A History of Bennett's Chapel Church by Rebecca H. Good for the Warren Heritage Society

 

Today known as Airport Road, Route 615 in the Fork District of Warren County was once known as Charity Road, leading past old Charity Church, a log meeting house situated on a small hillside close to Cabin Run. On April 2, 1847, William Leary and his wife, Elizabeth, deeded three acres of land to John Bell, George Bell, Joseph Amiss, Henry Steed, and Wayman Forsyth for the establishment of a Methodist Chapel. This church served as the predecessor of Bennett's Chapel and was active until the 1880s when the deed for Bennett's Chapel was made in 1886.

 

On September 29, 1892, the trustees of Charity Church, Jonas Baker, Daniel F. Maddox, and Lewis Coverstone, conveyed the land to Thomas J. Stokes, the then-owner of the property from which the church lot was obtained. It was mentioned that the building was used both as a church on Sundays and as a schoolhouse during the week. Later, the school was relocated to the land of the present Bennett's Chapel. It's mentioned that a large flat rock in the lawn at Bennett's Chapel marks the doorstep of that school, which later burned. This recollection aligns with the deed to the Bennett's Chapel lot, which describes the spot as the location "where a public school once stood, known as School No. 3 or Bennett's School House, which was burned down." The deed for Bennett's Chapel was made on August 25, 1886, by John R. and Ann V. Menefee, the son-in-law and daughter of Richard Bennett, for whom the present church is named.

 

Around the same time that Charity Church was built, the Baptists living along Cabin Run moved to establish a church of their own. The deed dated August 18, 1848, mentioned that the church was known as "Hope." It was also constructed of logs and stood just across Cabin Run from the William Esteppe home.

 

According to Mr. Silas Laing, both Hope and Charity were attended by circuit riders who rode in on Saturdays to spend the night with one of the church families. He also remembered the wedding day of Robert and Thomas Stokes, brothers, to Sarah and Amanda Steed, sisters, as he saw the two couples ride by his house on horseback to Charity Church to get married on October 1, 1885.

 

The old Charity Church stood on Cabin Run and was a large log building, which was sold around 1890, and the funds were used in the construction of Bennett's Chapel several miles away. The logs were purchased by Mr. F. J. Stokes for a very small sum and were used to build a residence and storehouse near the old church site.

 

Following participation in the Union classes throughout the district, the Bennett's Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church was established in 1886 with a congregation of 75 members. The church was dedicated on June 12, 1887, and Rev. D. L. Reed was the pastor at that time. The lumber for the construction of the church was transported by barge from a mill in Shenandoah, Virginia, and was hauled from the river to the church site by the Baker family. The church building itself was erected by the men of the church with the help of some friends.

 

At that time, Route 619 was a narrow and sandy road with deep dust during the summer months and was rarely traveled in winter. No services were conducted in the winter months due to the short days and the long distance many families traveled to attend the church. During the rest of the year, services started at 3:00 in the afternoon.

 

In 1888, an organ was purchased for the church, and all the girls in the church received free lessons. Janie Menefee, daughter of Ann Menefee, served as the organist for nearly all her life. A stove was installed, allowing the church to conduct services in the winter. Before that, due to the number of churches on the Warren Charge (8 churches), they only met once a month. Rev. Bush, a missionary, served as the pastor.