A Brief History of Matheny United Methodist Church About the year 1880 the first settlers of this community, without the aid of a pastor, started an old log school house which stood on the site of the old and new church. Sometime between 1880 and 1894, a Methodist circuit rider by the name of Conway come into the community and finding it largely Methodist faith in belief succeeded in organizing a Methodist congregation. The first name considered for the church was Stewart Chapel. Stewart was at the time the name of the first school. This church name was chosen in honor of such God fearing people as Robert Stewart who gave land for a church building, William Stewart, under whose supervision the church was built, Charles Stewart who donated the logs for lumber. Other families always joined in work on this church. There are other names that deserve honorable mention: Uncle Lon Scott hauled the logs for Charley Ferg's place and in turn hauled the completed lumber back to the church location. George Lambert sawed and plained lumber from the logs thus delivered. lambert owned the small Frick steam engine that powered the saw and plaining mill at the present mouth of Bear Branch location. His family, and expecially his two older daughters, Mary who became the wife of K.A. Stewart and Bertha who became the wife o Gilver Walker. These two daughters turned head blocks in sawing the church lumber. The Walker families also contributed to the completion of this first church. However, in the year 1894 Rev. Al Matheny came to the charge and it was under his leadership that a church was actually built. It was in his honor that the church was named Matheny Chapel Methodist Church. The first trustees of the church were Charles P. Stewart, G.E. Lambert and David C. Bailey. The old frame building continued to be used for well over half a century until under the leadership of Rev. Henry Shuck, 1951-53, the present new church was constructed on the ground adjacent to the old church. Building Committee Chairmen who served during the period of consturction were: Chess H. Stewart, John R. Shumate and O. Hobart Stewart, Ralph E. Stewart served as secretary and treasurer during the entire period. Under the pastorate of Rev. A.F. clendenin, 1953-57 the new church was completed and furnished. ALL indebtedness was paid. On this day of Homecoming this church has a membership of 116. Ministers who have served the Matheny Church from the beginning in 1891 are to date: Conway, Al Matheny, Emsley Rollins, L.G. Hutchins, Billy Stewart, White, Hicks, Givins, Elkins, Perry, Wade Worth, Hatfield, Smith, Garton, Shelton, Hohnson, Harbour, Koplinger, Arnold Belcher, O.H. Huffman, Orville Belcher, Paynter, Henry Shuch, A.F. Clendenin, Toney, Moses, Dunnagan, Wiley Smith, Montie Ball, Gravely, Gillispie, May Cottrell, Ralph Whitten, James Steel, Earnest Boyde and William Holmes. Research and Preparation by, Ralph Stewart August 12, 1991. Since this was written we have had three additional Ministers. Rev Tim Conrad, Rev. Richard "Rick" Chester and the Present Pastor Rev. Warren Dove. Sunday School rooms and a kitchen/dining room were added in the 80's. A new Sign was added in 2004 and the dinning Room was enlarged in the spring of 2007.