Churches of Kittrell, Tennessee

Haynes Chapel Methodist Church

In the summer of 1884, the noted Methodist Evangelist, Sam P. Jones of Cartersville, Georgia, conducted a revival in Murfreesboro. There was a large number of converts. Among them was a group of people living seven and eight miles east of Murfreesboro on the Woodbury Pike.

A movement was started then to build a church in the community. J. C. Haynes bought an acre of land from W. M. Freeman and gave it for the church. In 1887 the Haynes Chapel Church was built. The trustees were: J. C. Haynes, John Coleman, R. N. Justice, W. M. Rogers, James Weeks, John A. Collier, J. B. Palmer, and W. T. Overall.

The people in the community gave their time, labor, money and logs. The church was dedicated in August, 1887. Rev. W. M. Rogers preached the dedication sermon. A large crowd was in attendance. There was "dinner on the ground," an afternoon and evening service, and many more were added to the church that day. The original church was built of donated logs and lumber. The roof was handmade of wooden shingles. The windows had wooden blinds. There was an aisle on each side of the house, one for the men, the other for the women, with no middle aisle. There was a mourner's bench in front of the pulpit. A partial list of the early pastors were:

During this time fifty-five people were added to the church, and within the next few years twenty-six more were added. Mr. Dave Macon and Mr. George Cranor made up money for a church organ and Bible.

Mr. J. K. Lee was pastor from 1907-1909, and during that time he organized the first children's program.

From 1919 to 1922 Rev. H. E. Baker was pastor. While he was there the Epworth League with fifty members was organized. A new roof was put on and thirty-one new members were added. For many years the Seventh Day Adventist Church paid two dollars and a half per month rent for use of the church on Saturday.

Due to the rotation plan of the Methodist Church conference, pastors usually serve two or three years. In 1953 Rev. O. H. Lane came back after several years absence for a second pastorate.

In 1960 the last charter member of the church, Mrs. L. D. Bowling, died at the age of eighty-nine. Some of the older members of the church living today are Mrs. Lizzie Early, Mr. and Mrs. Will Weeks, Miss Bertha Puryear, and Mrs. Lizzie Saums.

During the last few years many improvements have been made to the building. Mr. Archie Macon wired it and put in electric lights, heat has been changed from coal to gas, the floor has been sanded, new seats and pulpit furniture purchased, concrete steps have been added, and rock siding has been put on the outside.

In 1958 the members of the church built a parsonage on the lot adjoining the church and the entire area was landscaped. Rev. Leon Harris is the present pastor, and the membership is now approximately one hundred and twenty-five.

(Sources: Mrs. Wendel Stegall, Mrs. Ruby Jennings, Mrs. Will Weeks, and Misses Mamie Sue and Lou Benson.)

Seed Tick-Hickory Grove Baptist Church

It is not known when a log house was built for a Negro church and school in the woods on the side of Tinch Hill.

It was called "Seed Tick" Baptist Church, and was the only Negro church and school in the east end of Rutherford County. It is likely that it was built near the time of 'the Civil War. Alice Wright's daughter remembers her mother, who was born in 1867, telling her about walking as a child, three miles to Seed Tick school and sitting on logs for seats.

No record or remembrance has been found of the early ministers, but Mr. Frank Ferguson is remembered as being one of the early teachers. Other teachers were: Cordie Douglas, Mattie Crockett, and Frank Knight.

The log house was later torn down, and a frame building was erected at the same place.

Children came from many miles to school there until bus routes were established. Children were then taken to Woodbury and Murfreesboro.

From the beginning church services were held on the first Sunday in each month with revivals in the summer. Baptizings were conducted in Stones River below the bridge at Readyville.

Early pastors remembered were: Bro. Will Henderson, Bro. Les Womack, and Bro. George Hughes. Elders were Zeke Brandon, Bud Brandon, and John Knight. Deacons were Cas Brandon and Oda Brandon. Church Mothers were Ruthy Davis who walked seven or eight miles from Bradyville and seldom missed a service and Delia Knight.

In 1938 a lot was bought near the highway at the foot of Peak's Hill and a new church was built. The name was changed to "Hickory Grove."

As they were moving into the new church. Aunt Delia Knight, who was born in 1866, said, "I wonder who will have the first funeral?" It was hers in a few weeks. Rev. A. F. Murray was the pastor. She was buried in the Helton Cemetery at the foot of Pilot Knob where most of the members have been buried. Other members were:

Within recent years the house has been improved by installing electric lights and gas heat and painting inside and outside.

Some of the present members are:
Pastor, Rev. John Wiser.
Deacons: Gilbert Brandon, Jim Henry Newsom, Luther Russell.
Teacher: Andrew Dunn.

Church Mothers: Willie Swafford, Willie Bell Dunn.

Among other members are: Lawyer Brandon, Amanda Brandon, Lorelle Brandon, Anne Dunn, Aline Newsom, Jerry Newsom, Audie Robinson, Alpha Knight Robinson, Lizzie Weatherly. (Sources: Church Record Book; interviews with Mrs. Willie Swafford, Mrs. Willie Belle Dunn, and Mrs. Alpha Robinson.)

Science Hill

Science Hill was the second Church of Christ organized in Rutherford County.

Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone came to Rutherford County in the early thirties (1832-33) and organized groups which were known as the Christian Church.

