The Members' Stories of the
Methodist Church on Knotts Island
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These are personal accounts of the Knotts Island Methodist Church.

Image of a writing by Izola Bonney

A letter from Tunis Corbin

Commentary from Jane Brumley

Commentary from Frank Jennings

Pictures from Amber Woodward

"An Old Fashioned Sunday" from an unknown member

The need of an Educational Building from H. G. Jones, Sr.

Sunday School from the Carole Strawhand Collection

From the Homecoming Bulletin of 1982

Izola Bonney: This is Izola Bonney's answer to the question "What does Knotts Island United Methodist mean to You?" This is from the May 15, 1994  homecoming program.

 

Jane Brumley: A deed made between Willoughby White and Almeda B. White, his wife, of Currituck County sold for $1.00 "part of our interest in the undivided land known as The White Patent to have, hold and dispose of same for the use of the ministers and members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for a place of worship." Dated October 1889, and registered October 7, 1889 by E. D. Bowden, Justice of the Peace, H.B. Ansell, Clerk of Superior Court, and Church Trustees John H. Lewark, C. F. Smith, C.H. Holloway, John T. Lewark, Isaac O'Neal. This document seems to "make it legal' as a building was located on this site during the Civil War. My great grandmother, Sally Ann Ansell Bowden, told of (Union) soldiers camping in and about the church. Sally Ann's husband was Jesse Bowden who was captured by (the Union Army) during the Civil War and held prisoner at Fort Norfolk, Virginia.

I think the other church was north of the current site. Probably where the "public" lodge was located close to the current Community Cemetery. Ada Waterfield (daughter is Izola Bonney) is one of the folks that talked about the other Church being just a simple building facing east with 2 doors; one for women and one for men. My grandmother, Pat Bowden Miller (a Baptist and whose mother was a charter member of KI Baptist) talked of the "other" church and it was near the location just past the sharp curve and across from Don & Sue Austin's house. They were quite "active" in their religion and were known as "reformed". It had to also be a very simple building because she said some folks took their own chair for "services". They were quite long in those days. If someone wants to take the time, the current site can be traced back thru deeds. Also, (Union) soldiers camped out in the Church and from family info it seems it was north of the Ansell property. Property north of the parsonage was owned by my ancestors and they were Ansells/Bowdens. That is where I grew up as Celia Jane Miller, daughter of James Nonie Miller and Ruth Elizabeth Waterfield Miller.

There is a book "From Saddle to City" by Rev. D. Gregory Butts who was the minster that preached at K.I. Methodist and Bethel Methodist Church on the 4th Sunday of each month. He was the minister sent to the area in 1885 and he had all the Methodist Churches in this area. I recall in the book he had 1000 + members. In 1886 he talks of a great revival begun on Knotts Island with many souls saved. My Grandmother Addie Butts Whitehurst Waterfield (husband: Moody Wright Waterfield) was so named for Preacher Butts.

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Tunis Corbin: A letter to Pastor Frank Jennings.

Dear Frank,

I am taking this opportunity to thank you for the beautiful service for my sister Margie. (Note: Service was May 22, 1998.) I was also overcome with emotion by the hospitality displayed by the Church and the people of Knotts Island. The food, refreshments and fellowship extended to me and our family plus off-the-Island visiting friends is just unheard of most places in these days of high tech and speeding from one thing to another. As I have told people throughout the years, Knotts Island is a garden of Eden which I hope does not get discovered too fully in my lifetime. I especially enjoyed seeing people I had not seen in many years. Some, such as Ruby Davis, since my childhood days.

After I returned home I called Thelma Barton (Ewell) and found she had already heard about my sister‘s death. News travels fast between us Islanders. Thelma seems to be doing fine and her mother is as well as can be expected. Thelma says her memory is fading and she keeps asking for people in the past and she also wonders why she cannot go home.

I have always loved the Methodist Church on Knotts Island. My father was quite active at one time. He was on the board, head of the men's bible class and he conducted a Sunday night service at the church for young dating couples and any others who wished to attend. He often involved me in making an offertory speech or scripture reading when I was about 10 to 12 years old. On rainy days when we could not work on the farm he used to go door to door to collect money for the church and I would go with him. He covered the area from the Signpost (foot of the Marsh Road) to the church along what is now the main road, or Scuffling Town I think we used to call it in those days. I remember joining the Men's Bible Class when I was about thirteen and taking my turn at reading a verse of scripture as the reading passed from one to another. My grandfather, John, was quite active in the church and frequently offered the prayer at services, as was the custom of those days. Other active prayer offerers I remember were David Waterfield, Ferdinand Bonney and others that with more effort I might bring to memory.

