Editors note: The Trace Branch United Methodist Church celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1995. Jakalyn Jackson of Cannon, Ky., provided the souvenir book published for the anniversary, the contents of which follow. Also Jakalyn Jackson was author of this church history. The historical marker was placed at that location in May 28, 2015.
In 1763 Robert Strawbridge organized a group of people into the first Methodist Society in America. John Wesley himself authorized the establishment of the church and in 1784 he organized the "American Societies" into the Methodist Episcopal Church in America. The first Society in Kentucky was founded by Francis Clark in 1783 near Danville, Kentucky.
Shortly after the founding of the first Society in Kentucky, our own Knox County Methodist history began. Bishop Francis Asbury's journal tells of a trip he made to our area in 1790. He writes, "We fed on the banks of the Cumberland River, and kept up the head of the Richland." it seems that Bishop Asbury left the Boone Trail at Beech Hill, went up and over the head waters of Little Richland Creek and Goose Creek to a gap through it and on into Big Richland using what was later known as the "Old State Road cut off." Bishop Asbury made numerous trips through Southeastern Kentucky over the Boone Trail and the Old State Road. (First Methodist Church Centennial Celebration catalog November 28, 1965. Barbourville, Kentucky)
Trace Branch Methodist Church lays claim to being the oldest congregation in Knox County. Trace Branch Methodist date their history from 1801 when the noted Bishop Francis Asbury is said to have established a church in the Trace Branch community. Although there are no written records to verify the claim there is much justification through oral histories, (article by W.S. Hudson, Barbourville Advocate)
There is no record of the location for the first meetings, however in the mid eighteen hundreds a circuit rider named Cartwright held services in an old log school building located at the beginning of Trace Branch Hollow one half mile south of where the present church now stands. In 1895 Lawson G. Morris donated one acre, of land , one hundred dollars, and a summers free work to help construct a new church. The foundation of the church was made from rock quarried by Mr. Morris. The steps are still in use today and were hand hewn by Patton Gillinwater. Lumber was cut from nearby woods and carpenters in the neighborhood helped construct the frame building. The seats, door, window frames, alter and furnishings inside the church were all hand made. The siding was hand planed and each piece had no defects. Located near the entrance of the church is a large rock which was used by ladies to mount and dismount from their horses which they had ridden to church. The rock was putted to its present location by a team of mutes, when Patterson Construction Company built the road in front of the church.
At this early date the minister was a circuit rider who conducted services in four different churches in his district. Services were alternated at different churches on the four Sunday's of the month. Some of the families who attended the log church and helped organize the new church were: Jones, McDonald, Morris, Messamores, Fisher, Jackson, Catron, Cannon, Hammons, Newman, Barley, Higgins, Mitchells, Tuttles, Valentines, and Miller. Dan McDonald was the first minister. William C. Judd, a circuit rider from Jackson County, Kentucky was the next minister. He performed the first marriage ceremony to be held in the church. The marriage took place on October 27, 1898 between John Cannon and Lucy Miracle. (Knox County Courthouse Marriage Book A 10 page 554)
Also, this church served the community as a school for several months when the local building burned. At the present time, Trace Branch is the only surviving church from the original list of churches served in our area.
Reverend Judd only held services on one Sunday a month at Trace Branch. On alternating Sundays, he preached at Campground Methodist Church in Laurel County, Old Paynes, and Fighting Creek or Friendship in Knox County. Reverend Judd died June 7, 1905 of smallpox and was buried at night to prevent the spreading of the disease. He is buried in the McDonald Cemetery located near the church.
The next minister was Samuel Fleming Kelly, one of the best known circuit riders at Trace Branch. Mr. Kelly officiated at many marriage ceremonies throughout the county including Jake and Dora Oxendine, my grandparents. Mr. Kelly was instrumental in the founding of Union College, a Methodist sponsored college, located in Barbourville, Kentucky.
In 1897 a Reverend Blair began a revival at Trace Branch which became one of the most tremendous revivals in the history of Trace Branch Methodist Church.. Many people were saved and joined the church at this time including one of our most dedicated and beloved members, Mrs. Delia Jackson McWilliams, who was fourteen years old at the time. Others who joined the church at this time were: Annie Fisher Hughes, Havala Cannon, Harvey Morris, Valentine, Maggie Messamore, Effie Morris Jackson, Steve and John Jones.
This is not a complete listing of people who were saved during this tremendous revival, but family information and remembrances of Mrs. McWilliams are the source of this list.
