Church History, Custer Church of God/Memorial Chapel: Breckinridge County, Kentucky *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org *********************************************************************** Church History, Custer Church of God/Memorial Chapel: Breckinridge County, Kentucky Copyright c 2003 by Dana Brown. This copy contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives. BrieSkate@aol.com [Article written by Lovera Lynch Preston, daughter of Rev. Lynch and niece of Rev. Harrington, was donated to the Breckinridge County Archives on November 1, 1996.] The church had its beginning in 1906 when a young man by the name of Wesley Harrington, who was born and raised at Custer, Ky., was converted and began preaching. He conducted his first revival at High Plains, Ky. People came in wagons, buggies, on horseback and on foot just to hear him. He held services in homes, brusharbors, store buildings and tabernacles. He later engaged in evangelistic work across the nation before retiring. In 1939, while Rev. Harrington was traveling, Katie Mae Lynch started an open air Sunday school near her home. This continued for nine years. In 1947, the late Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Bennett donated a parcel of land on which to erect a church building. The deed for this ground is recorded at Hardinsburg, Ky. On February 14, 1947, Rev. Harrington along with his wife, Phoebe, and Rufus and Katie Mae Lynch begin clearing the underbrush and getting the ground ready for construction. Along with Bro. Harrington, Rufus Lynch, and Veo Lynch, were many other in the community who helped in building the church. They erected a one room building at an estimated cost of $2500.00. The first service was conducted on September 7, 1947. Sister Pheobe Harrington played the pump organ and led the first song, "There Is A Fountain Filled With Blood". Sister Katie Mae Lynch offered the first prayer and Bro. Wesley Harrington delivered the first sermon using Psalms 90:1 and John 17:11 as his scriptures. Attendance on that first Sunday was approximately fifty. The first prayer meeting was held by Sis. Pheobe Harrington. October 5-26, 1947, Sis. Mildred Edens, Evangelist, from Monticello, Indiana, held the first revival. Large crowds attended every night. The building was much too small to accommodate all who came. Good attention and interest was manifested. Eight soulds professed faith in Christ and four were sanctified. The church began to grow and became an influence in the Custer community. The church building is known as Memorial Chapel, First Church of God and is located one mile east of Custer, Ky. on Highway #86. The name "Memorial Chapel" was selected by Rev. and Mrs. Harrington for two reasons. One reason was in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Johnnie Bennett who donated the ground for the building. The second reason was because a large donation was given from the James Church of God in Texhoma, Oklahoma in memory of Sister Katie Mae Lynch's mother, Mrs. Annie Minter Tosh. Rev. Harrington was the pastor from September 7, 1947 to December 11, 1949. Rev. Katie Mae Lynch succeeded Rev. Harrington on December 18, 1949 and continued in this pastorate until September 1, 1961. As the need arose, four Sunday school rooms were added during the pastorate of Sis. Lynch. These rooms were added in November of 1957 at a coust of $1647.00. The next pastor was Rev. Brice Casey from September 8, 1961 until June 1, 1964. The parsonage was built by Bro. Casey in 1962. The estimated value of the parsonage was $9,000.00. A dedication service was held on May 31, 1964 with Bro. Forest Robinson of Madisonville, Ky. The songleader for the service was Larry Reynolds of Louisville, Ky. Rev. Gary Shoemaker succeeded Brice Casey from July 20, 1964 until April 12, 1965. Rev. David Ball came to the pastorate July 21, 1965 and continued until June 22, 1967. During this time the acoustic tile was put on the ceiling of the church and wood paneling on the walls. This was a big improvement in the building. Rev. Elvin Cox began his pastorate at Custer August 7, 1967. A gas heating system was installed and new hardwood floors. A new pulpit and altar were added and new pews ordered. The Sunday school rooms were papered and a new Baldwin piano was purchased in February of 1968 at a cost of $625.00. The congregation was very thankful for all the improvements. Bro. Cox left the church in August of 1968. Rev. Homer Snyder became the next pastor for the congregation October 25, 1968. While Rev. Snyder was pastor, the front doors of the church were widened and a concrete walk and porch were laid. A gas furnace was installed in the parsonage. September 30, 1973, Bro. James Cobb assumed the pastorate. Improvements made while Bro. Cobb was at Custer included a porch built over the back steps and purchase of an electric organ for $1450.05. Sister Eva Hair donated new carpet for the sanctuary and Mr. and Mrs. K.Y. Dowell and Raymond Capps donated carpeting for the parsonage living room and hallway. New electrical wiring was installed, a radio broadcast and church newspaper were started. A sound system bought by the Gospel Voices, Lajuana Conn, LoVera Preston, and Audrey Basham, was set up in the church for use during the services. During Bro. Cobb's pastorate an addition was started on the church building at an estimated cost of $10,000.00. A new well was dug to help eleviate the water problems. Paneling was put in the living room of the parsonage and a divider cut out in the wall between the living room and kitchen. The parking lot was extended. Rev. Norman "Pete" Phelps succeeded Bro. Cobb from January 1, 1979 to August 12, 1979. On September 9, 1979, Rev. Raymond Capps became pastor. While Bro. Capps was pastor, padded pews were added to the sanctuary, indoor bathrooms were put in, and the new addition to the sanctuary was completed. Bro. Capps left September 6, 1981. Rev. Carl Mann began pastoring the church December 3, 1981 and stayed until November 20, 1983. Bro. Mann and several from the church built a covered wagon and made it look like a brusharbor. The wagon was entered in the Custer Days parade to represent the church. A pulpit and benches were in the wagon and the congregation rode and sang hymns. The wagon won the first place ribbon. Other pastors of the church are as follows: Rev. Thomas Denney - Dec. 1983 to Feb. 2, 1985;Rev. Elvin Cox returned to pastor from Feb. 1985 to January, 1986, but had to resign due to poor health reasons. Rev. Arvin "Bob" Cordle filled in as pastor from Jan. 1, 1986 to Dec. 1986. While Bro. Cordle was here new cabinets were put in the basement fellowship room and an electric range was donated to the church. Rev. David Ball returned for a second pastorate from Jan. 13, 1987 to Sept. 1, 1991. Rev. Ronald Moening succeeded Bro. Ball on March 26, 1992 until Nov. 13, 1994. While Bro. Moening was pastor the outside light was put over the basement steps and a holding tank for water was installed by Randall Sheroan. The property line between the church and Howard Allgood was surveyed. Rev. Raymond Capps began his second pastorate March 25, 1995 and continues at this date. Improvements made during this time are: a steeple was put on the church, new steps to the basement, a new carpet runner down the aisle of the sanctuary, a new church sign erected in front of the church, air conditioners installed, and new songbooks have been purchased. The church will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. *********************************************************************** USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ***********************************************************************