Virginia Avenue United Methodist Church

About us

 

A Brief History

 

           In the early 1880’s, a Sunday school class was organized by Miss Harriet King in her home at King’s Spring (1062 Oakland Drive) in Bristol, Tennessee. The class soon found a permanent home in Bare’s Chapel, nearby. Here church services were held on Sunday morning and the Sunday school met in the afternoons under the guidance of Mr. Dan Broce, Mr. George Bare, and Mr. G.W Wampler.  Mr. Poage Stone led the singing. Students came from King College to help carry on this work. At this time, King College was located at 500 Fifth Street, Bristol, Tennessee on the present site of Beecham Laboratories (King Pharmaceuticals).In 1900, Rev. John C. Cook became pastor. Attendance increased and plans were made to build a Methodist Church. A lot at Virginia Avenue and Lakeview Street was purchased and work started under Superintendent, Mr. Jake Hicks. Mr. Frank Follensbee was the Conference Architect. After the frame structure was completed, a great revival was held by Rev. Sexton “The Blacksmith Preacher”. Later a second revival was held by Mr. and Mrs. Saul. Many members were added to the church roll by these meetings.Charter members were: Mrs. Acquilla Leonard, Mr. and Mrs. G.W. Wampler, Miss Flora Wampler, Miss Nora Wampler, Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Jones, Mr. and Mrs. John Swiney, Mr. N.T. Moore, Mr. and Mrs. John W. Jones, Miss Emilene Godsey, Mr. & Mrs. I. M. Harkelroad. On November 17, 1912, during the morning service, the building caught fire and burned to the ground. Rev. J.W. Repass was preaching his sermon, “Upon This Rock, I will Build My Church”. The last song was “Jesus Savior Pilot Me”. The reed organ, the pulpit and most of the pews were carried out. Everything else was destroyed.Three lots were now purchased at Virginia Avenue and Cedar Street and a contract for a new building was entered into between Mr. Henry O’Dell and the Building Committee. The Trustee were: Mr. C.J. Richards, Mr. W.T. Neeley, Mr. G.W. Wampler, Mr. J.W. Riley, and Mr. John A. Harkleroad. The first service was held in the fall of 1913.This brick structure served the church well and the church grew. In 1945, during the pastorate of Rev. Arthur H. Jones, Jr., the congregation decided to build a new sanctuary. The plans were furnished by Architects, Barber and McMurray of Knoxville, Tennessee. The plans followed strictly the lines of a typical English Parish Church, one of the finest pieces of architecture at the time. Hand-made sand finished brick meeting the required standards were hauled from Butler, Tennessee for the interior. The town of Butler lay in the basin of the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Lake Watauga and was being torn down. Many brick came from the old Watauga Academy. Work continued with volunteer labor until 1953, when, during the pastorate of Rev. Gleaves Farmer, a contract was awarded to Mr. Lewis Ager to complete the sanctuary. This work was completed in 1954 and the Consecration Service was held by Rev. Glenn Boye.

 

     We have proudly been serving God and our community since!!!!