, who taught music
classes. Under Miss Young’s leadership, the students and community adults
began to put on various forms of entertainment to raise money for the purchase
of an organ. Progress was being made. During the winter months when
the roads were muddy and weather was cold, the Sunday School attendance decreased
so much that it was decided to “go into winter quarters”. With the coming
of spring the Sunday School was begun again with great enthusiasm. In
addition to Sunday School, preachers from various neighboring churches were
secured to preach one Sunday afternoon a month. Each summer revivals were
conducted, and often it was necessary to build a brush arbor in front of the
school building to seat the enthusiastic crowds.
Mrs. W.H. Dean,
who lived in a nearby community, and who was District Secretary of the Women’s
Division of Christian Service for the Athens-Elberton District, organized a
women’s missionary society in the home of Mrs. Mollie Greer. Later on,
with the help of Miss Elizabeth Hale, Mrs. Dean organized a Children’s
Missionary Society. There was a great deal of enthusiasm for this work,
and much good was accomplished with the youth of the community.
There were many
willing workers in the early days of the Sunday School. Mrs. Greer and
Mrs. Tuck were teachers in the Sunday School and often served as acting
superintendent when no man could be prevailed upon to serve. An early
leader in the Sunday School was Mr. Greene Bailey, who walked out from Athens
each Sunday afternoon. Mr. Bailey was a faithful worker for several years
until failing health forced him to give up his work.
The first
regular superintendent of the Sunday School was appointed in 1892. He was
John Prickett, who had been secured as the school teacher. Mr. Prickett
had been studying for the ministry but lacked funds to continue his education.
Under his guidance the Sunday School took on new life and for the first time
did not close during the winter months. Mr. Prickett’s life meant much to
the community, and he was a great inspiration to the young people. After
one year he returned to Vanderbilt University to complete his preparation for
the ministry.
In 1893, the
Rev. Asbury Church became the Sunday School superintendent, and his brother
Felix served as the song leader. In 1896, Rev. Church resigned because of
poor health, and Felix became the superintendent and served until
1898. The service of these two brothers had a very positive
influence upon the religious life of the community.
During the
“summer of 1895" a great revival was held in the little school house, and
the congregation was stirred to organize a church. Mr. and Mrs. John Tuck
had discussed the idea of building a church with Rev. John M. Sewell, the
visiting preacher. Mr. Tuck offered to donate a building lot to the North
Georgia Conference of the Methodist Church. During the revival the Rev.
Sewell asked for members to charter the new church, and when the “doors were
opened,” Evelyn Tuck, then a child, and ten other people came forward.
This great revival ended and the Church at Tuckston began. Plans were soon
drawn for a church building, and a committee was appointed to solicit funds for
the building of Tuckston Church. Among those serving on the committee was
Mr. Augustus Fambro, who with his wife and family had been among the first to
join the new church. Mr. Fambro was a loyal and devoted worker and was
tireless in his efforts to secure funds for the new building. He was also
one of the first Stewards and could always be found working for the Lord’s
Kingdom here on earth.
With the aid of
many volunteer workers and the success of the building committee in securing
funds, the church building was begun in the summer of 1896. The walls and
roof were soon completed, but funds ran out before the floor could be
completed. Mrs. Ella Blackman, the teacher of the young people’s class,
contributed the money she usually spent for spring clothes to buy the
floor. This floor is still in use today. The church building was
completed in 1897. A short time after its completion, the first wedding
took place in Tuckston Church. This wedding united Miss Eltha Tuck and
Mr. John Hardemon in holy matrimony.
As the
discussion of the history of the church continues to unfold, it may seem that
too much attention is being devoted to the Sunday School and its
leadership. One must remember, however, that our church had its beginning
as a Sunday School and that the lay persons mentioned were by and large
responsible for the founding and growth of Tuckston Church. At the
beginning Tuckston was one of four churches on the circuit with preaching
services being held one Sunday per month. Later Tuckston became a
two-church circuit with Winterville Methodist Church before finally becoming a
“full-time church”. The first pastor of Tuckston was the Rev. J.M.
