THE HISTORY OF CLARK CHAPEL

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Exactly when someone picked up paper and coal to record the first chapter of my illustrious history, no one knows. Records do reveal that my first pages, then entitled Clark Chapel Episcopal Methodist Church, were printed in the latter part of 1878.

Through the years there have been many who’ve authored my chapters: N.J. Ross, R.W. Sutton, J.W. Queen, L. Norwood, S. Clark, G.W. Ransom, Marchman Baxton, B.F. Griggs, and W.M. Beaton.  J.C. Neal served as chief author from 1974 to 2006 (32 years). Charles McCaskey served as the only associate author I have had.  All have shown excellent penmanship in writing and choosing co-authors, thus I have remained on reading charts through two major world wars, the Depression of the 1930’s, the Conflict of the 1950’s, Reaganism of the 1980’s and Terrorism and the Bush administration of this new century.

Several interesting chapters were written about me during the 1980’s. Top among these are the chapters relating the woes of another book about Christianity that couldn’t sell because its authors had run out of new materials. Rather than lose those Christian authors, they were incorporated into helping write chapters about me. This chapter is appropriately called “The Scott Chapel Story.”

Another chapter during this decade pertains to the reinforcing of my pages. Although I had been renovated in 1911 under the authorship of Rev. N.J. Ross, they had been ripped and torn, so sheet rock was pasted and taped to reinforce them. Also, coal as an ink smeared and was becoming obsolete, therefore the authors turned to gas as a means of warming my pages with ink.

The chapters of the 60’s basically authored by Rev. B. F. Griggs were preceded by the one labeled “Sunday School.” Rev. Griggs asked Mr. Loomis Marcus to be co-author. As co-author, Mr. Marcus wrote tales of how giving candy in Sunday school and fruit to the elderly and children at Christmas became traditions. With funds brought with them, this chapter also tells of a station wagon that was bought to bring children to Sunday school from the Moreland area.

Revealing further information about me is the chapter called “Unity Brings Name Change.” When two North Georgia Conferences merged in the 1970’s my title was no longer the Clark Chapel Episcopal Methodist Church. Instead, I became Clark Chapel United Methodist Church.

A book’s worth is judged by the wear and tear of its pages and binding; and believe me, I was pretty worn. In the latter part of the 1970’s my binding finally broke.  Rather than send me to the publisher to be rebound, the author at this time, Rev. J.C. Neal, along with several co-authors felt that a new edition would be necessary. No longer would I have the paperback cover; I’d be leather.  No longer would the windows of my pages fan me; I’d be conditioned.  All remnants of the old parsonage were torn down, no longer to be written about.  Mr. Al Waters wrote the words for this chapter.  So, in 1978, a new me was set to be printed and released in June 1979.  Now a new edition, I can boast of many chapters that have been written.  I’m composed of not only the fore mentioned chapters, but ones on the United Methodist Men, the United Methodist Women, the Junior and Senior Choirs, the Youth and the Junior and Senior Ushers, each uniquely writing about the parts they’ve played in my existence.

For instance, the youth wrote on installing a phone, the choir on how to purchase a piano and an organ, the United Methodist Women on sitting on comfortable pews, and the United Methodist Men a clean church yard.  In the later 1990’s, a sound system was installed in the sanctuary.  Just as I thought, the author Rev. J.C. Neal was not content to let my chapters end for in the latter part of 2001 another chapter was written that should be appropriately called “The Annex.”  In this chapter information can be found on the renovations that took place.  The previous kitchen and fellowship hall area became three Sunday school classrooms with the addition of a restroom for the pastor’s study.  The extension houses a fellowship hall, kitchen, conference room, storage room and restrooms. Also, old windows were replaced with stained glass ones, and the sanctuary was re-carpeted.  A footnote to this chapter states that the pews were padded.

From July 2006 until June 2008, Rev. Nichole Middleton served as author. As this chapter ended, another chapter about me began in June 2008. Serving as author was Rev. Marlon Simpson. During his authorship, I saw the hand of God move miraculously through me. God blessed this author and his co-authors to embark on several new ministries to further uplift His Kingdom. Pages added to this chapter pertain to The Senior Ministry, The Nursing Home Visitation Ministry, The Children’s Church Ministry, The Praise Dance Ministry, The Clark Newsletter and last but certainly not least, Full-Time Service. In the Mission and Outreach Ministry, the Holy Spirit guided the authors to participate in the Methodist Makeovers in which six homes received some necessary repairs. All of this took place in 2009.  However, 2010 was filled with a drastic change - my yard was paved.  No longer dreaded mud hidden by grass, but black asphalt lined with yellow parking spaces along with a fountain and flower garden with paving bricks memorializing and honoring family members and friends.

Change in authorship occurred in June 2015 when Rev. Alphonso T. Smith began writing.  With him as the author a chapter on technology is being written.  Even though I previously had telephone internet service, I am now powered by Wi-Fi and not only that, but video televisions in the sanctuary and fellowship hall were installed in the Spring of 2016.  Also, during 2016, the music ministry expanded to consist of the Adult Choir, The Men Choir and the Youth and Young Adult Choir.  To make it more convenient for serving food, a sliding window was installed on the serving counter in 2018 and a storage building was placed on the grounds during 2019.  With the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic causing churches to forgo in-person worship services for a period, sermons from my pulpit have also become virtual using Face Book and phone conference.  In July 2024, Rev. Marlon Simpson was called to write again in my book. Most books have a beginning and an ending. I don’t. I began long ago, but there is no end in sight.  With the onset of the COVID Pandemic causing churches to forgo Presently, my Anniversary is being observed. I have been ripped and torn.  I’ve been taped and glued, and I have been bounded again. But I’ve had Christian authors and co-authors that have lived what they have written. Because this is true, I continue to be a best seller.

To be continued