Fenholloway Methodist

By A. E. Jackson

The Fenholloway Methodist Church was organized November 13, 1903 at Fenholloway Springs by J. L. Yates, Pastor and Presiding Elder T, J. Nixon and A. W. Wilson, Bishop. There were fourteen charter members: William J Hiers and wife, Sarah H, Hiers; Francis M. Houck; William J. Coleman and his wife, Mary E. Coleman; James M. Carlton; Charles B. McLeod and his wife Julia D. McLeod; W. M. Wigglesworth and his wife Eugenia Wigglesworth and daughter, Emily Wigglesworth; George W. Swain; Annie Prophitt; and Nina S. Dorsey.

When the church was first organized there was no house for worship. Worship services were held in the Fenholloway Springs building, a store then owned by one of the members, Francis M. Houck, and in the Fenholloway school building which had just been built.

During the pastorate of Rev. Thomas B. Hendry nine new members were added to the church and the plans for a new church were made. In 1905 a church site was given by W. J. Hiers and wife, and Davis Cumbee, a contractor awarded the contract to build the church. U. S. Tabor was pastor at the time and they succeeded in completing the church without any indebtedness.

John R. Kelly was one of the early members who gave faithful service to the church. He worked very hard keeping up the work for the church, He had the idea of buying a dwelling of Mr. Chap Tedder and wife, and converting it into a parsonage.

The Fenholloway Church was first connected with the church in Perry. Perry got three Sundays a month and Fenholloway got one. Then Fenholloway became the head of the circuit known as the Fenholloway Mission. The churches on the circuit were Fenholloway, New Hope, Providence, Daytown in Lafayette County, and New Harmony in Suwannee County, Spingdale, Scanlon, Carbur and some of the time Shady Grove.

On September 4, 1935 the church was badly damaged by a storm. Donations were secured and the church was repaired and painted inside and out.

The following were ministers of the Fenholloway Methodist Church: J. L. Yates in 1903 only one month, Thomas B. Hendry in 1903, U. S. Tabor in 1905, R. N. Sanders in 1906, A. L. Woodard in 1907, H. Hoffman 1908, W. M. Scarborough in 1909, G. W. Wesley in 1910, D. G. McDaniel in 1911, J. P. Bazemore in 1912, J. L. Hunter in 1913, Fred B. Lankford in 1916, M. M. Lord in 1917, John P. Gains in 1918, Glaxier Hendry also 1918, L. W. Higgs in 1919, H. B. Boyd in 1920, H. M. Harrison in 1921, James M. Parker in 1923, C. C. Tyler in 1924, D. Lee Jones in 1924-28, J. R. Gilbert in 29-30, W. W. Robins, P. K. Rowell, J. M. Watts, J. W. Wyrick, J. A. Cullifer in 1931-34 and again 1935-37, F. H. Champion and William L. Windsor in 1938.

A notation on top of this document indicated the church closed in 1958.