Welcome
to St. Paul Church, Seymour
OUR HISTORY BEGINS WITH TRUNDLE'S CROSSROADS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH (SOUTH)
The Little River Circuit Quarterly Conference record books are housed at Emory and Henry
College in Virginia, and contain many references to the church at Trundle’s Crossroads.
The congregation met as early as November 2, 1854 at the home of Daniel L. Trundle.
The first pastor was Rev. John Bowman, who rode a horse among the three churches that
he pastored (Trundles, Beersheba, and Waylands). As was the custom in those days,
a church met in the home of a member in the absence of a church building.
At the annual charge conference of New Salem Methodist Episcopal Church in Knox County
on June 16, 1855 is found the first reference to the building of a church at Trundle’s
Crossroads. The congregation of New Salem was asked to give financial support to the
congregation at Trundle’s Crossroads so that a church facility could be built.
The first trustees of Trundle’s were William T. Dowell, William Wayland, A. F. Smith,
Daniel L. Trundle, and Lewis Wayland.
It could be safely assumed that the building was completed by or after June 2, 1857,
as that was when the land was deeded to the church. The land on which the church and
some of the cemetery is located was deeded to the trustees of Trundle’s by Adam H. Keener
for $1.00. The deed stated that it contained, "One road and thirty perches of land,
more or less." It also stated that "The object of the foregoing purchase is that
the house that is built on the lot be a church for the worship of Almighty God for
the use of the minister and the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South."
The deed was witnessed by Othneil Whittle and Rev. James Cummings.
On July 4, 1857, L.C. Houk of Trundle’s Crossroads was licensed and ordained to preach
by the annual conference convening at the Shiloh Church. It is reliably known that the
first Sunday school at Trundle’s was formed in May of 1881. It has been believed by
many that our sanctuary was built in 1881, since that is the date on a commemorative
plate made by the ladies’ Sunday School Class of 1957, and gives the dates below the
picture of the church as 1881-1957. The years between 1855 and 1857 would
be a more accurate assumption of the age of the building. It is probable that the
dates given on the commemorative plate were the dates of the Sunday school at Trundle’s.
On April 28, 1897, J. L. Keener and J. E. Keener deeded a tract of land on the northern
side of the church property to be used for burial purposes. This was in addition to land
already used for that purpose.
A little known fact is that there is a slave cemetery just north of the Church cemetery.
This cemetery was used for the burial of slaves owned by a small handful of farmers in
the Boyd’s Creek area. It has been at least 65 years since anyone has been buried in that
area.
In later years, Mr. W. L. Conner donated extra land adjoining the main part of the
cemetery. On April 4, 1894, another tract bordering the Dr. J. C. Ellis line east of
the church property was deeded by the Keeners to the trustees of the church "to be used
for hitch racks, stile blocks, etc." In these early days of the church, before the
introduction of electric power to the area, it is known that the church was lighted by
a gas lighting system. The lights that were suspended from the ceiling burnt white gas,
under a pressurized system not unlike a Coleman lantern.
In 1943, land was excavated from underneath the church building so that a basement could
be constructed for use as a fellowship hall and classrooms. It was also about that time
that Mr. Wilson Trentham of Gatlinburg was hired to supervise the construction of new
exterior walls for the church, which were built from mountain rocks from the Dupont
Community of Sevier County.
Ground for a church parsonage was given by Alfred and Laura Jeffries in 1955, and the
new house was completed in that year. The Rev. Carl Ware was pastor during that time.
Under the Rev. Frank D. Smith’s pastorate in 1960 and 1961, extra rooms for Sunday school
classes were built on to the existing church building. Work on this project was done
mainly by the men of the church. New pews for the sanctuary were also installed during
that time. The pews had brass plaques attached in memory or honor of the people whose
donations purchased them; these plaques are in the possession of Seymour United Methodist
Church.
It was sometime during this era that the stained glass windows were added to the
auditorium. These were given in memory of church and family members. The names painted
on the windows have long since been washed off, but are recorded here so that they will
not be forgotten: R. M. Irwin, W. A. Jeffries, Laura Carter Jeffries, J. L. Keener
and family, and W. L. Conner and family.
In 1966, the church purchased their first organ, a Hammond spinet model, paying $400 down
and financing the balance through Valley Fidelity Bank. Carolyn Helton Thomas was the
organist for many years after that, and continued to play for the church after moving to
the new building at the Seymour United Methodist Church in the 1980's.
Little is known about attendance records from the early years of the church. In October
of 1911, there were 44 members. In April of 1941, there were 98 members, and in November
of 1979, there were 104 members.
