Church History 1899-1972 Written March 26, 1972 by Sena R. Ward
In 1899, in a one room schoolhouse on the property of Monroe Pugh, now owned by his grandson Hix Pugh, three fourths of a mile west of the present Elizabeth United Methodist Church, the idea of the present church was put into a contract. One Sunday each month services were held there. Voting for elections also was done here in the Williams School as it was named. During the week the building, now leveled by the erosive elements of time, served for the following known pupils: Celia Gore Richardson, Cullen Cox, Dave Cox, Claude Cox, Guy Cox, Boss Cox, Ted Calhoun, Hazel Calhoun, Ida, Calhoun, Laura Calhoun, Edith Calhoun, Martha Williams Griffitts, Cordie, Keesling Steffey, Beulah Keesling, French Keesling, Annie Robbins, Fannie Kirby Robbins, Flossie Scott, Chloe Scott Draper Wysor, Jettie Griffitts, Evelyn Griffitts, Bertie Keesling Currin, Edd Pugh, Mable Dunlap Meek, Charles Scott, Alice Scott Griffitts and Minnie Scott Rector.
The stewards who drew up the contract were: J.T. Calhoun (Thomps), L.M. Pugh (Monroe), S.A. Meek (Steve), J.C. James (Con), John M. Williams. The original copy of the contract is owned by Mrs. Martha Williams Griffitts. Charles Richmond Scott made the copy from which this is taken:
“Know all men by these present, that we, J. M. Williams, L.M. Pugh, J.T. Calhoun, S. A. Meek and J.C. James party of the first part and S. F. Wright party of the second part, have hereby entered into the following contract binding ourselves for the execution of the same under the following bond. The party of the second part contracts to build a church on the lot of ground given by L.M. Pugh, said church to be built according to the pan and specification which have been furnished by Frank Fallenshir and said plan and specification are a part of this contract. Party of the second part is to thoroughly season the lumber, party of the second part shall erect the house doing all the carpenter work except the windows, sash and inside doors, shutters, include pulpit seats, entire inner walls and build the tower, all to be done in workman like manner of the first class, said work to be completed by August 1st 1899. Party of the first part shall pay the sum of $300.00 to the party of the second part when said house shall be received by them or satisfactory party of second part therefor. Party of the first part shall have a credit of $1.00 per day for all carpenters work as subscribed which they may be able to put in on job provided it shall not exceed $50.00 and shall in no way hinder the completion of the work by him aforesaid. We bind ourselves each party to the other in the sum of $1000.00 for the faithful execution of this contract.”
May 1, 1899
Signed/ Signed/
S.F. Wright, Contractor J.T. Calhoun
L.W. Pugh
John M. Williams
S. A. Meek
J.C. James
Mr. Joe H. Scott hauled the big flat rocks that were used for the foundation of the original church. Mr Steve Meek gave and hauled lumber. Mr. Thomps Calhoun sawed it on his mill, located just below where the old Teas School house, which is now used for storing hay. Grandville Griffitts gave the big poplar log which Steve Meek hauled, Thomps Calhoun sawed, and out of which all the original seats were made. Bill Pugh remembers seeing the picture of the log, which was so large they had to cut part of the log out before it could be loaded between the standards on a wagon.
Mrs. John M. Williams (known as Aunt Jane) did a great deal of work for the early church. At her death she gave the sum of $500.00, the interest of which was to be used for the church/ She also did the same for the WIlliams Cemetery She gave $15000.00 to the orphanage at Greenville, TN.
The church was named for Elizabeth L. Thomas WIlliams (1819-1877), Wife of Rufus K. Williams (1806-1860). Elizabeth was the mother of Sarah Loulle Williams Pugh (1857-1892), first wife of Monroe Pugh. This information was obtained from a bible owned by Mrs. Martha Williams Griffitts.
Mrs. Martin Richardson, mother of Mrs. Herbert Scott, attended the dedication of the church in August, 1899, and told Mrs. Scott there were no shade trees around the church; poles were put up for shade. This is quite a contrast to the beautiful sugar maples there today.
The first major remodeling of the church was done in 1930. The work was started when the Rev. C. H. Vernon was pastor. A furnace, purchased from Marion Vance, was installed . Basil and Ralph Griffitts did the work under the direction of Bayard Cole. Jim Scott and Bill Meek dug the basement with a horse drawn scraper. Part of the curbing and walks were put in. The church was bricked. I.C. Choate and Steve Meek gave $400.00 each on this job. Others contributed also. The upstairs Sunday School rooms were built by I. W. Leedy. A piano was purchased with money raised by Roy Grifitts. Mae Collins Scott was one, if not the first, organist. The organ was traded in on a piano. So far, no record has been found of the purchase of the organ. Walt Calhoun directed the singing until the organ was purchased. Walter (Bass) Griffitts, Lee Robbins, Estelle Robbins and Claude Sexton lad the floor, finished them and did the other interior painting and refinishing as it is today, 1972. Will Calhoun made the channel rail. The beautiful stained glass windows were given in honor of Emory L. Calhoun, William M and Walter V. Grifitts, Donna H. Keesling, E. L. and Myrtle M. Pugh, Darrell Earnest, Stephen A. Meek, Lanthel Choate, Frank M. Robbins, John A. and Ollie JohnsonBill and Myrtle Meek, G.L. an H.Y. Pugh, Roy Griffitts, W.M. Grifitts and Mae Collins Scott. Other donations to the church are: Seaver’s Funeral Home in Marion, gave the first light fixtures. Edna and Robert Aker gave the collection plates in memory of their son, Bobby Jack.The large “Picture of Christ” in the entrance to the Fellowship Hall was given in memory of Alice S. Griffitts by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Johnson. In the hall leading to the Fellowship building form the main part of the church is a beautiful white pitcher on a shelf given by Ann Haulsey in memory of Donna Keesling, who gave generously of her time and talent in music to the church. The picture of “The Old Man Praying” in the Fellowship Hall was given by John Currin and family. The women of the church gave the new piano in memory of Scott Meek and William H. Johnson in 1971. The new seats were given in honor of Joe H. Scott and Lula K. Scott, J.T. and Sally Calhoun, Nannie Scott and Hattie Griffitts Meek, Anna McCarter Grubb, Joseph L. and Member Ann Scott, Gladys Meek Hamm, Mr. and Mrs. I. C. Choate and family, Nattie Scott Eastridge, James F. and Sally T. Scott, W.F. and Nancy E. Robbins, Dr. John and Jennie T. WIlliams, L.M. Pugh, and Loretta Williams Pugh, Laura Wilkinson Pugh Raymond N. Draper, Stephen A. Meek, and Lenora Grifitts Rouse.
