Henderson Chapel Baptist Church
Pigeon Forge TN

Welcome to Henderson Chapel Baptist Church

Visitors, may the Holy Spirit feed your soul as you visit with us. At Henderson Chapel everyone is "someone special" to Christ and His people.

Club W.O.W on Wednesday's from 6:00pm - 7:00pm is the ministry to the young people of Henderson Chapel grades 2nd through 12th. Parents of legal escorts may drop the children off at 6pm and pick them up at 7:00pm. A meal, bible lesson and fun & games await each child downstairs in the youth area of the fellowship hall.

You are invited to attend the Wednesday evening prayer and devotional meeting at 6pm in the Chapel sanctuary. It is a time to reflect on God's faithfulness, His Word and also to receive a refreshing of the Holy Spirit.

We extend a special invitation for you to attend next week's Sunday morning Bible study at 9:30am.

 

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Members of the Baptist Church of Sevierville began meeting at Henderson's Chalybeate Springs in November 1856 to escape dangers of the Civil War. In March 1860, any member so desiring was given a letter of dismission to organize a church at Henderson's Springs. Robert H. Blair was believed to be a member that served as one on the first pastor's at Henderson's Chapel Baptist Church, at that time called the Baptist Church of Christ at Henderson's Springs.

If you are interested in reading about early pastor's you may find them in the book called Tennessee's Pioneer Baptist Preachers. There is a copy in the Media Library.

In 1860 the church met every third Saturday and Sunday of each month. There was 33 members. In November 1860, each member was asked to contribute ten cents for church expenses. In 1873 there were 162 members.

The first building was logs with a dirt floor built with slave labor. The next building was a wood frame with weatherboard siding. In 1914, Mr. & Mrs. W. A. Henderson deeded the present property to the church. At this time the building was torn down and hauled by horse and wagon to its present location. Mrs. Mattie Murrell can remember her father George Sharp telling the story of how there were three rivers and creeks to "ford" across.

In 1922 after the Great Smoky Mountain National Park was established the church was offered some houses for lumber to build side rooms. Many men of the church took upon this job which took them a day to make this trip and returned later to build each side room of the auditorium.

The bell in the belfry from the Methodist Church that stood in Shiloh Cemetery. These two churches cooperated in the recreation of their people, meeting sometimes at the churches and sometimes at Pine Grove School. Day school was also held during revivals.

On August 15, 1943, 25 people were baptized in the Little Pigeon River by Rev. Joel Carr.

In 1950 it was voted to pay the Janitor $1.00 each Sunday. In 1955, T. Lee Ownby became the first salaried pastor at the salary of $1268.85.

In 1957, a three room addition classroom was added along with two restrooms and a baptistery. April 26, 1959, seventeen candidates were baptized in the new baptistery.

By 1962 additional rooms were needed and a wing was added which included classrooms and a basement. In 1972, an addition to the front was added which was the entrance hall. In 1986 the sanctuary was remodeled and new furniture was bought. In 1988, the fellowship Hall across the street was built. The ministry of the Church Library had increased significantly and in 1996 an addition was built 13 feet by 21 feet adjoining the library. The library was established in 1977 and opened in March 1978. Also in 1995-1997 the basement in the Fellowship Hall was was finished and two restrooms installed; in the church basement, the old kitchen was remodeled and made into a classroom for young adults.

In 1982, the church received 125 certificates from the Southern Baptist Convention honoring them. The Southern Baptist Convention was organized in 1886 and in 1887 its second annual meeting was held at Henderson Chapel.

New programs began in 1994 called Discipleship training on Sunday nights. A Wednesday morning prayer group was started in 1996 and in 1997 a youth group was organized named "Children of the King".

The membership grew to 306 members in 1997. At the regular Business meeting, September 7, 1997, the church voted to become an incorporated body. Also the name of the Church changed from Henderson's to Henderson Chapel. Additionally, the fiscal year was changed from October 1 thru September 30 to September 30 through August 31.