, Rush Chapel United Methodist Church is one of Floyd County's oldest congregations. Its structure and setting also make it one of the most picturesque.
The building and grounds are so unique that even non-members sometimes want to use the church for weddings, according to its pastor, Larry Russell.
Situated on Rush Chapel Road, just off the Old Calhoun Highway north of Rome, the church has an earlier styled architecture that is well maintained. Inside the sanctuary are curved benches that give everyone a close view of the altar and the choir section. Even those sitting on the back bench can feel close to the pastor during his sermon. Although the sanctuary is small, the space is so well utilized that 250 people can be seated.
At 168 years old, the church is still active and has most programs that a much larger church would offer, according to Russell, who is still in his first year at the congregation.
The church provides Sunday school classes for children, women and men. An active choir is part of the services and the church has sent mission teams to Montana and Costa Rico and is planning a mission to Kentucky this year.
Much of the church's success can be attributed to a number of its senior members who have continued the traditions that have been present since the church's beginning.
Thad Rush, whose family was one of the original six that started the church said, "We're a small rural church, but we're still around because we're dedicated to families and to our community."
Others who are long-term members include Waldo Dodd, who has been attending the church most of his life and Elaine Robbins, who is a sixth generation member of the congregation. Geneva King, Margaret West and Lois Wheeler have also attended Rush Chapel for many years. Ms. Wheeler is 91 and the oldest member of the church. She still attends many of the services and remembers many of the earlier families of the church.
The church family ranges in age from infants who are just a few months old to Ms. Wheeler. Attendance is usually between 50 and 60 on most Sundays with certain members traveling from Marietta and Cedartown to worship there. The church has 102 members on its official roll, according to the pastor.
Russell said the communities near the church are still experiencing some growth and that has helped keep the membership stable in recent years.
Dodd said the membership goes through cycles with a number of children attending with their parents and then when they get older they will leave for college or move away. The membership then reverts back to mostly adults until new members with small children start attending again.
When families move into the community, church members will invite them to attend Rush Chapel.
The current building is the third to occupy the site as Rush Chapel Methodist Church, according to Rush.
A white frame structure replaced the congregation's original log cabin around 1850 and was enlarged during the Civil War, providing a raised section at the rear of the church for black worshipers.
The church underwent extensive renovations in 1910. Additional classes and space that eventually became the pastor's office was added in 1951. A parsonage was added in 1962 and an activities building was constructed in 1997.
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