Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church
A Brief History
According to information collected from various senior citizens once living in the area we've come to the conclusion that this church can attribute its beginning as one of the early schools in the late 1800s. The only documented teacher known to hold school sessions for about four months annually is Professor White. A few of the students who attended at that time are from these families: Calvin & Mary Jane Stewart, Bob & Ann P. Fornea, Joe & Mary Stewart, Albert & Lizzie Stuart Amacker, Bill & Pharzinah Baughman and Thomas & Susan Turnipseed Boone.
The original building located about 1/2 mile south, across Hwy 43, was a lumber structure covered with hand hewn boards. Inside was a small rostrum with a hand made pulpit on either side. The choir was located behind the pulpit and on each side of the rostrum with the entire congregation singing along. Bringing the congregation into the presence of the Lord through the beautiful music on the pump organ were Musette Boon, Ida Fornea, and Beatrice Fornea. Joe "Cottonhead" Stewart let the congregation in lifting up their voices in praise to the Lord. Although he was a member of Bethel Baptist Church, he was welcomed with open arms for there were about as many Baptists as Methodists who attended here at Wesley. Throughout the years many organists and pianists have blessed our congregation some of which include Louise Smith Hamlett, Hazel Fornea Amacker, and Hilda Boone Seal.
The first Sunday School Superintendent was Hilton W. Fornea in the 1920s. Joe Griffin and Clara Stewart were faithful in teaching Sunday School. Following the early retirement of H.W. Fornea Wesley Chapel was blessed in having the leadership of Jack Mobley as Superintendent for many years followed by Billy Walley, whose parents, Lloyd and Cecil Walley continued to be leaders in the activities of Wesley Chapel.
The original building was torn down circa 1926 and the present building erected. Burt Seal supervised the construction utilizing some of the windows from the old Stewart School. Hugh L. White and the L.O. Crosby family donated lumber at the request of Ida Rawls Ford & Louise Stewart Burge and H.W. Fornea. The H.H. Stewart family graciously donated the land. Another portion of land, including the cemetery was later given by Argie Stewart. The formal dedication of the new facility was delivered by the residing pastor, The Reverend Warren Pittman.
At present, 2011, The Reverend Larry Pickering is pastor, Mrs. Janet Amacker is the Church Treasurer, Mr. Richard Amacker conducts the order of service weekly in our Sunday services. Mrs. Sandra Wheat graciously serves as our pianist during our Homecoming Celebrations. After being Church Treasurer for over fifty years Mrs. Cecil Walley continues to play an active part in all of the activities of Wesley Chapel United Methodist Church.