In 1967, the church purchased a tract of land on Chapman Highway in Seymour for the future
construction of a new church building. This land was paid for by the small congregation
of Trundles, after many years of hard work and fund raising by holding art shows, rummage
sales, bake sales, and bazaars. In October of 1980, under Rev. Larry Carroll’s pastorate,
the congregation of Trundles made the painful decision to close their church, and
reorganize as the Seymour United Methodist Church. The group met at Holly Hills Funeral
Home and Memorial Park until the new building was completed in December 1982.
Larry Perry and Elmer Scarborough, active in the Sevierville Church of Christ, had wanted
to begin a new congregation for several years in the Seymour community. When the
congregation of Trundles left the building, the Church of Christ agreed to rent it for
$100 a month and $5 a month for each new family in attendance. This was on January 4,
1981.
When construction of the new Seymour United Methodist Church building was completed,
the men of the church removed the old gas lighting system from the attic of the old
Trundle’s building, along with the bell out of the belltower, which was later incorporated
into a sign for the new church building. It was at that time that the trustees of
Seymour United Methodist Church sold the old Trundle’s Crossroads Methodist Church
building to the trustees of Seymour Church of Christ.
For well over 100 years, our building housed the congregation of Trundle’s. It can be
safely assumed that this group met there many thousands of times for worship, the
christening of new-born children, the happiness of weddings, and the sadness of funerals.
Untold amounts of people were helped by their benevolence, and touched by their work in
the community. Trundle’s Crossroads Methodist Church will be long remembered by many
people.
Following is listed the known pastors of Trundle’s Crossroads Church. This list is in
order, as best as can be known.
Pastors serving Trundle’s before 1935 (not in consecutive order) were:
Rev. John Bowman, Rev. J. C. Bays, Rev. J. C. Dickey,
Rev. C. P. Davis, Rev. D. C. Carnes, Rev. David T. Miles,
Rev. William C. Dykes, Rev. G. W. Bell, Rev. H. V. Ogle,
Rev. C. H. Logan, Rev. J. C. McCampbell, Rev. E. R. Branum,
Rev. Browder, Rev. G. K. Patty, Rev. M. Pickford,
Rev. Earl C. Hayter, Rev. Thomas S. Walker, Rev. J. A. Ruble,
Rev. L. C. Houk, Rev. J. S. Petty, Rev. C. L. Kirby,
Rev. H. P. Johnson, Rev. W. L. Roberts, Rev. W. E. Graves,
Rev. J. T. Ware, Rev. J. S. Strange, Rev. L. O. Crowder,
Rev. L. B. Clark, Rev. A. B. Dennis, Rev. J. O. Cox,
Rev. F. P. Sanders, Rev. W. L. Russell, Rev. O. C. Michaels
Pastors serving Trundle’s from 1935 to 1980 (in consecutive order) were:
Rev. Thames,
Rev. Perry T. Rule,
Rev. Barnett,
Rev. C. L. Pickering,
Rev. Joe E. Baker,
Rev. George O’Harr, Jr.,
Rev. M. K. Province,
Rev. Vuture Sharp,
Rev. Carl Ware, Jr.,
Rev. John Jarvis,
Rev. Conner,
Rev. R. G. Palmer,
Rev. L. L. Jones,
Rev. Douglas Smith,
Rev. Lawrence Castle,
Rev. Mrs. G. C. Kirby,
Rev. E. Ross Sanders,
Rev. L. K. Sparks,
Rev. Wayne G. Campbell,
Rev. W. W. Riden,
Rev. August P.(Pete) Koster,
Rev. David H. Lovelace,
Rev. Mark C. Davis,
Rev. Sherman Starling,
Rev. Larry D. Carroll
TRUNDLE’S CROSSROADS CHURCH CEMETERY
When the property was sold in 1980, the cemetery was deeded to a group of trustees in the
community. The first person buried in the cemetery was Louis Wayland in 1871. Following
is a list of people buried in the cemetery who were born before 1900.
