Pocahontas Church of Christ


Pocahontas Church of Christ
12020 Pea Vine Rd
Pocahontas, TN 38061
731-376-1531

Randy Mead is the preacher.

Below is a photo of the bell that was hung in 1908 with the help of J. D. Tant.

Pocahontas Bell

Pocahontas Church of Christ
The church in Pocahontas, Tennessee had its beginning almost a century ago when T. B. Larimore held the first meeting there in 1872. It was a meeting of eight days duration during which he delivered fifteen discourses that resulted in the addition of thirty-two. In a report of this meeting by Brother Larimore in the GOSPEL ADVOCATE he wrote: "The material is excellent consisting of men and women of firmness who are settled in life. They all readily agreed to meet together every Lord's day to worship the Lord. Two of the brethren thankful that the Lord had just delivered them volunteered their services to read the Bible and do all in their power in their Lord's Day meetings, for the advancement of the glorious cause."

In addition to the information given in Brother Larimore's report of the meeting, one whose membership dates back to the early period in conversation with him in California at a late period of his life, quotes him as saying: "It was the best meeting I ever had because I baptized Matt Northcross." Brother Northcross later became a faithful preacher of the gospel and baptized many in that area.

Soon after the first meeting, a meetinghouse was erected on a lot donated by W. C. Adams who was not a member of the church but who was a great admirer of Brother Larimore. A niece of Mr. Adams, Mrs. Elizabeth Stone Newland, and her sister, Agnes Stone, were largely responsible for the erection of this house. A granddaughter of Mrs. Newland, Lila Newland Curry now lives in Elk Park. N. C. and maintains the family home in Pocahontas and spends port of her time there.
R. P. Meeks, who resided in Henderson, Tenn. for many years, held the first meeting in this building and baptized Mr. and Mrs. Obe Kennedy and Mrs. Tom Tipler, the grandmother of Bessie Tipler Reed of Memphis, Tenn. and Mrs. Maymie Tipler Wardlow of Pocahontas, Tenn., who are still living and active members in the church. They furnished much of the material for this article. The latter and her husband, D. C. Wardlow attend church regularly in Pocahontas.

A tornado destroyed this building in 1880 or '81. It also destroyed all other church buildings in the town. The citizens of the community gave donations and Mr. Bill Tipler gave a lot and another house was constructed which they designated as a Baptist Church at the suggestion of Major Garrett. This was to be used by all churches in the town. The church met together for worship awhile but scattered and did not have regular worship until about 1890. However, they did have protracted meetings during the summer.

In 1907 the present house was built by donations gathered principally by Bessie Tipler Reed and Mrs. Gwen Irby Kennedy, deceased. J. D. Tant held the first meeting in it. He arrived on Friday prior to the meeting and helped place the bell in the belfry. Seeing that the inside of the building was still unpainted, he told them he would "whitewash" it with the gospel. The large bell was donated by Ben Carr, father-in-law of W. H. Owen, recently deceased, of McMinnville, Tenn.
Adam Newland and his brother Maynard did the principal part of the carpentry work on the building with the help of Will Gurley of Essary Springs and Clem Tralnum of Pocahontas. Mr. Trainum was the father of Newsom Tralnum, a faithful member there now. Recently, one of the oldest members related an incident that happened during the erection of the building. She passed along and Adam Newland told her to see if she could encourage Maynard to continue helping since he was about to quit the work. Maynnrd replied: "I have worked tor the Lord until I am about to starve to death and now I think I had better work for myself awhile." Some of the older members there now are: Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Wardlow and Albert Lawson. Some of the preachers who followed Brother Tant were: Will Crum. J. W. Dunn, Jim Dunn, G. A. Dunn Sr., J. A. Foster, and W. H. Owen. The following have served as elders and active leaders through the years: Albert Milstead, Bill J. Tipler, Joe Dukes, I. N. Roland, Dan Wright, and J. T. DePoyster. The present leaders are: Leon Isom, Leslie Fortune, Howard Parmley, Shum Ray, Lee J. Roland, and John Howell.

A few years ago, three class rooms were built and the house was bricked. Last summer they added two more class rooms, two rest rooms, and a baptistery. W. E. Wardlaw of Florence, Ala . held their meeting in 1963. A number obeyed the gospel and several were restored. They now have an average of about eighty attending the morning services and a good number attend the night Bible classes. Interest seems to be growing and since there are several fine young couples now working to build up the cause there, the future looks very bright. I have been preaching monthly for them for a year and the same good fellowship and love seem to prevail as when Brother Larimore wrote the article mentioned above.

C. P. Roland, Gospel Advocate, Feb. 6, 1964, p. 92.