Other members of the church at this early date were:
George and Susan Jones Jackson and family
James and Littie Gross
Lawson G. and Harriet Gentry Morris
Effie Morris Jackson
Finley Fisher and family
Will and Margaret Fisher
Andy Gibson
Jack Cannon and family
Corda Parrott
Higgins family
McDonald family
Laura Judd Miracle (granddaughter of Rev. William C. Judd)
Flora Chadwell
Edd Miracle
Herman Kelly
Finley Valentine
Nathaniel and Elizabeth Jones and family
Laura Baker Valentine
Frank Tuttle
John and Amelia Hammons
Florence Kinder
Mayme Cole
Minnie Frank
Crit and Katherine Valentine
Mitchell Flora Stamper
Messamore family
Isaac Jones
Barley family
At this time there were four Methodist churches in the Knox County district. Trace Branch, McClellan, Old Paynes, and Fighting Creek. Old Paynes Methodist Church was located at Girdler, Kentucky, it was a tog building with a dirt floor and split tog seats. When the L&N Railroad was built from Barbourville to Manchester, the church lot was purchased and the building was torn down leaving the community without a church. On a beautiful Sunday afternoon church services were held at Trace Branch and most of the members from Old Paynes moved their membership to Trace Branch.
Listed below are names of some of the people who moved their memberships:
Margaret Disney (Rev. Gillis Disney's mother)
Joe Carty and wife
George and Jenny Carty Jones
Charlie and Mable Carty
Jim and Belle Payne
Wesley and Harriet Burnett
John Burnett
Jack and Maggie Hughes
Dora Province Valentine
George Downey
Brilla Hammons Hurst
Mariah Bolton Jackson
Tom and Patsy Bolton
John McWillams family: Cora ,Herbert , Rufus, Eugene, Fred, Joe, Robert D. and Guessie McWillams Jackson
Nan and Else Hughes
As with other listing given this is taken from personal recollections and might not include all names.
With the uniting of the two churches, the membership at Trace Branch increased. As the attendance grew, Trace Branch became known throughout the county as a place of warmth and welcome to each visitor and guest speaker. Among the many distinguished guest speakers were two Kentucky governors--Gov. James D. Black and Gov. Flem D. Sampson and a lieutenant Governor Kenneth H. Tuggle, all of Barbourville, Kentucky.
The church building retained its original structure and furnishings with only surface maintenance until 1981 when a new shingle roof replaced the existing tin roof. The eighteen foot ceilings were towered to conserve heat and new carpet, pews, a lighting system, and heaters were added at this time. The church had been heated by two large pot belled stoves in the front of the church. The stoves were kept blazing through the cold weather due to the dedication of the janitor, Otis Parrot, and his sons. During this renovation, new pews were purchased to replace the old hand made wooden pews. The pews were donated and bought in memory of the following:
Frank Homer and Estileen Abner, Paul and Deloris Hart, Glen Jackson and Family, Claybern and Marie Abner, Lee, Barbara and Mark Cann, Delia McWilliams and Family, Roy and Sudie Leddington, Tip and Emma Hinkle, Kenneth and Charlene Jackson, Finley and Lizzie Fisher by Doyal and Hilda Watkins, Mr. and Mrs. David Parrott, Larry and Danny, Garrard and Effie Morris, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy McDonald donated by daughters, In memory of Cleo Mullins donated by Beatrice H. Carter, In memory of: Sudie and Otis Parrott, Flora Cannon Chadwell, Chris and Ethyl Fisher, Jordan and Berie Higgins, Etta Martin, Beecher and Guessie McWilliams Jackson, Herbert McWilliams, Rufus McWilliams, Cora McWilliams Whitfield, Henry Matt and Dorothy Mills, Diana Mills, Alan Mills and family.
In 1983 a new classroom and bathrooms were added in the rear of the church. In 1986 a new porch was added to make the entrance more accessible, and a new foundation of concrete blocks was completed in 1987. This project was completed by Henry Epperson who did the carpentry work and his son, Henry, with help from Alan Mills.
The American and Christian flags at the front of the sanctuary were donated by William Douglas, Leanna, and Scott Butter. The chandelier in the entrance was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Joe Irvin. The electric baseboard heaters were purchased by Anna Gaunder. The organ in the sanctuary is Nancy Lehman's. A new steeple was bought in 1991 and the original bell was reinstated.
In 1991 beautiful communion set was donated to the church by Mr. And Mrs. Milton Townsend, it was presented to the church by Jakalyn Jackson and Effie Morris. Prior to this time Nannie Morris and the Young Peoples Class had donated a communion set purchased by setting vanilla extract for $1.00 per bottle. A communion set to be used for members unable to attend services because of illness, etc. was presented in the memory of Mrs. Cora McWilliams Whitfield by her family.
It is a typical small country church which has survived winter storms, floods, and other hardships to serve as a welcome to any visitor and to offer comfort and support to anyone who is in need. Through the dedication of many Christian people the church building itself has served as a solid reminder to all that through God's leadership and love everyone is welcome. One of my most comforting memories from childhood is driving down the road at night and seeing the lighted church from the distance, it seemed to me that the church was waiting with open arms for my family and me to arrive.
In 1994 Trace Branch United Methodist Church was designated a Kentucky landmark "worthy of preservation by the Kentucky Heritage Council."
On this the 100th anniversary of Trace Branch United Methodist Church it is my hope that the church will continue to grow and prosper and that we strive to preserve one of our greatest freedoms. The freedom to worship.