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History of Our Church
In the early 1800’s, arriving settlers were greeted by circuit riding Methodist preachers, and Methodist church groups were begun throughout Middle Tennessee, especially in the Elk River area. By 1847, Thomas Farris deeded two acres near East Brook to the Trustees of Harris Chapel, specifying it to be used as a Methodist Church. Although no exact records exist, probably the church was a log building, and was used as a church and meetinghouse as well as a house of worship. That building was located within the present cemetery and is marked by a plaque. Because Robert Farris, brother of Thomas, had recently organized a church south of Winchester, which he named ‘Farris Chapel’, the new church took the name ‘Harris Chapel’ in honor of Governor Isham G. Harris’ father, who lived in the community and was possibly a charter member.
In 1890, a second church building was constructed in the southwest corner of the Farris property. It was a white frame, one room building, to which three small classrooms were added in 1940. Elnora Rutland gave additional land for parking for the growing congregation.
In 1956, a third church building was begun on land donated by Nona Rutland and Alice Thorn Bohne across the road from the existing structure. With plans drawn by Tommy Tipps, the men of the church went to work, while the women helped with inside painting, and the entire congregation took on extra projects to pay for the materials. The first service was held on December 10, 1961, with Clifton Tipps as Sunday School Superintendent and Henry Neal as the pastor. Later, District Superintendent H.T. Tipps dedicated the building.
By 1968, members added an educational annex of five classrooms, plus kitchen, and restrooms, and the church continued to grow with the addition of a pavilion in 1983. Within a couple of years, this pavilion was closed in to become a fellowship hall.
After much study and prayer, Harris Chapel took a leap of faith and became a ‘station church’ in 1995, purchasing the half-ownership in the parsonage from the Pleasant Grove congregation, and receiving the first pastor devoted solely to the work and ministry of Jesus Christ through Harris Chapel.
Most recently, the Family Activities Center was dedicated on January 20, 2001 by former pastor and current District Superintendent James Clardy. The FAC is a building of eight classrooms, an office for the pastor, a conference room, a large gymnasium, and a spacious kitchen. Built with funds diligently saved, and with the tireless efforts of many members of the congregation, organized and coordinated by Joe Mignogna, the facility offers wide new possibilities for ministry within and beyond the existing congregation.
Harris Chapel’s strengths, which are many, include a devoted core of workers, strong singing and music, fine buildings, and ardent believers and disciples in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Harris Chapel notes with pride that B.H. Brandon and Virgil Tipps entered the ordained ministry from this congregation, and that in 1974, James Clardy was ordained in the sanctuary by Bishop H. Ellis Finger, Jr.