Sewell, who served from 1896-1899.
Among the
outstanding men that the church was privileged to have as superintendent was
Mr. D.C. Barrow, a professor at the University of Georgia, who walked out from
Athens each Sunday afternoon. Under his leadership as superintendent and
teacher of the adult class, the Sunday School grew in interest and
attendance. When he was named Chancellor of the University, Mr. Barrow
had to give up his work with the Sunday School which he had served from 1898 to
1906.
After Mr. Barrow
gave up his work, Mr. N.B. Davis, Mr. Edward Burt and Mr. J.A. Hardy, all good
men of the community, served as superintendents between 1906 and 1914.
Mr. Robert David (Dave) Hancock became superintendent in 1914 at a time when
attendance was very poor. Mr. Hancock was a man of prayer and faith in
God and worked hard to build up the Sunday School. With the help of his
daughter, Miss Bertha Hancock, attendance and enrollment increased until it
became one of the best-attended Sunday Schools in the area. In 1930, Mr.
Hancock, after fifteen years of service as superintendent, resigned because of
ill health. Mr. H.A. Haygood became superintendent and, along with his
wife, organized a Woman’s Bible Class in October 1930. Mrs. John D. Hancock
became the teacher and served in this capacity for over forty-three years, and
this class even now bears the name “The Stella Hancock Bible Class.”
In 1929, under
the leadership of the pastor, the Rev. M.B. Sams, four rooms were added to the
sanctuary. These rooms provided much needed space for Sunday
School. Then in the early 1940s because of increased attendance, three
more rooms were added as a second floor to the four rooms. Great strides
were made in both interest and attendance between the years 1935 and 1948.
Three men, Mr. George Wright, Mr. Ted R. Johnson and Mr. Wesley Whitehead,
provided valuable leadership during these years while they served as
superintendent of Sunday School, In 1948, the sanctuary was enlarged and
remodeled to make it more attractive and comfortable.
Mr. Hubert
Flanagan, Jr. became superintendent in 1948, but after one year of consecrated
service he resigned to take a teaching position in Elberton, Georgia.
After teaching and service in the U.S. Army, Mr. Flanagan accepted the call to
the ministry and was ordained in 1952. Today Rev. Flanagan is an
outstanding minister serving a church in Griffin, Georgia. From 1950
through 1958, Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Robert S. Johnson and Mr. Clarence Allen
served as superintendents of this growing Sunday School. It was during
this period that another “Tuckston Boy” accepted a call to the ministry: Archie
Hayes accepted his first church in 1957 and is still serving in the North
Georgia Conference. In 1958, Mr. C.W. Daniel became leader of the Tuckston
Sunday School, and he was followed by Mr. John Cone.
Music has always
been an important part of the Tuckston worship service. During these
years of growth many people gave of their talent to the music program. A
special mention must be made of the contribution made by Mrs. Wesley (Mary)
Whitehead, who was church organist for 34 loyal years.
There were many
pastors who served Tuckston Church well between 1896 and 1950. During
this time Tuckston was on a four-church circuit, and the pastors were at Tuckston
only one Sunday a month. A listing of all the pastors who served is
included at the back of this writing. In 1950 or 1951, Tuckston became a
two-church circuit with Winterville Methodist Church. During the late
1940s and early 1950s the possibility of becoming a full circuit was often
discussed, but there were many problems to be worked out first.
Finally, on
August 9, 1954, the Official Board of the church took positive action regarding
the possibility of becoming a full station church by starting a fund to build a
church parsonage. In May of 1955, the Board set a date of 1957 to become
a “full time”; in the spring of 1957, the parsonage was completed, and Tuckston
at last became a full station church in July, 1957. During this period of
growth, Tuckston’s pastor was the Rev. Marion J. Sherrill. The names of
committee members for much of the work that was being done during these years
are hard to determine, but surely most Tuckston members were serving when
needed, just as they are today in 1989.