Just a word about me. I dropped out of Creeds High School in the eighth grade and worked on our family farm for almost four years. I left Knotts Island for a job with the Corps of Engineers survey parties in Norfolk in 1940 (many Knotts Island people worked there thanks to Harold Waterfield who was Chief Engineer of the Norfolk District). In 1942 I joined the Navy and ended up spending almost 4 years working on breaking the German Enigma Code. This task was quite a change for an eighth grade dropout farm boy, but I was fortunate to be the only enlisted man with a group of Officer college professors and 800 Waves. During these four years I learned far more than the average high school education, especially about electronics since the group I was in developed some of the first computers to break the German code. I went to NC State, starting as a special student and graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1950. I think I was the first Knotts Islander to graduate from State which made me quite proud, especially since I graduated at or near the top of my class of 1200. I started out with GE in their training program and after 14 years there joined several different Companies in steadily increasing responsibilities. For example I started a Company, Video Microwave Inc. in Boston which we eventually sold to Southern Pacific Railroad. That system is now SPRINT- which I guess means I was one of the SPRINT founders. When I joined, the present Sprint had only nine employees in San Francisco and my company had nine, so we effectively doubled the size of the company in one day. I left SPRINT in 1979 and joined Harris Corp (of Melbourne Fla.) and ran one of their CA divisions specializing in television until I retired in l987. Since then I returned to my roots by becoming a full time gardener and a commercial fisherman on a 50 foot trawler out of Half Moon Bay. We are still active on the Pacific Ocean catching those large delicious dungeness crabs in the winter and trolling for king salmon in the summer.

The best part of all about my Navy years is that I met Dina (from Welch, WV) in Washington, and after a short courtship we were married in the Naval Chapel. We have had 52 glorious years and hope to have many more. She has surely been an equal partner in all my successes and the loving mother of our two sons. She is now mothering our four granddaughters.

Again Frank, I express my thanks for all you have done, and under separate cover I am sending a gift to the church.

Sincerely,

Tunis and Dina Corbell

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Frank Jennings: Pat Geer was the man that donated the Van to Knotts Island United Methodist in Feb of 1993. That was a great day and a direct answer to prayer. I was so glad that God chose this humble and giving man to bring this blessing to the church.

Amber Woodward: These items are from my grandfather's home on Knotts Island, Lendell Waterman. The painting of the Methodist Church is by Roy White I believe. Late 80's. (Initials RW in the corner.) The plate hung in my grandparents home over on Mackay Island prior to 1964. I know this because I have a photograph of their living room dated 1964 and it's hanging on the wall. On the back of the plate is information about the Methodist Church. Both now hang proudly in my home in California.

 

 

 

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Old Fashioned Sunday
October 20, 1991 from Church records.

This Sunday came about in the Ever Ready Class during the last Sunday School session. We were studying the traditions and laws of Moses in the Old Testament. In our discussion the ladies were telling me some of the things they used to do in years past in our church plus some of the history of our church. I said something to Frank about it and thought it would be different for a Sunday Service. Frank said I think so too have fun Janie. So, I am going to try to make it as interesting as possible with the help of many people. Every church has memories and changes, maybe I can bring back a few for you today.

Mr, Calab Ansell, a Knotts Island native, obtained a grant from Edenton Assembly in 1771, to build a church. There is no proof that it was for a Methodist Church. The first Methodist Church was built in 1811 on the site of the present church. A simple A frame structure with two entrances, the one on the left for men and the one on the right for women. We do not know about the second church except that it burned and the present structure replaced the others.

Lem Smith and Ed Waterfield drew the plans for our present building. They also helped with the construction, with Mr. Waterfield's son Carl, Jim Bowden, Walter Beasley, and John Beasley's names are mentioned as workers also. It is recalled that Walter Beasley put up the beautiful beaded ceiling and putting the pews in. To make the pews on hand fit into the interior no two spaces are the same. The fine art design on the lower panels were done with a comb. It has been said the stained glass windows were imported from France. It has been asked how a remote isolated area such as this Island built such a magnificent building.

The lumber was given by locals donating there trees to be used for the building, At each days end the families would gather to see worked accomplished that day. Everyone sacrificed a lot for the church, we are proud of our church and well we should be. There are many memories and still more to come in the future.

There were rails for horses to be hitched to. Horse and buggy was the main way of transportation in years past. They had some mighty fast and feisty horses in those days. I have been told that some horses were so fast that one of our ladies had to hold her hat in one hand and hang on with the other, when her dad brought her to church, and her little bottom never stayed on the seat of the buggy. Someone else told me of a horse that eat a new Easter hat. These were some horses, can you see something like this in this day and time?

