Clemons

When Methodists in Polksville District organized in 1880, they elected trustees. On March 4, 1880 an acre of ground was deeded to the trustees of Polksville Church and their successors (for the sum of one dollar) by Frederick M. Gowder for his concern "for the cause of Christ and from an earnest desire to promote his heritage on earth."  It was around this time a two-story sanctuary was built.

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This Sanctuary burned, leaving the Polksville congregation without a home. They joined with the Holly Springs Baptist Church, whose sanctuary had also burned, to build a meeting house called Sunshine. In this season, Rev. Charles Clemons, a Methodist Local Pastor, solicited donations from the community and directed volunteers to construct the new building, debt-free. Then on December 17, 1903 Albert Goud Jennings, Cecilia D. Jennings, and Marie W. Jennings deeded three acres to Clemons Chapel for its new location. 

 

It was at this time members of Sunshine (Methodist) left and reformed the Polksville Church as the Clemons Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church, South. The remainder of the Methodist Congregation at Sunshine merged with Williams Chapel to form Trinity, which is still in existence today as Trinity United Methodist Church.

 

Preaching services were held once a month at Clemons Chapel. One of the early spiritual leaders of Clemons Chapel was W.W. Wiley, who was an inspiration to many young people. Once coming in a snowstorm as the only person present, he sang and prayed and held his own service himself. No fire would be made until Dr. Lockhart, who came by buggy,

and perhaps others arrived.

 

The congregation felt kindly toward the Jennings family, owners of the Glade Properties near the church (mangaed by Rev. Clemons), who were manufacturers of silk laces. The Jennings were devout members of Clinton Avenue Congregational Church in Brooklyn, N.Y. They provided the Christmas decorations for Clemons Chapel and Christmas candy and gifts for all the children.

 

After the Second World War Clemons Chapel added three Sunday School rooms to the rear of the sanctuary. The sanctuary ceiling was lowered and an exhaust fan installed. To prevent vandalism at the church a mobile home was set on the property to have someone living nearby, and all gas heaters were replaced by electric heat in the walls. Benny and Edna Nash and Alan and Quieta Griffith when they lived in the mobile home helped in maintenance of buildings and grounds. A social hall was erected under the pastorate of Rev. Hamp Buffington. In the 1980's the outdoor arbor eating area was rebuilt, and new roof placed over the Sunday School rooms and sanctuary. Walls and ceiling were painted. Storm windows, ceiling fans for the sanctuary, and carpet in the Sunday School rooms were installed. A trustee's reserve fund was established from donations and payments toward cemetery plots. The cemetery was cleaned regularly by volunteers. Trees that had grown over gravesites were cut to allow sunlight over all graves. Vacation Bible School was resumed 1984 and 1985. A one day Bible School was held a Saturday in 1987. Revivals have been held regularly the last week in July.

 

Clemons Chapel has known the rise and fall of attendance as children grew to adulthood and moved away. Few full time farmers remain as former cotton fields are now dairy or wooded areas. With each generation the worship services, revivals, fellowship occasions, Sunday School, and vacation Bible School of Clemons Chapel have revived its outreach to the families of the Glade community.

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