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A BRIEF HISTORY
Compiled by Fred Childress
The Norris United Methodist Church got its official start on July 28, 1954, making it the youngest church in town. It was formerly established at a meeting in the old Norris Community Building on July 28, 1954, when Dr. A. L. Brewster, the Clinton district superintendent preached and called the first Quarterly conference to order. Stewards and trustees were elected, with officers being elected at a called meeting on August 3, 1954. These were: Charles W. Mink, Jr., chairman; George E. Archer, vice-chairman; Fred G. childress, treasurer; Chester M. Heth, Jr., secretary; and Edgar Hackler, church school superintendent. The stewards were Raymond H. Cothran, Drew Hammond, W. G. Lenoir, Mrs. John W. Morgan, and Mrs. A. L. Rosenbalm. Trustees were John W. Morgan, Mrs. Raymond Cothron, and Richard H. Lenoir. Louise Childress served as the first pianist/organist/music director, a position she filled for most of the first 25 years of the church’s existence.
Also on August 3, 1954, the ladies of the church organized a WSCS (later called United Methodist Women) with Mrs. George Archer elected as the first president. Her daughter, Sandra, was the first president of the Methodist Youth Fellowship.
Of 51 people who were either charter members or joined in 1954, 14 members are surviving who are still in the Norris area and members of the church today. These are Adeline Bateson, Doug and Gerri Boardman, Fred and Louise Childress, Stanley and Donna Dinsmore, Dean and Rita Hackler, Robert Hackler, Ronald Hackler, Jennie Halsey, Betty Hammond and Ann Lenoir.
Church services were held in the old Norris Community Building between the time the church was established and a TVA dormitory was bought (February, 1955) and refurbished to a useable condition (late spring). The first appointed resident pastor, Rev. Randall Baker, served from September 19, 1954 through August 1956. He was a graduate of East Tennessee State College at Johnson City, Tennessee. With our new pastor, it was time to start being a church and to learn how to function in the Norris Community Building and later in the renovated dormitory. The church budget for this first year was $5200.00.
The old sanctuary served the church well for 19 years. Since our early congregation was predominately young couples, many babies were christened there. Dean Hackler and Rita Rosenbalm were married there in June 1956, this being the first wedding in the old building. Other marriages held there included Cynthia Boardman and Mike Jones (April 1968) and Sandra Polinori and Bruce Pfeiler (August 1972).
Through the years, 13 ministers have served the Norris United Methodist Church. Following Rev. Randall Baker, Rev. John R. Manney was appointed in September 1956, and served until June 1960, during which time (June 1957) we were placed on a charge with Sinking Springs and Moore’s Gap churches. 		Rev J. Monroe Ball, who served from 1960 to 1963, was appointed as his replacement. Rev. Harry Johnson served from 1963 through 1968, during which time Norris again became a station church and purchased its first parsonage at 181 West Norris Road. In June 1968, Rev. Ronald Ingram came to Norris, at which time we were again placed on a charge, this time with Sinking Springs alone. This arrangement remains today. Fund raising began in earnest to raise enough money and pledges to build a new sanctuary. On Sunday, June 4, 1972, a service of ground breaking was held for the new sanctuary with Doug Boardman as chairman of the building committee. Jim Price was general chairman of the campaign organization to raise funds for the construction. Ten months later, on Sunday, April, 1, 1973, the congregation moved to the new sanctuary, with Bishop L. Scott Allen preaching and performing the dedication ceremony.
Rev. C. King Duncan was appointed to the charge in June 1973. He served for three years and was followed in 1976 by Rev. Charles Lockerby. In the spring of 1979, a beautiful organ was bought to replace the one used for about 20 years. In October 1978, Cindy Hopper became the music director and organist, a position she has held for more than 25 years. In 1979, Rev. S. Maynard Luttrell was sent to the charge and served one year. In September 1979, the 25th anniversary was observed, with three of our former pastors, Randall Baker, J. Monroe Ball, and John R. Manney participating in the service, along with our district superintendent, Dr. Walter Willis. On this occasion, a time capsule was placed in the earth behind the church sign on the lawn.
Rev. John Williams came to Norris and Sinking Springs in June 1980 and served until 1985. On April, 21, 1985, the new sanctuary was dedicated with Bishop R. Kern Eutsler leading the service. Rev. Robert Lundy was our pastor from 1985 to 1990. Rev. Lundy served as a missionary in Malaysia from 1950 to 1964, when he was elected bishop of the Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore, where he served through 1968. Rev. Tom Harris was our pastor from 1990 to 1996. The church’s 40th anniversary was observed in September 1994, with Rev. Randall Baker again returning and leading the service.
Rev. Catherine Nance was appointed in June 1996 to the charge. During this time, Meredith Hodges established a clothing closet at the church that continues to operate to the present day under Carol Hodges’ supervision. A food pantry was also started during this time, with Dick Doub managing the operation. Other churches in the community have joined in supporting this service for the people in need. In 1999, a new parsonage, the John Lonas home, was purchased.
In June 2001, Rev. Lisa Stone came to the charge. The food pantry and clothing closet needs have continued to grow, and the Norris churches have responded. The church membership has grown from 51 in 1954 to 211 today, but many others have passed through its doors and worshipped with us. We have records of 76 members who have passed away, and there may be many others that we do not know of. Many others have passed through and moved on.
Today we look to the future and to our youth, as we bury another time capsule to be unearthed on the church’s 75th anniversary. In 1954, we began in Faith and Hope, in 2004, we continue in Faith and Hope.