Elizabeth Findley 1812-1876, George Wade 1807-1877, Ann Wade 1806-1917,
Michael Wardell 1829-1901, Sarah J. Wardell 1847-1927, Eula Chittum Cresswell 1844-1933,
Robert M. Irwin 1847-1927, Lewis Wayland 1818-1871, Rececca Ann Wayland 1827-1898,
G. W. Carter 1840-1909, A. A. Fagala 1828-1892, J. M. Fagala 1827-1897,
A. S. (Jennie) Thompson 1844-1880, Katherine Fagala 1801-1894, John Fagala 1796-1874,
Michael Fagala d. 1872, Nancy Fagala 1804-1885, J. Wiley Hodges 1831-1888,
Martha J. Hodges 1841-1925, Mary Cresswell 1799-1881, Andrew Creswell 1823-1881,
Mrs. John W. (Mary Ellen) Chittum 1844-1906, Joseph Chittum 1816-1891,
Drusilla L. Trundle 1845-1891, Althea E. Fagala 1842-1898, Dr. J. C. Ellis 1832-1900,
Ann Chandler 1808-1898, J. J. Wade 1832-1901, Mary Wade 1838-1899, B. S. Davis 1840-1908,
Ann David 1845-1897, W. H. Wayland 1843-1905, J. R. Rose 1844-1903, James W. Ellis 1848-1913,
Sally V. Ellis 1854-1941, James A. Keener 1856-1914, Hannah C. Keener 1866-1943,
Edmund L. Burns 1854-1904, Sallie J. Burns 1856-1946, William J. Murr 1851-1928,
Margaret Ann Stephens Murr 1849-1915, John A. Wayland 1859-1888, Sallie Hammer Wade 1852-1928,
T. D. Manis 1861-1928, J. Otha Wade 1861-1897, James Lincoln Keener 1965-1944,
Thomas M. Chittum 1866-1910, J. J. Ivey 1871-1946, Elzora Ivey 1878-1942,
Joseph E. Hodges 1872-1957, Eliza R. Thomas 1873-1953, Hugh Tipton 1873-1931,
William Cusick 1873-1954, Ida S. Cusick 1873-1952, Minnie May Irwil 1874-1925,
May Fagala Keener 1876-1951, William W. Wayland 1876-1953, S. L. Wayland 1879-1929,
Lizzie Murr 1879-1904, Ira Robert Burchell 1879-1936, M. A. Wardell 1879-1902,
Lizzie M. Murr 1879-1904, Althea Ellen Cannup 1878-1951, Burnie Hodges 1879-1964,
Delilah Shultz Ballard 1881-1925, and Ada L. Irwin Tipton 1876-1977.
It is interesting to know that Ada Tipton died at the age of 101. She had been a member
of Trundle’s since 1893. On November 14, 1976, the congregation of Trundle’s honored Mrs.
Tipton with a dinner for her 100th birthday. On that Sunday, at 5:30 p.m., the bell at the
church was rung 100 times for her birthday. Another rather sad fact to note is that many
of the tombstones in the cemetery are no longer in place. Over the years, many stones have
broken or been knocked down by people hired to mow the cemetery. A group of trustees in
the community look after the cemetery, and the maintenance is paid for by donations.
Decoration Day for the graveyard is always the third Sunday in May.
THE HISTORY OF SAINT PAUL CHURCH
During the winter months of 1995, the majority of the congregation of a local United
Methodist Church slowly began to leave the church after a time of bitter disagreement with
the hierarchy of the United Methodist Conference. In June of 1995, David Thomas and Rita Beal
were visiting when they commented that there were enough people who had left the United
Methodist Church to begin a new independent church. After this conversation, David called on
another former church member, Curtis Roberts, and discussed the situation. It was decided
to call a meeting for the following Sunday. On Sunday, June 8, 1995, the group met at
Carol’s Sunrise Café and discussed the formation of a new church. After a scripture reading
from Ephesians 2:19-22, and much deliberation, it was decided that the church would be an
independent congregation of Methodist people, in which the administration of the church
would be solely led by the local church. The group decided on the name, Saint Paul Free-Will
Methodist Church. A group of three people, Coy McCarter, Curtis Roberts, and David Thomas,
were called upon to find a location for Sunday services, and a collection of $45 was taken up
(after which $35 was paid to the café for the meeting room, and $10 was left to start up a
treasury).The people attending this meeting were David Thomas, Carl and Rita Beal,
Louise Hodge, Coy and Vernette McCarter, Curtis and Lois Roberts, Marge Kapanowski,
Al and Brenda Libbrecht, and Rick, Denise and Kim O’Bryant.
The first service was held on Sunday June 25, 1995 at Holly Hills Funeral Home by the
Reverend Agnes Gilbertson, of the Pittman Center circuit of the United Methodist Church.
Rev. Gilbertson was to later serve as the assistant pastor of Saint Paul Church. After this
service a business meeting was held to decide the leadership of the church. It was voted that,
for the time-being, a trustee group, composed of one member of each family, would serve as an
administrative board in which all decisions would be brought before the congregation for a vote.
