Montgomery Grove/Tabor's Chapel Colored Methodist
Church was established in 1859. The land for the Montgomery Grove Church site was
donated by Mr. Cash Montgomery and the church was located near the Madison-Franklin County
line on north Highway 106.
Pastors, Presiding Elders, Stewards and Trustees to
serve Montgomery Grove were as follows:
1859-1865
Rev. Penegrass was Pastor and Rev.
White Presiding Elder
Stewards and Trustees were: Mr. Nathan Tabor, Mrs. Paul Scott,
Mr. Sam Jarrells and Mr. Press Mayfield
1865-1873
Rev. Stinson was Pastor and Rev. Hosley
Presiding Elder
Elected to the Steward/Trustee Board were: Mr. Dock Daniels,
Mr. Bob Walker, Mr. Jones Hopkins and Mr. Billy Carruth
1873-1899
Rev. Carter was Pastor and Rev. Hosely Presiding Elder.
Elected Stewards/Trustees were: Mr. Tom Griffin, Mr. John Wilhite,
Mr. Abe Scorr and Mr. Will Williams
After forty years as Montgomery Grove, the church
site was moved to its present location in 1899 on land donated by Mr. Cape Tabor, and thus
given the name Tabor's Chapel Colored Methodist Episcopal Church. The following
Pastors, Presiding Elders, Stewards and Trustees have served the Tabor's Chapel
establishment.
1899-1903
Rev. Joe Ellis was Pastor and Rev.
Livingston Presiding Elder.
Steward and Trustee Boards remained teh same as the year before.
1903-1905
Rev. Chiles, Pastor and Rev. O. R. Jackson
Presiding Elder.
1905-1907
Rev. Wadell, Pastor and Rev. Carter,
Presiding Elder.
Elected to the Board of Stewards and Trustees were: Mr. Ben Brown,
Mr. Tom Hancock, Mr. Armenus Gunnells and Mr. Jim Tabor.
1907-1918
Rev. M. J. Jones, Pastor and Rev. Sanders and Rev. Gladen were
Presiding Elders. Mr. Will Tabor, Mr. George Jarrells, Mr. Bob McKeever
and Mr. John Gunnells were elected to the Steward/Trustee Boards.
1918-1919
Rev. J. N. Bailey, Pastor, Rev. Gladen, Presiding Elder.
1919-1920
Rev. J. E. Murray, Pastor, Rev. Gladen,
Presiding Elder.
1920-1923
Rev. Pitts, Pastor, Rev. Gladen, Presiding Elder.
1923-1926
Rev. Johnson, Pastor and Rev. Jenkins, Presiding Elder.
1926-1927
Rev. Wilcox, Pastor and Rev. Holloway, Presiding Elder.
1927-1929
Rev. McCaister, Pastor and Rev. Holloway, Presiding Elder.
1929-1933
Rev. Green, Pastor and Rev. Holloway, Presiding Elder.
Mr. Isaiah Williams, Mr. Walt McWhorter, Mr. Will Scott and
Mr. Joe Williams were elected to the Steward/Trustee Boards.
1933-1936
Rev. Wise, Pastor and Rev. Murray, Presiding Elder.
Tabor's Chapel burned to the ground in 1934 and was
rebuilt in 1935 by Mr. Dwayne McKeever and Mr. Monroe Pinkston. Mr. Allen Smith, Mr.
Young Scott, Mr. James Bailey and Mr. Preston Williams were elected to the Steward/Trustee
Boards.
1936-1940 Rev.
S. S. Brewer, Pastor and Rev. Murray, Presiding Elder.
Mr. Phinez Bailey, Mr. Dan Gunnells and Mr. Calvin McWhorter were
elected to the Steward/Trustee Boards.
1940-1942 Rev.
Wheeler was Pastor and Rev. Barnes, Presiding Elder.
1942-1943 Rev.
Plummer was Pastor and Rev. Barnes, Presiding Elder.
1943-1944 Rev.
Buggs was Pastor and Rev. Beckum, Presiding Elder.
1944-1946 Rev.
Glaze, Pastor and Rev. Mackmas, Presiding Elder.
1946-1948
Rev. Counter, Pastor and Rev. Mackmas, Presiding
Elder.
Mr. Claude Hancock, Mr. Henry Wilhite, Mr. Green Hancock and
Mr. Jimmy Bailey were elected to the Board of Stewards/Trustees.
1948-1950
Rev. McLaughlin, Pastor and Rev. Mackmas and Rev. J. H. Harris,
Presiding Elders.
1950-1954
Rev. F. N. Rushin was Pastor and Rev. J. H. Harris, Presiding Elder.
During this time the top was taken off the church and raised higher.
1954-1958
Rev. David Horne was Pastor and Rev. J. H. Harris and Rev. Jay
were the Presiding Elders.
1958-1959
Rev. F. N. Rushin returned as Pastor, and Rev. Jay, Presiding Elder.
1959-1962
Rev. W. R. Jenkins was Pastor and Rev. L. W. Jay (brother to the one
listed above) and Rev. L. R. Neal were Presiding Elders. Mr. Charlie L.
Scott, Mr. Frank D. Bailey, Mr. Carl Williams, Mr. Rotell Gunnells,
Mr. Conolus Scott, Sr., Mr. Lammie Jarrells, Mr. George Vinson and
Mr. Enos Bailey were elected to the Steward/Trustee Boards.
1962-1982
Twenty years Rev. T. J. Jackson served as
Pastor and Rev. L. R. Neal,
Rev. Davis, Rev. McRae and Rev. J. H. Holloman as Presiding Elders.
At the time that Rev. Jackson came to Tabor's Chapel
as Pastor, the need for a new church was very evident and the pastor and members began
working toward that goal. During the next few years, our dream of a new church
became a reality. In 1965 a new church was built. A fellowship hall, new pews
and central air were all included.
1982-1992 Some
new additions were made to the church. The fellowship hall was enlarged,
two additional bathrooms and a wheelchair ramp were added.
1992-1997
Sanctuary walls were insulated and finished with half
paneling; restrooms were
renovated and made handicap ready; new pulpit chairs added; pews were
padded; new sound system with taping capability was installed; outer structure
of the church was restored and a new heating and air conditioning unit was
installed. In February 1997, the fellowship hall was dedicated in memory of
Mrs. Jennie V. Williams, our oldest member who lived to be 107 years old.
1997-2001 Church
van was purchased; church parking lot paved and lined and the flooring
in the fellowship hall was replaced; new sign was added.
2001-2003
Church was placed online and answering service added to
the phone; first
annual golf tournament held. In November 2003, the A. G. Hardaway Gospel
Choir was dedicated in memory of our long time musician.
Tabor's Chapel was been spiritually and prayerfully
led by:
31 Pastors
25 Elders
64 Stewards and Trustees
and an unknown number of Bishops
