Wilson - Presiding Elder
The Right Kenneth Carter - Presiding Prelate
A Historical Summary
Of
Newell Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church
Victoria, MS
We Have Come This Far by Faith
1886-2016
The history of Newell Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church has been an ongoing and growing one. This church has served Victoria, Smith Corner and the surrounding areas for 130 years. The first
gather of members of the Newell Chapel CME Church began in the Lodge Hall on Cayce Road, on the Rayford Place, formerly known as the Rayford School. As the year progressed, members of this congregation worshipped with the former Taylor’s Chapel CME Church, now known as Taylor Chapel United Methodist Church. In 1886, the first church building was built on the lower portion of the land in front of the cemetery, which had a nearby cistern that was used to provide drinking water. The Hall family donated this land. It consisted of approximately four acres that were given to be used for a church and for school. The second and third church facilities were built only a few feet from the original church building. The third church was built in the center of what is now our cemetery. This church was built by Mr. The pastor at that time was Rev. A.N. Reddick. Due to severe windstorm damages, this building was later torn down and new facilities were built. This new church was built over a ditch,
which served as a basement for the church, the materials used for this construction were purchased for Mr. Clyde Neely of Byhalia, Mississippi and the work was done by Mr. Yancey Richmond. The church officers were: Alex Coleman, David Wooldridge, Mack McAuley, J. Scott, Richard Blair, Alonzo Jones, Sr., Ike Brown, Marshall Malone, Sr., Elijah Parker, Jim Rossell, Eddie Smith, Dan Jones, and Wesley Hall. In 1963, additional land was given to Newell Chapel CME Church by Mr. Claude Carrington (a white farmer) for the sole purpose of building a new church. Members of the congregation utilized their time and skills to do most of the work. The new church was completed in 1964. Mr. Alfred (Skip) Robinson contracted the bricking of the church. In 1965-66, our church doors were opened to Early Childhood Education (Head Start). At this time Rev. Massey was the Pastor,
Mr. Arvern Moore was the Executive Director and Mrs. Nola Robinson
(Center Director) and Mr. Vannie Powell was the bus driver. In 1991, Newell Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church received a modern day Moses (Rev. Charles L. Johnson). Under his leadership, we started Children’s ministry along with a visionary concept, we were led into a new renovation project which began in September 1993. The Board of Trustees served as an ecumenical resource and the renovation was completed February 1994. Napoleon Smith of Holly Springs, Mississippi was the contractor and Mr. Jasper Whitlock provided the Board of Trustees with the building floor plans. This renovation included three restrooms, hallway, pastor’s study,
stewardess room, fellowship/overflow, kitchen, altar extension, choir loft expansion, and choir room. In 1994 Rev. Spencer Mathis came to Newell Chapel as the 36th pastor, under his leadership we purchased ten acres of land, paved campus, paid off a loan of over $100,000.00, and purchased a church marquee sign. Mathis was pastor at Newell Chapel for 15 years, longer than any pastor recorded. In the 2009 Conference Year, we received our 37th pastor, Rev. Charles LeSure, the youngest pastor recorded. Our motto, “We are the church on the move for Christ.”
In 2013 conference year we were sent our 38th pastor Rev. Curtis Nelson and first Lady Shirley Reuben Nelson. A pastor who knows, “It’s all about God” we are blessed. In 2014 conference year we received Rev. Q.H. Whitlock, Jr., as our 39thpastor. Presently under his leadership we have purchased our first church van and observing Women’s (Missionary Society) Month. Our motto: “The Church with a New Spirit”.
