TALBOT COUNTY GA Church Evans Chapel - 1828 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by hpond@alltel.net Bruce and Helen Pond EVANS CHAPEL METHODIST CHURCH One hundred eighty-two years [1828] have passed since the first church was built on the old stage coach road between Macon and Chalybeate Springs, Georgia in a picturesque spot surrounded by large shade trees. The building was a wooden frame one room building. For these pioneers the log cabins they lived in was not good enough for their house of God. Huge Pine logs were cut on the mountain and dragged to the site where they were hewed into 1 ft by 1ft by 60ft beams that support the church to this day. The lumber for the rest of the church was hand sawed on the site or hauled in from near Thomaston. Nails were hand forged and pegs made to hold it all together. It was called the Meeting House in the early days and was used by both Methodist and Baptist denominations for services. Evans Chapel being organized in 1828 was not until the General Conference of 1846 given its present name. It was named from one of the delegates at this meeting in Petersburg, Virginia who was Rev. James E. Evans of the Chattahoochee District. In 1867, Evans Chapel was admitted to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. At this time the land was transferred to the trustees of Evans Chapel up to this time everyone know it was church ground but it wasn't legal so this corrected that. It was first on the Talbot Circuit. Rev. C. A. Fulford was appointed to this circuit in 1866 at the first meeting of the South Georgia Conference held in Americus. The first pastor that we have record have was Rev. Carley in 1869. During the Civil War, Mr. A. C. McCoy's grandfather, Rev. George Clark, served this church. Mr. John Panmour states he joined the church in 1871 under Uncle Tommy Maddox, the great-grandfather of the Kendrick children. Records show that the church had a Sunday School in 1872. By 1876 we find that the church services were held every fourth Sunday afternoon. The first organ was bought in 1900 with the late Mrs. J.J. Pound as their organist. Her daughter, the late Miss Annie Lou Pound followed until her death in 1967. The late Mrs. Esther Patrick was then pianist followed by the granddaughter of Mrs. J. J. Pound, Miss Emily Ruth Pound. Mrs. J. J. Pound also organized the Missionary Society in 1904 of which she became President. By 1921 the membership increased to 32. For eight years (1929- 1937) there was a decrease. By the next year (1938) twelve new members were added. During the early spring of 1929 while Rev. B. E. Whittington was pastor, services were discontinued for eight years and the building was not used. Plans were made to sell it, however, it was not sold and again plans were made to repair the building. It seemed that God was truly with us for never before was money raised so easily and everybody had a mind to work. In 1949, a new roof, well, pump and electricity were added. By 1960, the kitchen equipment, dining area and other projects were underway which will continue the long history and growth of this old church. In 1972 a new Christian Flag and a United States Flag were added, also a large cross. In 1974 the church was carpeted. In the 1980's we have dug a new well, put in new water line, fans in the church, carpeted the front porch, sand blasted and painted the outside of the church, and new doors in the kitchen. In 1991 we replaced carpet on porch, repaired roof and pressure cleaned and painted front of church. Also in 1991 we put a new sign in front of church in memory of L.M. Kendrick and put ceiling fans in classroom and social hall in memory of Miss Pearl McCoy. Evans Chapel had a bit of hard times in the mid 1990s and closed for a few months. But we have came back strong and have a new Pavilion and wheel chair ramp as we start the new millennium. Following is a list of pastors that have served Evans Chapel Church: 1876 W. W. Stewart (Assist. J. W. Weston) 1878 J. M. Austin R. L. Honiker H. P. Myers James Carr 1886-89 Brown Morehouse 1890-93 W. C. Wade 1894-96 I. F. Griffith 1897-99 C. T. Clark 1903 W. E. Arnold 1904-06 W. C. Glynn 1907-09 J. M. Harrison 1910 W. S. Heath 1911 G. A. Teasly 1912 J. F. Snell 1913-14 A.G. Brewton 1917 H. L. Pearson 1918-21 B. A. Pafford 1922 J. E. Barnhill 1923-24 C. E. Dell 1925-26 C. L. Nease 1926-27 J. H. Stanford 1928 Marvin Vincent 1929 B. E. Whittington Conference was held in November of each year and Pastors moved in November of that year. 1936-38 C. C. Cliett 1938-40 J. H. Allen 1940-42 I. C. Walker 1942-46 C. D. Herrington 1946 W. S. McCleskey Conference was changed in 1947 and was held in June of each year and pastors were moved in June. 1947-48 W. S. McCleskey 1948-50 R. T. Padgett 1950-52 D. H. Williams 1952-56 W. R. Key 1956-60 H. G. McCrary 1960-62 Don Proctor 1962-63 R. E. Brown 1963-66 W. S. Jones 1966-70 C. P. Doughtis (moved in Oct. 1970) 1970-75 Graton Helms (came in Oct. 1970) 1975-80 John Mathis 1980-82 Steve Enterkin 1982-84 Paul Mosser 1984-87 David Ford 1987-89 Coleman Odum 1989- Rodney Porter 1997 Daniel Carbaugh 1998-present Robert Chappelle ======================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other presentation. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.