Old McKendree Chapel celebrates bicentennial

Ben Matthews

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Hundreds of congregants from Methodist churches throughout southeast Missouri and further gather Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson to celebrate the church's bicentennial with food trucks, games, and a camp style worship service. The celebration commemorated the 200th anniversary of the chapel's construction, built under the leadership of Rev. John Scripps on land donated by William Williams, and the 200th anniversary of Missouri's first annual conference, held Sept. 14, 1819, in the newly constructed McKendree Chapel. Choir members from nine area churches combined voices to form the Southeast District Choir under the direction of Misty Rivers, and Bishop Robert Farr delivered the sermon for the bicentennial worship service.

Congregants from Methodist churches throughout southeast Missouri gather for the 200th anniversary of Old McKendree Chapel on Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Jackson mayor Dwain Hahs speaks about the role McKendree Chapel has played in the community during a bicentennial celebration Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Misty Rivers directs the Southeast District Choir in the singing of "He Touched Me" before the start of a camp style worship service Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. Rivers also serves as a choir director at Saxony Lutheran and Grace United Methodist. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Misty Rivers directs the Southeast District Choir, comprised of choir members from nine Methodist churches in the area, in the singing of "By Faith" during a worship service Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Bishop Robert Farr of the Missouri Conference United Methodist Church delivers the sermon during a bicentennial worship service Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Choir members use fans to block the sun while listening to a sermon delivered by Bishop Robert Farr of the Missouri Conference United Methodist Church during a bicentennial celebration Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Congregants from Methodist churches throughout southeast Missouri listen as Bishop Robert Farr of the Missouri Conference United Methodist Church delivers the sermon at a bicentennial worship service Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Descendants of the founding members of Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson sit together Sept. 22, 2019, during a worship service to conclude the church's bicentennial celebration. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Bishop Robert Farr of the Missouri Conference United Methodist Church is seen through a window and doorframe at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson on Sept. 22, 2019, during the church's bicentennial celebration. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Ken Winders of Bertrand, Missouri, sits at the front of a section of choir members Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. Winders is a member of the choir at Wesley United Methodist in Sikeston. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Rev. William Minor, of Wesley United Methodist Church in Jackson, uses ventriloquism to tell the story of handmade puppet "Charlie Chapel" during a bicentennial celebration Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Mary Harriet Talbut wells with emotion while leading the Benediction to conclude a bicentennial service Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
United Methodist Church district superintendent Bruce Baxter, left, and La Croix Methodist Church senior pastor Ron Watts, right, converse with Bishop Robert Farr of the Missouri Conference United Methodist Church on Sept. 22, 2019, after the conclusion of a bicentennial celebration at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh, right, laughs while talking to Bishop Robert Farr of the Missouri Conference United Methodist Church and retired Methodist pastor Jim Dace, left, after a worship service Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. The service concluded a celebration commemorating the 200th anniversary of McKendree Chapel, built under the leadership of Rev. John Scripps on land donated by William Williams, and the 200th anniversary of Missouri's first annual conference held Sept. 14, 1819, in the newly constructed McKendree Chapel. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Centenary UMC member Avon Crocker, center, exchanges a look with Donna Taake of Gordonville Zion UMC, while viewing historical displays Sept. 22, 2019, inside Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Guests view a quilt made up of squares bearing sewn depictions of Methodist churches throughout Missouri during a bicentennial celebration Sept. 22, 2019, at Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Amy Hodges, left, a member of Nelson Memorial UMC in East Prarie, talks to New McKendree Chapel member Brenda Wendling and Whitewater UMC member Karron Kidd on Sept. 22, 2019, inside Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
California resident Paul Giboney, center left, and Virginia resident Eric Giboney step through the doorway of Old McKendree Chapel in Jackson on Sept. 22, 2019, after attending a worship service to conclude the church's bicentennial celebration. The Giboneys are descendants of James Giboney, one of Old McKendree Chapel's original members who worked as a carpenter and assisted in the chapel's construction. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)