In August of 1995, the Reverend George W. Ott, Jr. was voted to serve as an interim pastor.
He was later to become the regular pastor for the fledgling congregation. Due to the drawbacks
of meeting in a funeral home, the church decided to move the location of Sunday services to
the auditorium of Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy in Seymour in September of 1995.
The school charged the church a fee of $50 per Sunday for the use of their facilities.
It was hoped that a permanent location would be found soon, but due to monetary limitations,
that was thought to be a long time away. Then suddenly, much to the surprise of the
congregation, the Lord blessed us with a great opportunity. The Seymour Church of Christ
was doing well until 1995. Due to the absence of a pastor, the fact that many families had
moved away, and that a small handful of members wanted to unite with other congregations,
the remaining members decided to close their church and sell the building (once known as
Trundle’s Crossroads Methodist Church). One of the remaining members was a real estate agent,
and she listed the property for sale. Upon hearing about this, the trustee board of Saint
Paul Church met with the trustee board of Seymour Church of Christ and agreed to the purchase.
The cost of the property was set at $50,000. The amount of $5,000 would be paid as a down
payment, and the balance paid over a 15-year period to the East Tennessee Christian Services
Group, a benevolence organization of the Church of Christ denomination. The congregation of
Saint Paul Church held their first service in the new church building on Sunday, May 5, 1996;
less than a year after their formation. By this time, the name, "Free-Will Methodist" was
dropped so the church would be "nondenominational".
On Sunday, June 23, 1996, the church held a dedication service followed by a covered dish
luncheon, and celebrated their first anniversary. In the fall of 1996, the church recognized
the need for a better form of church government. It was decided to form a "Board of Elders"
to take on the role of a traditional administrative board, pulpit committee, and worship
committee. The former "Board of Trustees" would serve to administer to the needs of church
property and legal matters. A "Council on Ministries and Outreach" was formed to look after
the ways the church could reach out to the community and lead the church by fulfilling the
great commission.
In the spring of 1998, books were given by Paulette H. Prince to begin a library for the
church. Since then, many more have been donated to the Paul Hodge Memorial Library. In 1999,
a collection of theological books was donated by the former members of the Shields Mountain
Methodist Church; these books were the collection of the late Rev. Ralph Cline; who had served
that church for over 30 years. In the fall of 1998, a leaking pipe flooded the Sunday school
addition. Because of this, new carpet was installed throughout the annex building. A new
back door and basement door was also installed at this time.
In the summer of 1999, Benny Ray and Cliff Thomas built a deck on the side of the Sunday
school addition along with a wheelchair ramp for use by elderly and handicapped people.
Also, a hand rail was installed in the auditorium. In the spring of 2000, an electronic
pipe organ was purchased by Benny Ray Thomas and family for the use of Saint Paul Church.
At the same time, the young adult Sunday School Class assisted Benny Ray Thomas with the
making of chair rails and crown molding for the church office and hallways. A new heating
and air conditioning system was purchased for the sanctuary in the fall of 2000 and in
September of 2000, Coy McCarter, a founding member and Elder, died. His family used memorial
donations to purchase a brass plaque for the sanctuary on which were placed the names of
charter members who had passed away. A new copy machine was purchased for the church office
in early 2001. In April of 2001, Bryan Thomas, another charter member, died. Memorial
donations were used for the purchase of new chairs for the altar. In August of 2001,
Saint Paul church lost yet another charter member and Elder, Mr. Benny Ray Thomas.
Memorial donations for Mr. Thomas were used to purchase an oil painting of Christ and a
dossal curtain for the altar. Since that first meeting on July 18, 1995, the congregation
of Saint Paul Church has experienced its fair share of successes and disappointments;
even though, the Lord has looked after us each and every day, and has continued to truly
bless us all.
