Outreach - The Stilson Chapel
Article # 13.
With the upcoming Spiritual Revival scheduled for our community sponsored by our church, we are reminded that the Presbyterian Church in Statesboro has always been interested in evangelism and outreach.
Starting with the very beginnings of our church–Mt. Zion at Riggs Mill was the first and from it came the Statesboro Presbyterian Church. We also have some evidence that when the Carr family (Charter members of Mt. Zion who became charter members of the Statesboro Church) left and moved to Daisy, they possibly started the Daisy Presbyterian Church, because their memberships were transferred to that church in 1898. The Daisy church must have been still in existence in 1908 because the Session Minutes show that Miss Carrie Moore (Grandmother of Brooks Sorrier, a member of our congregation) was received from the Presbyterian Church at Daisy, Ga., on April 26, 1908.
Records also indicate that the Statesboro church was responsible for the establishment of the Presbyterian churches at Metter and Swainsboro. Mr. Walter McDougald started a mission Sunday school at Clito in the 1930s which lasted until after his untimely death in 1939.
Our church tried for over 50 years to establish a permanent church in Stilson. The work was begun possibly prior to 1920, with Presbyterians meeting in homes and the Stilson School. The first members were received in 1920 while the Rev. Hartwig was our Pastor. It seems that special services (possibly a revival) were held in August of 1920–and the Session of the Statesboro church met at Stilson on August 28, 1920, to receive those first four members–all members of the Brannen family.
A spurt of growth came in the late 1930s during the pastorate of the Rev. Henry Sneed, grandfather of member Becky Deal who has moved to Macon. Another spurt of growth occurred in the late 40s and early 50s during the time Rev. Harnesberger was Stated Supply Pastor. Growth was slow during the 60s and by the time the 1970s approached, the congregation had dwindled to just a few members. In 1971, Elder Edward Blitch from the Stilson Chapel came to our Session and asked for the church to be dissolved.
During those 50 years, the pastors and elders of our church held Sunday school and church services at Stilson on Sunday afternoons.
Many of the leaders of our church were actively involved in the work, including the late members Fielding Russell, John Strickland, Don Thompson, R.J. Kennedy, Jr., and Grace Jarriel (who played the piano and taught Sunday school). During its history, a number of young seminary students served the Stilson Chapel, including the late Fielding Russell, Jr., son of Virginia, husband of Beth, and father of William.
In the early days, the Strickland family gave a lot for the building of a church, and evidently a wood structure was erected. In the 1950s a concrete block building was constructed and was dedicated in 1952. After the Stilson Church was dissolved, the property was returned to the now late Ophelia Strickland Whitney of New York, survivor of the Strickland family. Ophelia’s husband, Don Whitney, now resides in Statesboro and attends our church. (A personal note: Mr Whitney is a charming, interesting man who would love to get to know our church family. Please make an effort to meet him.)
Mrs. Whitney gave the building and property to the town of Stilson, and the building now serves as the County Community Building, housing the American Legion and the Volunteer Fire Department Station.
So, considering our history of Outreach, let us all be in serious, special prayer for the success of the 2004 spiritual Renewal of our Community.
-Dot Odom, FPC Historian