History
A History Of The First Years Of Reeds Chapel Christian Church, by Connie Ivy, as published in the Heritage of Stone Volume XII Number 1 (1988)
School, in the community southeast of Marcella, was held at Sale Creek in the early 1900’s. Herman Hess was one of the teachers. In 1915, the Salt Creek School was torn down and moved. The location was to be in the Reed field, a field John H. Gray had bought from Mr. Reed. A house on Salt Creek was torn down and the lumber was used to build the school. Bob Fortune started the school.
Around 1947, Mrs. Blair, a widow, owned a farm on White River between Salt Creek and the Reed field. She was then residing in Batesville and attending the First Christian Church there. She told her minister, Raymond Phillips, about the community in which her farm was located. They decided to look into the idea of beginning services in the community. They took a picnic lunch and went to visit.
They had their picnic in the summer of 1948 at the spring located behind the present site of Mrs. Addie Vicker’s house. Mrs. Blair introduced Mr. Phillips to some of the families around there. Since there was no church in the community, Mr. Phillips asked if he might preach sometime. This seemed agreeable and a date was set for the next Wednesday. The date was later changed to Sunday afternoon. Attendance was good so they continued this practice and later held a revival, with Mr. Phillips doing the preaching. Seven people joined the church the first night, Fred and Myrtle Ivy, Joanne Vickers, Jessie, Irene and Carl McGuffie, and Gertrude Hess (Mrs. George).
The church had it’s share of problems getting started. Within one year, the school was consolidated with the neighboring community of Pleasant Grove. The new church would also need a new place to meet. In 1948, land was donated by Mr. Bob Fortune, money was also donated by the First Christian Church of Batesville, and the building was moved from the Reed field to the present location on the highway. Mr. Phillips served as pastor until 1950. Records show there were no officers of the church during that time due to the fact that no one felt qualified or wished to lead. Everyone just pitched in and worked together. The pulpit and communion table were made by George Hess. An organ was received and used until a piano was donated by the First Christian Church at Batesville. The need for a bell was reported in the newspaper. Mack Crow of Marked Tree, AR responded with the gift of a bell. Mr. Phillips left in 1950 to teach at Lincoln Bible College in Lincoln, Illinois. He returned in 1959 to dedicate a new building for Reed’s Chapel Christian Church.
Other pastors of the church are: 1950-54 Royal Barber; 1956-58 R.L. Elkins; 1963-75 Tom Bolby; 1977-79 Virgil Thompson; 1979-80 Arnold Whitler; 1980-82 Oliver Walker; 1982-85 Ted Squires and present pastor is Dean Stoops.
Early members were: Fred and Myrtle Ivy, Jo Ann Vickers, Jessie, Irene and Carl McGuffie, George and Gertrude Hess, Otha and Mamie Kirkland, Neal and Annie Ivy, S.L. and Allie Ivy, Doug and Barb Mitchell, Hamp and June Smith, Dave and Ann Baxter, John and Lee Ann Baxter John Gordan, Melt and Betty Irskin, George and Marilyn Ivy, Walter and Thelma Case, Rich and Addie Vickers, Bob and Mattie Fortune, Daurice Norton, Mr. and Mrs. Gormley, W.H. Blevens, Claude and Broncho Fortune, Ruth Bangs, Ed Russ, and Atha Martin.
1988 marks forty years since the people in the Reeds Chapel Christian Church seized the opportunity to build a place to build a place to worship. It has grown and held the community together in these years.