In July, 1959, a
building committee was named during the first Quarterly Conference, and it
proceeded with plans to build a much-needed education building adjoining the
“old sanctuary.” This building was completed by the end of 1959, and the
first Sunday School classes were held there in January, 1960. The
building, complete with air-conditioning and furniture, was built at a cost of
$27,000. Tuckston was now a church growing beyond expectation, and the
need for a larger sanctuary was apparent. On April 25, 1965, a called
session of the Quarterly Conference took place to consider a preliminary study
presented by a Sanctuary Planning Committee. The committee’s recommendations
were accepted.
On December 12,
1965, a conference was called to discuss the need to build a new parsonage
before building a new church. The congregation voted to build a new
parsonage. Funds were raised, and on September 11, 1966, the parsonage
was dedicated. On this same day in September a Quarterly Conference voted
to build a new sanctuary and fellowship hall, and in May of 1967,
ground-breaking services were held. The new building was completed in
December of 1969 at a cost of $200,000, and consecration services were held on
January 28, 1968.
The growth that
took place during the mid and late 1960s was not in buildings alone.
Under the leadership of Rev. Paul Hanna and Rev. Malone Dodson, the membership
increased and spiritual growth was evidenced in community service. Church
records show that during the 1968 conference year 62 new members were added to
the church rolls bringing the total membership to 484. By the end of the
1969 conference year the membership was 532, and the growing Sunday School
averaged about 200 each Sunday. The church had an excellent choir of some
35 voices and two children’s choirs under the direction of Thomas Camp.
The Vacation Bible School had 65 children in attendance, and a summer program
was available to all children in grades one through twelve. A week-day
kindergarten and nursery program had 42 kindergarten and 56 nursery children in
the program. An active men’s club of 35 members and a W.S.C.S. of 60
ladies were both strong groups in the church. In the words of Rev.
Dodson, “Doing things together, in the name of Christ, is the purpose of our
work,” and surely Tuckston must have been doing HIS work during this period of
time.
There has not
been any intent to leave out of this brief history any period of time in the
church life, any group or committee, or any person who may have made some outstanding
contribution to Tuckston Church; unfortunately records of our past are hard to
find, and much of our history has been lost with the passing of members long
since gone from us. Many have served in the Lord’s work, and all things
are known to Him, if no longer to us.
Tuckston Church
in the 1960s and 1970s was blessed with very good and adequately sized
facilities, a full-time minister, a dedicated staff, and a growing membership
of willing workers. A church bulletin dated November 8, 1970, stated “Since
1959, the Education Building had been completed, three more acres of land have
been purchased, we have built a new parsonage, sanctuary, and fellowship hall,
built tennis courts, paved a parking lot and remodeled “the old fellowship hall
for class rooms.” What great progress!
The early and
mid 1970s brought Tuckston many dedicated and talented people. Rev.
Marcus Martin, assisted by David Agnew, and Rev. James Turner were the pastors
during this time. The music program was in the capable hands of Dr. Egbert
Ennulat, Brenda Arrington, and Tom Granum. In 1973, a Kawai Grand Piano
was purchased by the church. This was a major investment for the church
of some $2,500.00, but it has proved to have been a wise investment. Bill
Arrington chaired the committee that purchased this instrument and ten years
later would chair the committee to purchase a new organ for the sanctuary.
Church records
show that in the mid 1970s there was a very active Senior Citizen
program. There was also an active MYF (youth) program under the direction
of Mrs. Ruth Caproni. Tom Granum left Tuckston in the spring of 1977, and
was succeeded by Mrs. Suzanne O’Keefe as director of music. Mrs. Brenda
Arrington Poss served as organist and assistant music director, and many fine
singers filled the choir loft each Sunday. If time and space permitted,
pages could be written about the dedication, energy and excitement these people
put into the Tuckston music program over the next ten years. Their
contributions are measured not only in their work but in the love we have for
them.
