A History: Elizabeth UMC
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…