The Meek Cemetery was deeded to the church after a $3000.00 trust fund had been raised, a new fence put up and a plot of land 20×60 feet added to the original tract from which plots will be sold and the money added to the trust fund. he church is to assume the upkeep.
In 1969, Hix Pugh donated more land for the use of the Pugh or Williams Cemetery, as it is called, to complete the original plan his father, Hix Pugh and Uncle Look Pugh, had started 8 years before. The church is responsible for this cemetery also.
The second major remodeling job was started in 1965. The plans for the Fellowship Hall were drawn by Charles R. Scott. Brad Shuler and Earl, D.C. and E. R. Shuler did the construction. The women of the church fed the bean pickers and raised $1000.00to pay on the project. They vividly recall the faith and determination it took to get the Jeep to deliver the meals and how Rev. Cummings, the pastor, worked to make the project a success. Harold Robbins built the kitchen cabinets and changed the pulpit in 1968. More curbing and walks were added at this time. A piano was purchased from Mrs. H.B. McWatters for $75.00 for the Fellowship Hall.
The Fellowship Hall was dedicated August 3, 1968. Te District Superintendent, Dr. James Smalling, gave the call to worship. The Rev. Jerry Fleenor, pastor, conducted the devotion. Special music was rendered by Lynn Cox. The dedication sermon was preached by Bishop L. Scott Allen. Herbert Hamric, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, presented the building to be dedicated to Bishop L. Scott Allen, who accepted and dedicated the building to its proper and sacred uses.
The following Ministers have served in the church as pastors:
L. Addington -1900
Tom Hmilton -1906
J.V. Hall
T. Niles
D. Dame
A. Umbarger
D. Morrell
T. McFerson
W. Deane
Wm. Patty
E. Bailey
A.B. Farmer
A. Early
F. Jones
T. Evans
B. Hunter
C. Wright -1943
N. Dunford -1951
W. Colbert
H. Wright (Carl)
D. Strader
Jack Warrick
H. Farmer (Raymond)
B. Randell
Wayne Cummings 1955-59. Robert Wood and J. C. Spurlin finished his time out.
Albert Mehaffey
J.C. Spurlin
J.B Stanley
H. Vernon -1937
Foot -1939
Arnold Williams -1962
Jerry Fleenor 1966-72
Before 1932, Blue Springs, Asbury, Pine Grove or Groseclose’s Chapel were also served by the same minister as Wharf Hill and Elizabeth. The Rev. Colbert was the first minister to serve only the two churches, Wharf Hill and Elizabeth.
The Lord’s Acre project was started when the Rev. Colbert was here. The land was supplied by Hix Pugh, cleared by church members, and used as a project for 8 years. Another thing the Rev. Colbert did was to establish the pledge system and put the church on a more businesslike system.
Bob Sheffey and Louis Pierce were not regular ministers but were frequent visitors and conducted services in both Wharf Hill and Elizabeth churches.
Thompson Calhoun served as Superintendent of the Church School for 44 years, his son, Ted for 15 years, Laura Chisenhall Griffitts for 5 years, and Virginia Eastridge Bennington fro 2-3 years.
The small brick church surrounded by nice maple trees reminds one of the church in the wildwood. The information in this article has been given by church members of the Elizabeth Church. Maurice Neal Fisher from the Asbury Church gave the name of ministers who served before 1932, aided by Annie Pierce Horn.
No record of the church would be complete without a notation of appreciation to Mrs. I. C. Choate for the gorgeous flower arrangements she so faithfully makes for our enjoyment each Sunday.
Neither can we forget the valuable contribution in money which is given by the work of the women of the church in serving dinners to the Ruritan Club.
Last but not least, there are splendid messages given by our present pastor, the Rev. Jerry Fleenor, and his faithful performance to all those in the community who need it.
On the wall of a successful mining Superintendent are these words: “It is not the mines or the. machinery of the workmen as a whole, but the everlasting team work of every bloomin’ soul” So it is with the Elizabeth United Methodist Church at Teas, Virginia.
Thank you to all who have helped in compiling this in any way.
Sena R. Ward
March 26, 1972
Associated Cemeteries:
Morgan Cemetery
Pugh Cemetery
Meek/Scott Cemetery
Scott Family Cemetery
