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History of
the
church of Christ
in Clinton, Tennessee
The restoration of
the church of Christ in Clinton had its beginning during the hardships
and uncertain times of World War II. Temporary dwellings and mobile
homes dotted the landscape of Anderson County as many families moved to
the area to work on the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge. The first
meeting of the church of Christ in Clinton took place in one of these
homes.
The Clinton church of Christ is thought to be the oldest congregation of
its kind in Anderson County. Six people
assembled for the first worship service
on February 7, 1943: Bonnie and Iva Grissom,
O.B. Trammell and his son
Byron, and Robert and Ariel Waters. Brother O.B. Trammell’s wife,
Hazel, and their daughter, Marjorie, were present on February 21st.
Marjorie had been sick with the whooping cough and could not attend the
first Sunday. The first contribution was $6.50. Others who soon began
to attend the new congregation were: Iva Mitchell and son, Jerry; Mrs.
A.S. Algood, S.J. and Hazel Russell and children, Gale, Don, and Joe;
Mabel Lancaster; Mrs. Roy Rowland; Robert and Cora Sadler and children;
Robert and Rosie O’Neal; and Ben and Minnie McAllister and children.
The first two weeks
they met in the mobile home of Robert and Ariel Waters on Highway 61,
between Clinton and Oak Ridge. The Waters had been New Testament
Christians before moving to Clinton from Wilson County, Tennessee.
As more and more
people moved to Anderson County from other areas, the congregation began
to need more room. The next meeting place was an old Union Hall on
Highway 25W in Clinton. The church was able to rent this property for a
few months. They purchased the property from W.G. Giles on March 6,
1944 and assembled there for the next three years. It was then
demolished and a new building was built on the same spot. While the new
facility was under construction, the congregation assembled under a
tent.
By 1959, the
congregation had outgrown its home. Property was purchased a short
distance away at 500 North Main Street. A new building was completed in
1964. The new facilities included an auditorium with a seating capacity
of 400, seven classrooms, a nursery, and an office. In 1963, the land
immediately behind the meetinghouse was purchased and a preacher’s
residence was built. M.H. Tucker and family were the first to live in
the new house. Additional property south of the church building was
purchased in 1982 from Tim and Faye Bush, allowing for additional
parking. The house was used for several years for extra classrooms,
offices, and a kitchen area. In 1988 the home was remodeled and used to
house students from the East Tennessee School of Preaching and
Missions. The Bush house was removed in 1997 to create needed parking
space. For a number of years, the preacher’s residence was also used
for ETSPM students. The home was remodeled in 2002 and the present
minister and his family now live there.
In the fall of
1987, the upstairs nursery was remodeled and converted into a study for
the preacher. An addition was completed in 1988 that included a new
nursery, four classrooms with folding walls, a kitchen, and a pantry.
The classrooms and kitchen could be combined to form a fellowship hall.
The first preacher
for the Clinton congregation was S.F. Timmerman. He was working as the
minister for the Harriman church and would visit Clinton and conduct
services on Sunday afternoon. Other brethren who preached in the early
years included E.E. Mitchell, J.A. Summey, Persey Manning, brother
Freeman, and J.B. Jordan. Jack Johnson of Oak Ridge often filled the
pulpit when regular preachers were absent.
Others who have
labored with the Clinton congregation: G.W. Nichols, Bill Phillips,
Clifford Reel, James McGill, Phil Evanson, M.H. Tucker, Mike Kirk, Tommy
Irons, Gary Kelsey, Richard Powlus, Waymon Summers, Arthur Pigman, David
Pharr, Garry Jones, & Darryl Glenn.
Richard Bentley will begin working with the Clinton congregation in
October 2010.
Among the preachers
who have conducted meetings in the early years: brother Plunket, W.G.
Bass, J.B. Jordan, Clifford Reel, Bill Long, W.A. Bradfield, E. Claude
Gardner, and Garland Elkins.
Elders and Deacons
were first appointed in September 1966. The first two elders were Carl
Cox and Carlos Herren. The first deacons were Finus Dill, Herman Herren,
Jim Nash, Mike Nygard, and Carl Rutherford. Jim Nash was appointed an
elder in 1968. At present there are five elders who serve the
congregation: Carlos Herren, Herman Herren, Dale Mowery, Jim Nash, and Mike Smith.
Five deacons are now serving: James McCrary, Dwight Nicholson, Tim Nygard,
Carl Rutherford, and Hubert Sharp.
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