The Hills of Habersham by Mary L. Church Published by Mary L. Church * Clarkesville, Georgia Copyright 1962 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 62-16516 Printed in the United States of America by Foote and Davies, Inc. Atlanta Clarkesville Methodist Church In March, 1831, Col James Brannon donated to the Methodist denomination a conveniently located lot (now the old cemetery) on which to erect a church to be used by all denominations. This donation was entrusted to a Board of Trustees composed of John B. Chappell, Reuben Phillips and 'Turner H. Trippe. After this generous gift, other citizens lent a helping hand toward the erection of a building. They were: John S. Dobbins, William H. Alley, Richard Powell, Col. William H. Steelman, Thomas Fayette, John J. Chitwood, Judge Turner H. Trippe, William Goodrum, Hezekiah Dyer, John Fuller, James Griggs, Sidney Barr, Dr. W. J. Rusk and others. The following picture has been passed down to us of the lovely church that once stood, "amid the majestic oaks which Shadowed the resting place of our dead" The walls of the building were white, while the woodwork and old-fashioned benches were in "plain drab coloring." A gallery ran along three sides of the church which provided for the colored people so that they could hear the Word of God. Two rows of windows gave light in the daytime; one above for the benefit of the gallery, and one below for the benefit of the main church. At night the building was lighted by candles which the sexton borrowed from house to house. One aisle down the center of the church led to the altar, and the old-time pulpit where the Word of God was proclaimed by such heralds of the cross as the Reverends Ballew, Walter Knox, William Evans, Walter B.Glenn, John H. Harris, J.P. Turner, William Lively, A.M. Clants, Theophilus Harwell, T.T. Christian, L.J. Davies, A.M. Thigpen, R.W. Bigham, Others who were either pastors or presiding elders were: Reuben Phillips, George H. Round (Principal of Academy). Thomas B. Wheeler, Abraham Littlejohn, John L. and William Richardson. The circuit for some years reached from Mossy Creek campground to Rehoboth Church near Tray mountain on the North and west on to Tugalo River on the South a distance of 40 miles, including Soque Campground, Nacoochee and Clarkesville and in later years Loudesville and Cool Springs Campgrounds. As years passed by other worthy soldiers of the Cross were; Norris, Hicks, Byrd, Richardson, Hunt, McMillan, Lambert, Addison, Harris, Porter and others. From the records of the Quarterly Conference we learn that in 1859 a committee was appointed to buy or build a parsonage. A comfortable house was purchased in the early part of 1860, and in March of that year trustees for the same were appointed. They were: Robert McMillan , John C. Addison, Edwin P. Williams, Levi F. Young and John G. Porter. During the dark days of the War Between the States and the years that followed, these were some of the men who served as pastors: W.P. Pledger, F.G. Hughes, John R. Parker and G.W. Yarborough. In 1881 during the pastorate of Rev. W.W. Lampkin, the church was moved to the present site. It was dedicated in 1882 during the pastorate of J.H. Baxter. The Rev. W.D. Anderson and Rev. W. P. Lovejoy served the church during this period. The first Quarterly Conference of the Clarkesville Circuit of the Methodist Church was held in 1899 in Clarkesville. The churches comprising the circuit were: Clarkesville, Turnerville, New Liberty and Alley's Chapel. In 1901 a new church was built. It was built under the pastorate of the Rev. J.D. Milton and Mr. J.D. Lambert was the contractor. During the thirty-eight years the building stood, there were only four weddings. Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Wilson; Mr. and Mrs. Howell Edwards; Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Stewart, Sr.; and Mr. and Mrs. H.C. Stovall, who had a double wedding ceremony; and Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Gay. In 1902 a new pastorium was built. Since 1900 the following pastors have served the field: Gober, Searcy, Simmons, Fox, Rory, Jordan, Strickland, Pander and L. B. Lynn. Mr. Lynn stayed on this charge for nine years. At the time he was here he had the following churches: Clarkesville, Demorest, Habersham Mill, Cool Spring, Alley's Chapel, New Liberty, Turnerville and Ebenezer. He was the first pastor to stay more than four years. Since Lynn, the charge has been served by J.L. Harrison, J.G. Davis, O.J. Withrow, J.B. Smith, J.W. Garner, C. Hoke Sewell, W.F. Walden, Clyde Lee, J.B. Godfrey, J.H. Hearn and P.V. Hall. On April 3, 1938, the church burned one Sunday morning about 11;35 after Sunday School was dismissed. During the months that followed the Sunday School met in the Courthouse, the preaching service in the Baptist Church and the evening service in the Presbyterian Church. The building was replaced as soon as possible. A very progressive spirit prevails in this church. The Church keeps growing. Its present membership is around 315. J.C. ================= There are no records to indicate when a Methodist Church was organized in Clarkesville. The first recorded date is March 1831 when Colonel James Brannon donated a lot in what is now the Old Clarkesville Cemetery to the Methodist Church On this lot was to be erected a building to be used by all denominations. The donation was entrusted to a Board of Trustees., John B Chappell, Rhebin Phillips, Turner H Trippe. A wood building was erected . It was wood with an inside gallery for the slaves to worship. There were two sets of windows, one for the gallery and one for the main floor. The building had a center isle and was lighted by candles collected by the sexton from different households. In 1860 a parsonage was built or bought on Washington Street. In 1881 the Church was removed to Washington Street. It was dedicated in 1882. It has suffered several fires but in 2000 it had 400 members Vicky"