History of Green River Chapel

In 1896 a congregation known as Divine's Chapel, located at Kinchole’s Bluff, presented a letter to the Long Creek Association requesting acceptance into the Association.  The request was granted and the Association planned to meet in 1897 at Divine's Chapel.  No Association minutes are on file for 1897 but in 1898, the Long Creek Association held its 5th annual meeting and Green River Chapel's report was recorded with the same clerk as that of Divine's Chapel in 1896. (Because of this and other names of delegates, etc. we assume that was the same congregation.  Also, Green River Chapel was known as "The Bluff Church" throughout the area for many years and still today some use that name in referring to Green River Chapel.)

The building for Green River Chapel was built near Green River (hence the name?) adjacent to where the cemetery is located.  The building that housed the congregation was moved from the bluff location up the road to the property that the present church is now (exact date of the move is not known).  A large foundation cornerstone, with the date 1897 carved in it, was taken with the building when the congregation moved to the present location.

Around 1944 a new building, that would seat around 100 people was erected and the 1945 the Long Creek Association meeting was held in the newly built Green River Chapel Church.  The new building was dedicated on the 3rd Sunday in May, 1945.  Bro. B.A. Carroll was pastor; Ada Ralph was clerk.  In 1956 Sunday school rooms were built on to the back of the church, the sanctuary was enlarged to seat around 200 people and an indoor baptistery was installed.  Before this, baptisms were held in Green River.  In 1972, the Fellowship Hall was built behind the church.

                In the spring of 1999 the building housing the sanctuary and Sunday rooms were razed and a new structure was built to accommodate a 350+ person sanctuary, new Sunday School rooms, serveral offices, and was connected to the existing fellowship hall.

Other things that made this church what it is today.

In the beginning worship services were held only one Sunday morning a month, known as quarterly services.  This was mostly because the minister would have two or more churches that they pastored.  In 1944, Green River Chapel went to half-time services, which was a morning worship service every other Sunday of the month.  In 1958, the church went to "full time" with servicers both Sunday morning and night and the addition of a Wednesday night services referred to as “Prayer Meeting”.

GRC was among the 5 churches reporting Sunday Schools in 1906. Sunday School has continued as part of GRC ministry through the years.  VBS was begun in the early 1950's by Jo Anne Moore and continues annually.  Attendance the past few years has been at an all time high with a Bus Ministry as an important part of all our services.  Darlene Scarbro has served as VBS Director for the past several years.

GRC choir has held a reputation as being an outstanding church for many years.  Under the direction of John Bill McRoy, the group sang at Singing Conventions, revivals, Homecomings, and at benefits throughout the region.  The church has also been host to many nationally acclaimed quartets such as The Imperials, The Sego Brothers and Naomi, The Swanee River Boys, The Spear Family, The Kentuckians, The Downings, Henry and Hazel Slaughters, Bill and Gloria Gaither, just to mention a few.

The Women's Missionary Society was organized in 1959 and named The Ida Ferguson Missionary Society in honor of a woman of the community who was a "friend indeed" when any of her neighbors

needed help.  The WMS has been supportive of Foreign Missionary projects as well as Home Missions and  local needs.  Besides sending a love gift each year, the members have collected over the years medicine, school supplies, clothing, personal needs items, food, sewing kits, and other items needed both at home and overseas.  They and the church donate to the Ed Stevens Day, the Asenath Brewster Christmas offering, VBS Missions Projects, the Nursing Home Ministry, Compassionate Care Ministry, and Oakland City University.  The church also supports the Gideon Ministry.

Presently will are have morning worship services with an average attendance of 260.