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Longs Chapel United Methodist Church
History:
The history of Long's Chapel United Methodist Church's service to God and man began in 1859 with the establishment of a community of worshipers at the Richland Institute at Tuscola (now Lake Junaluska), North Carolina. That worship services started at this school was a natural consequence, as the principles of the school were ministers from the Methodist Holston Conference of Tennessee. These individuals included the Rev. James R. Long, for whom the congregation was named when the first dedicated church building was constructed in 1892. That building, "the little white church", served the rural community through the Civil and First World Wars.
The years in the little white church were marked by a gradual growth, as the congregation began its tradition of ministering to the established community while, at the same time, embracing new comers. By 1929, the growth of the congregation and the passage of time had made the old structure unsuitable for the needs of the future.
Consequently, a new sanctuary and educational rooms were dedicated just prior to the start of the Great Depression. For the congregation, the need for more educational space was as great, and possibly even greater, as the need for an expanded area for worship. This emphasis on education is a hallmark of Long's Chapel and is fitting considering its inception in a schoolhouse.
Until 1932, Longs Chapel was part of a circuit, where one minister served several small churches. This was characteristic of early rural Methodist Churches. In 1932, Long's Chapel became a single church appointment, meaning that it began a new chapter in its history with a dedicated pastor. Of course, having a dedicated pastor meant that there was a need to provide housing for the pastor and his family. Consequently, in 1933, the first parsonage was built. In 1979, the sanctuary was enlarged and classrooms were renovated.
The years of the great Depression, World War II, and the civil rights era were ones of turmoil within the American society. While Long's Chapel was not exempt from this turmoil, it early on embraced women and minorities within its fold. Women began to assume formal leadership roles. Early in the Civil rights era, the chief usher asked instructions from the Official Board regarding admitting "our colored friends" to worship services. The direction of the Board was "to seat them", which was done. This period also marked Long's Chapel taking a leadership role in supporting missions, both within the United States and throughout the world. Locally, 1965 saw the establishment of a church-operated weekday kindergarten program. After North Carolina initiated a state wide public kindergarten program, Long's Chapel's program refocused onto the pre-school area. Long's Chapel also has long supported Scouting programs for youth in the community.
By the late 1990's, the church had again outgrown its facilities. So, in 2001, the new and current sanctuary and more classrooms were built. While the new facility is barely five years old, the phenomenal response of the community to the message and outreach of Long's Chapel has resulted in the start of planning for the space to allow continued growth.
More important than a history of its facilities is the history of the warmth and sense of fellowship experienced at Long's Chapel. This feeling of a spiritual home within the community has characterized Long's Chapel. In the publication of church history by Rev. Joseph W. Lasley, printed in 1992, can be found the following words. "While this loyalty of long-time members is deep, there is also an openness that welcomes and gladly receives others into fellowship. ...the church which began in the Richland Institute School is an old established institution in its community and does have a number of members whose families' spiritual roots are planted in the beginnings of the church. Because of this, the church could be parochial and narrow in its acceptance of persons who did not grow up in its parish area. In the past, this attitude probably was present to some degree, but in most of its history, and in the past two decades especially, the warm welcome given to all who come, regardless of where their roots are planted, is remarkable."
"Another factor that contributes to the strength and vitality of Long's Chapel in 1992 is the inter-generational character of the church program. The spiritual needs of the youngest children, and the needs of the most senior of adults, and those in between, are being met, some times in the same scheduled events. Like the population in general, Long's Chapel has a goodly number of retired persons within its fellowship, but at the same time the number of young adult parents with school-aged children is also large. The two groups work in good harmony together, each complementing the other."
These words, written a decade and a half ago, are just as true today. So, in a sense, the history of Long's Chapel is not in its facilities but in the spirit and warmth of those who make the church their spiritual home. You are invited to come "home" to Long's Chapel and become part of the continuing history.
The history of Long's Chapel United Methodist Church's service to God and man began in 1859 with the establishment of a community of worshipers at the Richland Institute at Tuscola (now Lake Junaluska), North Carolina. That worship services started at this school was a natural consequence, as the principles of the school were ministers from the Methodist Holston Conference of Tennessee. These individuals included the Rev. James R. Long, for whom the congregation was named when the first dedicated church building was constructed in 1892. That building, "the little white church", served the rural community through the Civil and First World Wars.
The years in the little white church were marked by a gradual growth, as the congregation began its tradition of ministering to the established community while, at the same time, embracing new comers. By 1929, the growth of the congregation and the passage of time had made the old structure unsuitable for the needs of the future.
Consequently, a new sanctuary and educational rooms were dedicated just prior to the start of the Great Depression. For the congregation, the need for more educational space was as great, and possibly even greater, as the need for an expanded area for worship. This emphasis on education is a hallmark of Long's Chapel and is fitting considering its inception in a schoolhouse.
Until 1932, Longs Chapel was part of a circuit, where one minister served several small churches. This was characteristic of early rural Methodist Churches. In 1932, Long's Chapel became a single church appointment, meaning that it began a new chapter in its history with a dedicated pastor. Of course, having a dedicated pastor meant that there was a need to provide housing for the pastor and his family. Consequently, in 1933, the first parsonage was built. In 1979, the sanctuary was enlarged and classrooms were renovated.
The years of the great Depression, World War II, and the civil rights era were ones of turmoil within the American society. While Long's Chapel was not exempt from this turmoil, it early on embraced women and minorities within its fold. Women began to assume formal leadership roles. Early in the Civil rights era, the chief usher asked instructions from the Official Board regarding admitting "our colored friends" to worship services. The direction of the Board was "to seat them", which was done. This period also marked Long's Chapel taking a leadership role in supporting missions, both within the United States and throughout the world. Locally, 1965 saw the establishment of a church-operated weekday kindergarten program. After North Carolina initiated a state wide public kindergarten program, Long's Chapel's program refocused onto the pre-school area. Long's Chapel also has long supported Scouting programs for youth in the community.
By the late 1990's, the church had again outgrown its facilities. So, in 2001, the new and current sanctuary and more classrooms were built. While the new facility is barely five years old, the phenomenal response of the community to the message and outreach of Long's Chapel has resulted in the start of planning for the space to allow continued growth.
More important than a history of its facilities is the history of the warmth and sense of fellowship experienced at Long's Chapel. This feeling of a spiritual home within the community has characterized Long's Chapel. In the publication of church history by Rev. Joseph W. Lasley, printed in 1992, can be found the following words. "While this loyalty of long-time members is deep, there is also an openness that welcomes and gladly receives others into fellowship. ...the church which began in the Richland Institute School is an old established institution in its community and does have a number of members whose families' spiritual roots are planted in the beginnings of the church. Because of this, the church could be parochial and narrow in its acceptance of persons who did not grow up in its parish area. In the past, this attitude probably was present to some degree, but in most of its history, and in the past two decades especially, the warm welcome given to all who come, regardless of where their roots are planted, is remarkable."
"Another factor that contributes to the strength and vitality of Long's Chapel in 1992 is the inter-generational character of the church program. The spiritual needs of the youngest children, and the needs of the most senior of adults, and those in between, are being met, some times in the same scheduled events. Like the population in general, Long's Chapel has a goodly number of retired persons within its fellowship, but at the same time the number of young adult parents with school-aged children is also large. The two groups work in good harmony together, each complementing the other."
These words, written a decade and a half ago, are just as true today. So, in a sense, the history of Long's Chapel is not in its facilities but in the spirit and warmth of those who make the church their spiritual home. You are invited to come "home" to Long's Chapel and become part of the continuing history.