Despite cloudy skies and rains, a crowd flocked to Greens Creek Methodist Church, celebrating the 150 years it has served the faithful.
The church was started Feb. 18, 1876 after Eli Roberson Kiker opened up his log cabin home for a Sunday School. The fellowship moved to a brush arbor built east of Upper Greens Creek Cemetery and a log school house built that fall. The present church building was built south of Highway 67 on what is known as the Greens Creek campground and the tabernacle was built in 1895 for church meeting in the warmer months. (The church was moved in March 1907.)
Displays were set up presenting the rich history of the congregation and the development of the church and the tabernacle which was recently renovated with a new roof and lighting.
After Rev. Michael Ricci-Roberts offered a blessing, former pastors Mark Castleberry and Rev. Melissa Castleberry and Rev. Herman Merritt were introduced as in attendance.
Following that, lifelong and long-term members spoke about their experiences with the church. This included Sharron Kelso. “I’ve attended here since I was about 9 weeks old,” Kelso said.
“Sharron and I grew up in this church together,” said Karen Pair West, saying that she was baptized and married in the church and grateful to all the organizers of the celebration. “It’s so dear to my heart.”
Lynda Kiker Mayfield shared a lifelong connection with the church and community, reporting she and her family came back to live where her parents and grandfather lived. She said she was surrounded by family, pointing out her daughter-inlaw Julie and grandson Kelton on the same pew and referencing her and Dwain’s son, David, who lives next door and attends.
Judy Kiker Yeager was introduced as the painter of the church’s signature painting of Christ praying before his arrest. “I painted the picture when I was 18 or 19 years old,” she said. “It meant a lot to me. I found myself wondering what Jesus was thinking or praying for.”
She said she grew up in West Texas and attended a church that had a similar picture that inspired her painting. She found the Greens Creek church special whenever she visited and wanted to do something in recognition after her grandfather passed away.
“I feel very humbled that you have taken such good care of it through the years,” she said.
Ernest Kiker stood up to speak about his and his family’s ties to the church and praised God for the rich heritage on display.
Judy Bray who represented the anniversary committee in leading the service remarked how much they had enjoyed interviewing families and realizing how integral they were to keeping the church alive for 150 years. Bray said she was surprised to see that nine pastors came from three families and appreciated the deep bedrock of faith that could be found in the families that grew the church.
Nora Thackerson Carter spoke about the tradition of the Greens Creek Methodist and Baptist churches joining in each other’s events and invited everyone to the Baptist anniversary celebration the following day.
Dwain Mayfield then dedicated the historical bell, before it was run by his grandson Kelton.
“It’s been here longer than any of us can remember,” said Mayfield, who discussed the restoration of the tabernacle and the bell that is mounted in front of it.
He told those in attendance of the tabernacle’s old location south of the Catholic church and the arduous travel on rocky terrain for congregants to get to the tabernacle to meet.
Mayfield said the 100+ year-old bell has been at the current church for better than 80 years after it was moved from the previous tabernacle site.
Pair-West echoed Carter’s sentiments about the relationship of the churches, with others remembering revivals and musical events where the congregations joined together. Her mother, Alice Pair, was instrumental in restoring the tabernacle and the steeple erected in her memory in 1983.
The service was followed with a buzz of activity as the church was filled with people enjoying the fresh fried fish, sides and desserts. The building was also filled with fellowship echoing the care and kinship that has kept Greens Creek Methodist Church’s doors open as a living testament to God’s love for 150 years.