Church news in
the 1970s was much the same as it is today. The Youth Program, MYF and
Youth Choir, were active. Men’s fellowship, Senior Citizens, Circles,
committee meetings, family night suppers, choir practice, prayer vigil, UMW,
and many more activities make up the announcements in the Sunday
bulletins. In February 1978, the Rev. Mike Henderson joined the staff as
Youth Minister, and in July the Rev. Robert C. Gillespie became the pastor at
Tuckston. This was a busy summer at Tuckston with a large Vacation Bible
School, a men’s retreat to Rock Eagle to hear Dr. Cecil Myers and Rick Bonfim
preach and sing, and several weddings among the church family.
In the fall of
1979, Mike Henderson returned to school and a student pastoral appointment; in
June of 1980, Rev. Art Graves was appointed as Tuckston’s first Associate
Pastor. Underway were fresh and exciting programs such as Mountain
T.O.P., Neighborhood Care Groups, Bell Choir, Bethel Bible Study, and Haiti
Work Mission showing up in the “Tuckston Newsletter.”
Tuckston was
indeed growing and, as in the past, was a positive force in the community which
itself was also showing signs of growth. In 1980, a sign of Tuckston’s
influence in the community became evident when yet another young man who grew
up in the Church answered the call to the ministry. Wayne Smith received
his first appointment that year. In August of 1982, a contract was signed
with the Wickes Organ Company for the purchase and installation of a twelve
rank pipe organ. The cost of the instrument and installation was
approximately $55,000, and all the funds were raised by the time the organ was
dedicated on Easter Sunday, 1983. In December 1984, the outside Carillon
Chimes and the organ chimes were dedicated. These beautiful chimes were
given by the Flanagan and Crumbley families in memory of Mr. Hubert L.
Flanagan, Sr.
Building
programs and financial campaigns to pay for them are a necessary part of any
growing church. The project that began in 1967 to build the new sanctuary
and fellowship hall ended, on time, in February 1987 when the mortgage was paid
off. Two members of the original building committee were present to share
with the congregation in the burning of the “paid-off” mortgage; they were Dr
Fayette McElhannon and Mr. Ted Johnson.
In January of
1987, Rev. Gillespie was assigned to a church in the Atlanta metro area, and
his successor was the Rev. Hoyt Jenkins. Rev. Art Graves continued as the
Associate Pastor, Mrs. O’Keefe as Director of Music, and Mrs. Brenda Poss as
organist. Our beloved Choir Director Suzanne O’Keefe passed away January 28,
1987. She is missed and will be remembered for her untiring efforts in
developing Tuckston’s music program. After her death, Dana Brooks became
Minister of Music in July, 1987.
For several
years, there had been a move in the church to build much needed space for
Sunday School rooms and recreation space. One proposal, which took in a
more long range view, was presented to the congregation in 1984, but was voted
down as being too expensive and not meeting the immediate needs. A second
proposal was presented to the congregation and was approved in September,
1987. The building committee, chaired by Dr. Bob Lewis, was authorized to
begin construction on the $500,000 Family Life Center, and the hopes and dreams
of the Tuckston congregation began to take shape.
Another
important change took place at Tuckston in 1987: the beginning of the Tuckston
(preschool) Learning Center, which is under the supervision of Director Anne
Jones and Head Teacher Suzie Nutter. This center is considered a great
asset not only to Tuckston but also to the community in general.
The year of 1988
brought changes to Tuckston Church. Both Rev. Hoyt Jenkins and Rev. Art
Graves were moved to new pastoral assignments. Our new pastors are Rev.
James Sanders, Senior Pastor, and Rev. Bill Jackson, Associate Pastor. We
also lost our organist Brenda Arrington Poss, who had served over 20 years in
the music ministry of Tuckston. Brenda moved to a new position with
another church but is still with us in our hearts. Our new church organist
is Mrs. Nancy Lough, who is no stranger to Tuckston having served a number of
years as substitute organist. Our minister of music, Dana Brooks,
accepted a position in another Methodist church in the fall of 1988.
