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There are two
institutions which have operated in a superb manner in the
mental and religious development of Scott County. They are the
rural church and the one room school.
In this
sketch I want to point with pride to one of the outstanding
country churches in this County, Culbertson's Chapel, located on
a bluff overlooking the East Fork of Valley Creek about 2 1/2 or
3 miles west of Nickelsville.
This
church was organized shortly after the close of the Civil War
under the leadership of Rev. A. H. Ingle one of the early
pastors if not indeed the first. Tradition has it that he was
the first licensed preacher of the M. E. Church south of the
Mason & Dixon
Line after the division of the church some years prior to the
Civil War. The Rev. Ingle was a pulpit orator of the highest
order. In the early years of the century I distinctly recall
hearing him a number of times. I have recently talked with the
Rev. N.P.
King who preached Ingle's funeral, and
who probably remembers more about Anthony Ingle than any other
living man.
Mr. King tells me that he to this day
regards "Autney" Ingle as one of the greatest
preachers, he has ever known. He describes him as earnest,
energetic, loyal and dedicated. N. P. King, himself is a
former pastor of the Culbertson's Chapel Church. He is very much
of the same kind of minister he pictures the Rev. Ingle to have
been. Recognition of this is fully demonstrated by the number of
funerals in all parts of the county he is called on to conduct.
Among
other preachers who have served Culbertson's Chapel with
distinction the present pastor, the Rev. Mabe and those of
yesterday like W. Vance Elliott,!. N. Todd,Lonnie
Cox, Rev. Lawson, Kenneth Williams and his son.
Two
outstanding Laymen should bl mentioned in any sketch of
Culbertson's Chapel. They are J. Mitchell Dougherty and
H. D. (Kay) Kilgore. Mitchell
is now 90 years old.
For the
past 75 years he has been an active worker in his church. A
regular attendant at every service, he has served more than
seventy yea r s either or both as Sunday school teacher and
Sunday School superintendent. The magnificient work he has done
during all these years is amaging to contemplate. For his church
his community and country he has been and still is a valiant
soldier. If these were such an office as Bishop of laymen, J.
Mitchell Dougherty should be the layman to fill it.
"Happy
the man who in the evening of life can look back on days well
spent and duties well performed.
Likewise
H. D. (Kay) Kilgore loves the Lord and His work with a zeal and
devotion unexcelled. To attend a service at the Culbertson's
Chapel, to hear the gospel singing of Kay Kilgore, to hear the
prayers to observe the reverence of all those fine people is
refreshing and delightful to the spiritual life of any
Christian.
The present church building was dedicated
in 1905. Dr. J. J. 'Manker of Chattanooga preached the
dedicatory sermon. The building is a frame structure which in
recent years has been remodeled and modernized. The church pews
and other 'furniture are beautifully simple and simply
beautiful. A good heating system, good lights and well kept
grounds make it one of the most attractive country churches in a
wide area. If you want to worship in a quiet, reverent
atmosphere with a dedicated and a hospitable people, by all
means give yourself a treat sometime by going to Culbertson's
Chapel.
The
products of the church are business men, preachers, doctors and
other professions widely scattered now but many of them make
annual pilgrimages back to where they worshpiped
in youth.
The Rev.
E. Gordon Gillespie was a native of the community. He and all
his family were members of the church and Gordon did very much
of his early preaching there. He later filled important
pastorates in Gate City and in Tennessee. His two surviving
brothers, Charlie M. and J. W., leading business men of Coeburn
I am told, still have their membership at Culbertson's Chapel.
"Blest be the tie that binds. "
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