STARK METHODIST

Stark Methodist Church was organized in 1883.  The plot of land for the Church was purchased in June 1883 from W. H. Giles.  the land was deeded from W. H. Giles to J. C. Maddox, W. T. C. Redman, H. T. Barnes, and Obe Hendrick for the Methodist Episcopal Church South for the sum of "twenty-two and one half dollars" cash in the hand for the "tract of land containing in all one and one half (1 1/2) acres of land.  Early papers show that "Dempsey & Wynne, a firm composed of T. J. Dempsey and W. B. Wynne, and doing a mercantile business in the town of Jackson...held a mortgage deed given by W. H. Giles to secure the payment a certain note described in said mortgage ... for the purchase of erecting a house of Worship."  The document was signed by Reverend C. W. Weathers on June 16, 1883.  

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Additional land was purchased October 1, 1890 from John McClure for the sum of eight dollars ($8.00).  It was deeded to James C. Maddox, John Moore, W. T. Barnes and L. B. Moore trustees in the Methodist Episcopal Church South for the graveyard at Stark Church.  The land between the Church and cemetery was purchased from Willis McClure November 8, 1965.  Willis McCLure deeded .288 acres more or less to Stark Methodist Church.  

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The Church was first names Weather's Chapel, for C. V. Weathers, the first pastor.  Later this name was changed to "Stark" to reflect the name of the community.  Stark Church was formed by the consolidation of Keys Church and Pleasant Grove Church.  Keys' Church was located on the land owned by Mr. S. J. Ireland.  The Butts Co. History indicates that Keys' Church was located about two miles from Worthville.  It was devolved in 1883 or 1884 when some of the members helped to build Stark church.  Pleasant Grove Church was located on Georgia Highway 16 about 8 miles east of Jackson.  The Congregational Methodist and the M. E. Methodist used the same building at Pleasant Grove.  When the M. E. Methodist came to Stark, they sold their part in the building to the Congregations Methodist.  Keys and Pleasant Grove consolidated because there were so many small, scattered Methodist churches they had a difficult time becoming strong.  About 1890, the people who had formed the old Keys Church pulled out and organized what was Worthville Church.  The people who had form the Pleasant Grove M. E. Church later pulled out from Stark and worshiped under a brush arbor off Georgia Highway 16 near the Oak Hill School building.  This organized church was called Oak Hill.  Later when a building was built the Church was named Bulah.  

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Over the years Mr. Jim Maddox and his large family moved to Flovilla, the Harper family moved to Stark, the Roberts family moved to South Georgia, thus only a few families remained who had been the "backbones" of the church; therefore, the Church died.  Later the families who were left in the old Bulah Church joined with others and organized Moore's Chapel, which according to the Butts Co. History was built in 1899 on land given by Mrs. O. W. Moore.  It was a Baptist Church, which was the last church in that neighborhood.  The Butts co. History states that it stood in the triangle west of Pittman Family Cemetery just off Highway 16 near the Ocmulgee Bridge.

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At the time of the organization of the Church, Stark was on the Flovilla Charge.  According to the Butts Co. History the Flovilla Charge was originally in the Griffin District.  It was later assigned to the South Atlanta District in 1892.  Stark was later placed on the Jenkinsburg Charge, where it remained until 1974.  In 1895, the Jenkinsburg Charge was composed of New Hope, Worthville, Island Shoals, Jenkinsburg, and Stark Churches.  The entire charge paid the pastor $255.00 per annum.  In 1902, it was composed of Beulah, Stark, Jenkinsburg, and Worthville.  In 1903, it was composed of Stark, Jenkinsburg, Worthville, New Hope, and Beulah.  In 1951 the Charge was composed of Jenkinsburg, Worthville, England's Chapel, Flovilla, Pleasant Hill, and Stark and the entire Charge paid $2559.00.  

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We still worship in the same building, which was built when the Church was organized.  When the Church was first built, it was an unpainted, unsealed, hulled-in, frame building.  Originally it was a large rectangular room.  In early years a pot-bellied stove was the center of the room to provide heat.  Oil lamps along the walls were used for lighting.  During the year, many outstanding improvements have been made to the building to make it the comfortable and attractive place of worship which it is today.  A new coat of paint was put on inside and outside the building in 1921.  It was painted outside and inside again before 1951.  Electric lights were added when Rural Electrification became available in 1939.  Other improvements made by the early fifties were the addition of four church school rooms, a vestibule built at the front, concrete steps added to the front of the building, new carpet on the floor, venetian blinds were added and installation of gas heating system.  

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With every house, there are a few things of sentimental value as well as monetary value.  Such things in this Church are: (1) a little bell used for reassembling the church school classes which was give the Church by Mrs. Leola Redman, wife of C. L. Redman, (2) a second bell used in the fifties was given by Mr. Wilford Shirley, (3) the clock on the wall (presently in the hallway leading to the Fellowship Hall) was bought by J. Matt McMichael (4) the picture of Christ (presently located in the Chapel) was given by Walstein O’Neal and Edith O'Neal Spruill, (5) a large white vase and copper flower container was made by Mrs. McMichael, (6) the song books used int he fifties, "Favorite Songs and Hymns," were given by A. G. Potts, (7) two communion table cloths were given by Miss Lunette Kitchens.

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The parsonage of the Flovilla Charge was located in Flovilla.  About 1888, Stark was placed on the Jenkinsburg Mission.  The preset parsonage at Jenkinsburg Charge parsonage was being built, the pastor, R. A. Eakes, lived at Stark in the house owned by W. L. White and occupied by Tommy Leverette in 1951.  In 1908, the preacher (B. F. Dodson) did not live in the parsonage, and it was rented out for $5.00 a month.  In 1896, the Charge parsonage was valued at $700.00.  That year the parsonage trustees were instructed to ensure the parsonage and cover the barn.  

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The Methodist parsonage has always demanded the attention of the people just as any other home does.  Throughout the years, work was done on the Jenkinsburg Charge parsonage.  In the Quarterly Conference minutes, we find the parsonage receiving much attention in 1928 when it was remodeled, repaired and painted.  The lumber for the remodeling was donated by J. E. McMichael.  In 193, a garage was built with J. M. and J. E. McMichael sawing and contributing the lumber.  This garage burned in 1949 and was replaced in the late forties.  In 1938, the parsonage located in Jenkinsburg ...(need to pick up on page 9)

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*** Complete History is currently in progress.