Alexander Campbell stayed in Murfreesboro, but Barton W. Stone went out into the country. He met with Andrew Carnahan and David Barton Hall in a log house on David Hall's place. They accepted his explanation and theory of the "Back-to-the-Bible" Restoration Movement. They and their families were baptized and started the church there.

They met every Sunday for worship in that log house, and Andrew Carnahan would spend the entire day reading and studying the Bible with all who wanted to hear. They soon had a considerable congregation.

About the time of the Civil War that building burned and a larger one was built on a hill nearer the Stage Road on Franklin Hall's farm. It was also used for a school. This building burned in the 1880's, and a still larger two-story building was erected to serve as a church, school, and lodge hall.

As the school enrollment increased the curriculum expanded from reading, writing, and arithmetic to include science and several other academic areas. It was from the interest in science that it came to be called "Science Hill Academy". Although it became the largest and most outstanding school in the eastern part of Rutherford County, it was equally well known as a Christian Church.

As the Kittrell and Readyville schools developed. Science Hill stopped being a school, but it continued to grow as a church. The building deteriorated as the years passed, and in 1950 Mr. Claiborn Harrell offered to give an acre of ground in front of the Kittrell High School if they would move the church down there.

The offer was accepted, and the old building was torn down. Much of its material was found to be in good condition. A new, modern brick building was erected, which has rafters, joists, and sub-floor made from the old building. This became the fourth building to serve the congregation in the one hundred and forty years of its existence, and although it is now nearly two miles from the hill where it was started in 18 33, the church will always be called "Science Hill."

The Bateys, Beasleys, Bowlings, Breashears, Carnahans, Craigs, Dunns, Earlys, Halls, Hoovers, Kittrells, Richardsons, Smiths, Travises, Wilsons, Yourees, were among the early members. The fourth generation of some of these families still attend church there.

Among the early ministers were: J. L. Bryant, Jesse Sewell, F. B. Shrygley, W. H. Sutton, T. B. Larimore, E. A. Elam, J. W. Shepherd who held a meeting every other summer for fifty years. C. M. Pullias alternated with Bro. Shepherd in his last years. Science Hill never had a full-time minister until after World War II. Joe Netherland began preaching monthly in 1941 and has been the full-time minister since his military service ended in 1946.

Among the early elders were: Frederick Craig, Franklin Hall, Andy Hoover, W. H. Smith.

Elders today are: Mose Boyd, Roscoe Brown, Jim Laws, Ed Parnell, Mac Wilson, and Arthur Young.

Deacons are: Ray Donnell, Robert Adams, Fay Upton, William H. Walkup, and Gentry Whitworth. Secretary-Treasurer: Ray Arnold.

(Source: Church records; Goodspeed's History of Tennessee.)

Wilson Hill Baptist Church

In 1850 a Baptist Church was established at the foot of a hill west of Pilot Knob owned by an early settler named Wilson. The charter named it "Wilson Hill Baptist Church of Christ." J. J. Jackson was the Pastor, and a record shows the charter members to be Ed Crosslin, John Cross, Jane Croslin, Mary (Polly) Cross, Rachel Burnett, Jane Mullins, and Emaline Gillum. The church was burned with all the other records.

A new house was built in 1865 and most complete records have been kept from that date to the present time except from 1900-1913. No records are in the books for that period. The church met in conference July, 1865, and elected Jesse Jonnigan (later spelled Jernigan) Pastor and Moderator. He held this position until 1886.

Deacons elected at that time were Henry Arnett and Thomas J. Burnett. Henry Mullins was elected Clerk. He continued to be church clerk until his death in August, 1868. At that time Ichabod Daniel was appointed to take his place.

On November 27, 1868, he wrote "I. B. Daniel this day returns this book to his beloved Brother George T. Brandon. So, farewell beloved brothers and sisters." A letter of dismissal was given him November 28, 1868. He must have moved from the community.

George T. Brandon continued as clerk from 1868 until 1898. He was ordained a deacon in 1884.

In 1900 T. A. Jamison was the clerk, but there is no record of who followed him until 1913 when R. P. Wilson became a clerk. Others following were A. R. Hoover, Thomas Hoover, Gaither Hoover, and Mrs. Louise McElroy.

Pastors and Moderators

A Pastor was elected by the church conference to preach monthly and moderate at the business meetings.

A visiting minister was invited to assist with an annual protracted meeting, or revival, in the summer.

Members
Complete records were kept of the members as they came into the church, by experience, baptism, or by letter. The following is a partial list of some of the early members:

Female members were listed separately from the male. Among them was a Negro woman named Sely Wright.

Although the house was built over a hundred years ago, it is in excellent condition today having recently been remodeled and modernized by paneling, painting, storm doors, electric lighting, and gas heat.

The present Pastors and Moderators are: W. C. Banks, Artie Roberts, and Clyde Roberts.

Deacons are: Malcolm Pitts and Charlie Bryson. Clerk: Mrs. Louise McElroy.

Delegates: Charles Bryson, Malcolm Pitts, Thurman Pitts.

Kittrell | Rutherford County | Tennessee

Source: Rutherford County Historical Society, Publication No. 2, winter, 1973.
(Sources: Church record books; interviews with Thomas Hoover, Mrs. Louise McElroy, and Mrs. Gaither Hoover.)