In the early days of Bon Jellico most people attended the Briar Creek Baptist Church in Williamsburg. However before long, Sunday School was held in the Bon Jellico schoolhouse. While most Bon residents belonged to the Baptists denomination, everyone went. “So that other faiths wouldn’t think we Baptist had priority, we used David C. Cook literature”. (David C. Cook published literature that was non-denominational.) The community leaders asked Cumberland College to send “..us a preacher boy (and we had some doozy’s) to preach on Sunday morning.” In 1922 leaders organized a Missionary Baptist Church, which met once each month and later every Sunday.

    The church community at Bon was a vital part of the camp life with active Sunday School classes for Nursery (babies to 3 years), Beginners (four to seven), Juniors (eight to twelve), Young People (thirteen to sixteen), Young Adults, and Older Adults. The Beginners class was also called the “Card Class” as the lesson was taught from cards containing bible scenes and stories. Services were held on Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night. Two of the preachers at Bon were Charlie Steely and Alf Jones.

    Bon Jellico had wonderful singers. Mr. M.G. (Melt) Lovitt led the singing from the shaped-note hymnal. Josiah Douglas (pronounced “Josar”) was a music teacher who held periodic music schools with the shaped note hymnals.

Bon Jellico Church Information Index
(From Rev. Charlie Steely)

Back         Next