Carey Huddelston came as music director but after several months moved to
another position. We are now proud to have Larry McLure as Music
Director. Larry is well known for his music program at Cedar Shoals High
School and for the work he has done in other community churches.
The year 1989,
is a very special year, our 100th birthday, in the life of Tuckston and calls
for much thanksgiving and celebration. The Centennial theme is “Memories
of the Past . . . Challenges of the Future.” Our first Centennial
celebration was the completion of our Family Life Center and its formal
consecration on March 5, 1989. The service was conducted by Bishop Ernest
A. Fitzgerald. The Tuckston youth programs which have been a vital
ministry over the years will no doubt be given added support by the addition of
the Family Life Center. On May 21, 1989, a special Sunday School Sunday
was held to commemorate the organizing of that small community Sunday School in
1889, which would become the foundation for Tuckston Methodist Church.
Classes were asked to combine and enjoy the teaching of guest teachers, who
were Dr. Dilmus Blackmon, Mr. Doug McLaughlin, and Rev. Coy Hinton.
Our Centennial
celebration continued with a great weekend of events on October 13 - 15.
On the 13th an old-fashioned worship service was held with the Rev. Marion
Sherrill, a former pastor, preaching the sermon. On the 14th a
covered-dish supper and an entertaining program of drama, music, and interviews
was held in the Family Life Center. On the morning of the 15th, the
pastor preached a Homecoming sermon, and the evening service began a three day
revival service with the Rev. Grady Wigley as guest preacher. The year
was closed out with an “Old-fashioned Christmas” celebrating the birth of our
Lord, a Christmas party for the children, a time for placing our gifts under
the tree for those less fortunate than we are, and a yule log song fest.
What a grand year for Tuckston! There have been many great years since
our humble beginning in 1889 as a small interdenominational Sunday
School. Today, we are still a growing and caring congregation with some
940 members ready to begin our second hundred years of service to our Lord and
our community.
(Notes taken
from bulletin, November 10, 1991) Dedication
Service - “On the occasion of the renovation of Tuckston United Methodist
Church’s original sanctuary.”
“In January
1968, the completion of the new sanctuary and fellowship hall brought to an end
the regular use of the sanctuary portion of the church that had served the
community for more than 60 years. For the next 22 years the old sanctuary
was used as a ‘youth center’ and for Sunday School rooms, the other rooms of
the church continuing in use for Sunday School rooms.
For several
years many members of Tuckston have wanted the old sanctuary returned to use as
an active chapel. In the fall of 1989, the cost of making necessary
repairs was presented to the Board of Trustees; their approval was given in
early 1990. In March 1990, the Administrative Board approved the project,
appointed a working committee, and gave it the authority to raise $20,000
outside of the regular church budget. The necessary funds were raised,
and in February 1991, a contract was let to S & W Development
Company. Both physical labor and generous contributions by church members
made the restoration possible, and on November 10, 1991, a dedication service
was held in the ‘new chapel.”
From the 1991 service
Beloved in the
Lord, we rejoice that God put it into the hearts of his people many years ago
to build this house to the glory of his name. We further rejoice that in
our time he has moved his people to restore and beautify this hallowed place
that it may continue as a room for divine worship. Let us therefore, here
assembled, solemnly rededicate this house to the continued worship of Almighty
God and the service of persons.
Sunday, December
14, 1997 - Rededication Service on the occasion of the 100th year anniversary
of the original Tuckston United Methodist Church building.
On this day the
congregation of Tuckston United Methodist lift up the memories of our church’s
original sanctuary and rededicated it once again as the Tuckston Chapel for the
continued worship of Almighty God and the service of all persons. Today
our Chapel is used for weddings, special services, and Christmas Eve Communion
Services.
We have gathered
pictures and bulletins, postcards and deeds reminding us all that Tuckston has
always been more than just a building, but a faith family. On display was
a model of our chapel as it is today made by Mrs. Virginia Myers.
During our
morning worship service Rev. Herbert Owen led us in the blessing and
rededication of the Tuckston United Methodist Chapel