Montgomery Grove/Tabor's Chapel
Colored Methodist Church was established in 1859. The land
for the Montgomery Grove Church site was donated by Mr. Cash Montgomery
and the church was located near the Madison-Franklin County line
on north Highway 106.
Pastors, Presiding Elders,
Stewards and Trustees to serve Montgomery Grove were as follows:
1859-1865 Rev.
Penegrass was Pastor and Rev. White Presiding Elder
Stewards and Trustees were: Mr. Nathan Tabor, Mrs. Paul Scott,
Mr. Sam Jarrells and Mr. Press Mayfield
1865-1873
Rev. Stinson was Pastor and Rev. Hosley Presiding Elder
Elected to the Steward/Trustee Board were: Mr. Dock Daniels,
Mr. Bob Walker, Mr. Jones Hopkins and Mr. Billy Carruth
1873-1899
Rev. Carter was Pastor and Rev. Hosely Presiding Elder.
Elected Stewards/Trustees were: Mr. Tom Griffin, Mr. John Wilhite,
Mr. Abe Scorr and Mr. Will Williams
After forty years as Montgomery
Grove, the church site was moved to its present location in 1899
on land donated by Mr. Cape Tabor, and thus given the name Tabor's
Chapel Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. The following Pastors,
Presiding Elders, Stewards and Trustees have served the Tabor's
Chapel establishment.
1899-1903 Rev.
Joe Ellis was Pastor and Rev. Livingston Presiding Elder.
Steward and Trustee Boards remained teh same as the year before.
1903-1905 Rev.
Chiles, Pastor and Rev. O. R. Jackson Presiding Elder.
1905-1907 Rev.
Wadell, Pastor and Rev. Carter, Presiding Elder.
Elected to the Board of Stewards and Trustees were: Mr. Ben Brown,
Mr. Tom Hancock, Mr. Armenus Gunnells and Mr. Jim Tabor.
1907-1918
Rev. M. J. Jones, Pastor and Rev. Sanders and Rev. Gladen were
Presiding Elders. Mr. Will Tabor, Mr. George Jarrells, Mr.
Bob McKeever
and Mr. John Gunnells were elected to the Steward/Trustee Boards.
1918-1919
Rev. J. N. Bailey, Pastor, Rev. Gladen, Presiding Elder.
1919-1920 Rev.
J. E. Murray, Pastor, Rev. Gladen, Presiding Elder.
1920-1923
Rev. Pitts, Pastor, Rev. Gladen, Presiding Elder.
1923-1926
Rev. Johnson, Pastor and Rev. Jenkins, Presiding Elder.
1926-1927
Rev. Wilcox, Pastor and Rev. Holloway, Presiding Elder.
1927-1929
Rev. McCaister, Pastor and Rev. Holloway, Presiding Elder.
1929-1933
Rev. Green, Pastor and Rev. Holloway, Presiding Elder.
Mr. Isaiah Williams, Mr. Walt McWhorter, Mr. Will Scott and
Mr. Joe Williams were elected to the Steward/Trustee Boards.
1933-1936
Rev. Wise, Pastor and Rev. Murray, Presiding Elder.
Tabor's Chapel burned to the
ground in 1934 and was rebuilt in 1935 by Mr. Dwayne McKeever and
Mr. Monroe Pinkston. Mr. Allen Smith, Mr. Young Scott, Mr.
James Bailey and Mr. Preston Williams were elected to the Steward/Trustee
Boards.
1936-1940
Rev. S. S. Brewer, Pastor and Rev. Murray, Presiding Elder.
Mr. Phinez Bailey, Mr. Dan Gunnells and Mr. Calvin McWhorter were
elected to the Steward/Trustee Boards.
1940-1942
Rev. Wheeler was Pastor and Rev. Barnes, Presiding Elder.
1942-1943
Rev. Plummer was Pastor and Rev. Barnes, Presiding Elder.
1943-1944
Rev. Buggs was Pastor and Rev. Beckum, Presiding Elder.
1944-1946
Rev. Glaze, Pastor and Rev. Mackmas, Presiding Elder.
1946-1948 Rev.
Counter, Pastor and Rev. Mackmas, Presiding Elder.
Mr. Claude Hancock, Mr. Henry Wilhite, Mr. Green Hancock and
Mr. Jimmy Bailey were elected to the Board of Stewards/Trustees.
1948-1950
Rev. McLaughlin, Pastor and Rev. Mackmas and Rev. J. H. Harris,
Presiding Elders.
1950-1954
Rev. F. N. Rushin was Pastor and Rev. J. H. Harris, Presiding Elder.
During this time the top was taken off the church and raised higher.
1954-1958
Rev. David Horne was Pastor and Rev. J. H. Harris and Rev. Jay
were the Presiding Elders.
1958-1959
Rev. F. N. Rushin returned as Pastor, and Rev. Jay, Presiding Elder.
1959-1962
Rev. W. R. Jenkins was Pastor and Rev. L. W. Jay (brother to the
one
listed above) and Rev. L. R. Neal were Presiding Elders. Mr.
Charlie L.
Scott, Mr. Frank D. Bailey, Mr. Carl Williams, Mr. Rotell Gunnells,
Mr. Conolus Scott, Sr., Mr. Lammie Jarrells, Mr. George Vinson and
Mr. Enos Bailey were elected to the Steward/Trustee Boards.
1962-1982 Twenty
years Rev. T. J. Jackson served as Pastor and Rev. L. R. Neal,
Rev. Davis, Rev. McRae and Rev. J. H. Holloman as Presiding Elders.
At the time that Rev. Jackson
came to Tabor's Chapel as Pastor, the need for a new church was
very evident and the pastor and members began working toward that
goal. During the next few years, our dream of a new church
became a reality. In 1965 a new church was built. A
fellowship hall, new pews and central air were all included.
1982-1992
Some new additions were made to the church. The fellowship
hall was enlarged,
two additional bathrooms and a wheelchair ramp were added.
1992-1997 Sanctuary
walls were insulated and finished with half paneling; restrooms
were
renovated and made handicap ready; new pulpit chairs added; pews
were
padded; new sound system with taping capability was installed; outer
structure
of the church was restored and a new heating and air conditioning
unit was
installed. In February 1997, the fellowship hall was dedicated
in memory of
Mrs. Jennie V. Williams, our oldest member who lived to be 107 years
old.
1997-2001
Church van was purchased; church parking lot paved and lined and
the flooring
in the fellowship hall was replaced; new sign was added.
2001-2003 Church
was placed online
and answering service added to the phone; first
annual golf tournament held. In November 2003, the A. G. Hardaway
Gospel
Choir was dedicated in memory of our long time musician.
Tabor's Chapel was been spiritually
and prayerfully led by:
31 Pastors
25 Elders
64 Stewards and Trustees
and an unknown number of Bishops