CHARTER MEMBERS OF SAINT PAUL CHURCH
Coy McCarter *, Vernette McCarter, David R. Thomas, Benny R. Thomas, Carolyn H. Thomas,
Bryan S. Thomas *, Carl Beal, Rita Beal, Paulette H. Prince, Louise L. Hodge, Jerry Kapanowski,
Marge Kapanowski *, Rick O’Bryant, Denise O’Bryant, Kimberly O’Bryant, Alan Roberts, Kim Roberts,
Curtis B. Roberts, Lois Roberts, Steve Roberts, Cathy Roberts, Al Libbrecht, Brenda Libbrecht,
Brandon Libbrecht, George W. Ott, Jr., Maggie Ott, Bethany Ott, Bridgett Ott, Roy McClain,
Gloria McClain, David Jenkins, Becky Jenkins
* Deceased as of June 17, 2001
THE HISTORY OF SAINT PAUL EPISCOPAL CHURCH
In 2005, the remaining members of St. Paul approached the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee
about beginning an Episcopal Church at St. Paul. Since some Seymour Episcopalians had been
discussing the creation of an Episcopal Church in Seymour, the response was positive. At the
request of the remaining Trustee of St. Paul Non-denominational Church and with the Episcopal
Bishop of the Diocese of East Tennessee, the Rt. Rev. Charles vonRosenberg’s permission,
Episcopal Services were initiated on August 7, 2005 at 4 PM in the old Trundle’s Crossroads
Methodist Church building, with Fr. Rob Henley of St. Joseph the Carpenter, Sevierville
celebrating the Holy Eucharist.
Following this first service, Fr. Henley donated clergy support, celebrating the Holy Eucharist
on every other Sunday, alternating with an Evening Prayer service conducted by a worship leader.
The number of communicants at this time was limited and the time of the service was changed to
6 PM in the hopes of increasing participation. On Sunday, October 30, 2005, Bishop vonRosenberg
celebrated The Holy Eucharist and announced the formation of an Episcopal Worshiping Community at
St. Paul Church, serving Seymour and South Knoxville, Tennessee and surrounding communities.
Bishop vonRosenberg said the main focus of the Episcopal missionary effort is to spread the
Gospel to Seymour and South Knoxville, particularly to the un-churched.
On Christmas Eve 2005, worshipers from St. Barnabas, Jefferson City joined us for Midnight
Mass conducted by the Rev. Canon Robert Rizner with approximately 45 communicants in attendance.
In February of 2006, the new Worshiping Community of St. Paul Episcopal Church was introduced
to the Diocesan Convention as the newest Worshiping Community in the Diocese.
The St. Paul Non-denominational Church Trustees offered the church land and buildings to the
Diocese of East Tennessee for the remaining mortgage amount of approximately $17,000.
In September and November of 2005, discussions with the Diocesan Property Committee were
initiated. The nave will hold up to 100 communicants and there is an unfinished undercroft
that will provide a Parish Hall. With a kitchen installed, this facility will allow hosting
meals, and other outreach functions for our neighbors and our congregation as well as provide
four rooms for Christian education.
During the period from August 2005 until Lent 2006, St. Joseph the Carpenter, through the good
offices of Fr. Rob Henley, provided support, loaning the fledgling church prayer books, hymnals
and the necessary equipment to hold Episcopal services. Donations of material were soon made
by numerous churches in the diocese and individuals, including prayer books, hymnals, albs,
candlesticks, a lectionary bible, Eucharistic vessels and linens, a processional cross and
other items. In March of 2006, the Council of St. Paul Episcopal Church agreed that we needed
to move the service time to Sunday Morning, even though this would require support of supply
priests to replace Fr. Henley who was conducting St. Joseph’s services Sunday morning.
From March 2006 through May 2006, numerous Supply Priests from the Knoxville area celebrated
the Holy Eucharist two times per month with Lay Worshiping Leaders conducting Morning Prayer
services the other two Sundays. More recently, Fr. Henry Swann, recently retired rector
of Good Shepherd, Knoxville, has agreed to act as Supply Priest on a regular basis. The
attendance at services grew from 4-6 in the evening to 10-14 Sunday morning, an increase of
some 140%. The first official members of the congregation, Dr. H. E. (Pete) Walburg and
Treva Brodersen, transferred their letters from St. Joseph the Carpenter Episcopal Church
in Sevierville to the St. Paul Worshiping Community. In April 2006, David Thomas and
Carolyn Thomas were confirmed as members of the Episcopal Church and joined the official
membership of the Church. We now have an additional 15 letters of transfer and one Baptism
bringing our total official membership to 20 and an average Sunday attendance of 18.
In February 2006, the Council of St. Paul Episcopal Church included Treva Brodersen,
President, Pete Walburg, Secretary, David Thomas (the last surviving Trustee of the
nondenominational St. Paul Church,)Treasurer and Rev. Rob Henley (Rector of St. Joseph the
Carpenter.) In December 2007, the Council included Treva Brodersen, Sr. Warden; David Thomas,
Jr. Warden; Pete Walburg, Secretary/Treasurer; Betty Stenger, David Frost, Susan Gilliam
and Fr. Henry Swann.
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