In early 1800's our church shared a circuit rider with other churches. They were always guests in local homes as long as they were in this area. We joined the Virginia Annual Conference in 1814, with the assurance of being supplied with a minister. We shared a minister with three other churches, Charity, Bethel, and Beech Grove all in the South Princess Anne charge.

During the period of sharing a minister we met at 2:00 P.M. Sunday School was held in the present sanctuary. The children under school age met in the SE just inside the door. The seniors met on the back rows of the church. The men met on the west side of the sanctuary. The adult youngsters were the choir at that time and had their classes there. The adult younger women met just as you come in the southeastern door. It was curtained off in the back where the seats are divided. The rod for the curtain is still in place in our sanctuary today. Three benches going North and south (by the door to SS rooms) was where children from 6 to 12 met.

Everyone remained in their seats for preaching. It would be 4 P.M. before church broke. The church was nearly full because the Baptist would come to our PM service and the Methodists would go to their AM service.

Knotts Island Methodist Church was at one time known as a shouting church. They also had an Amen bench which was the short bench on the westward corner. In Nehemiah Chapter 8 verse 6 Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. Then all the people answered Amen Amen while lifting up their hands and bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. You don’t hear this to much anymore some churches still say Amen, or Praise the Lord. I have been told that it distracts a minister from his train of thought. Maybe, but we should not be ashamed to praise the Lord and say Amen out loud once in awhile.

There were some devout Christians in the early days of our church that would pray and shout. Some names that were given to me were Mr. John Corbell, Mr. Wash Whitehurst, Mr. Fred Bonney and Mrs Clara Simpson. Everyone on the Island had good voices. Mr. Earnst Waterfield, Jim Miller and Lester bass and sat on the front pew by the piano. They tell me it was beautiful. Also Mr. Billy Beasley who was older also sang in the church. Frances Ansell played the piano and John Taylor led the singing. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had a record of these people. We can’t hardly get a male voice in our choir today, Frank and Howard have now joined us and it sure is a great help. I think they are bashful and don’t want the congregation to see them on the choir.

Before the Marsh road was built, revivals were held with people coming from Wash Woods, Currituck, and Churches Island. The meeting would go on for a week. Guests were invited into homes and a lot of hospitality shown. When the revivals were held elsewhere Knotts Islanders were shown the some warm hospitality.

The womens meetings were started by Susie Waterfield, Vivian Jones's grandmother. They collected eggs and sold them to pay their dues. Many did the same thing to help pay their tithes. It was called the Ladies Aid to start with. When we joined the Virginia Conference it was Womens Society of Christian Services Now it is the United Methodist Women. We all know how much this part of the church helps to keep our church going.

Some remember they had a homecoming every year on the grounds with boards placed on sawjacks between two giant oak trees. They also said what great feasts. Mrs Neurna Bonney headed the homecoming for many years.

At this time many things had to be done to raise enough money to pay ministers and other things for the church. Mildred told me about her and her father going to get Miss Blue Bonnet. She put on a play to make enough money to pay Preacher Harrell's salary. Another time Mr. Herman Jones SS Superintendent at the time informed the congregation they did not have enough money to pay conference askings. He passed the plate then and there and received enough to pay out. When he asked he also said he would start it with $100.00. This was about 1947 or early 1948.

Miss Marie Jones carried the teenagers to MYF herself to the other charges and Norfolk so they could be part of conference groups. One person could not take this responsibility in this time. There are so many more Christian things going on for our young people today. We can be proud of what they are accomplishing today with their lives. God bless them and the people working with them.

I was told that Mr. Ferdinand Bonney and Mrs Clara Simpson prayed such beautiful prayers you would have tears come to your eyes. I would like to hear some of these today if these people were still here.

We still have people in our church today that have done a lot for the growth and changes in our church. Izola Bonney taught SS for many years and was director of music and played for the church, you could say most of her life. Margaret Mathews and her husband are others who devoted their life to the church. And of course then we have Mildred Strawhand we all know her and how she is but we love her and couldn’t do without her. The same goes for Ira and Vivian Jones. I now say God Bless you all and keep helping for many more years to come.

I would like to close this day with a little story. In the 1870's a bishop who had charge of a small denominational college made his annual visit and stayed with the president. The bishop boasted a firm belief that everything that could be invented had been invented the college president thought otherwise. In 50 years, he said, men will learn how to fly like birds. The bishop replied, "Flight is reserved for angels and you have been found guilty of blasphemy." The name of the bishop was Milton Wright and back home he had two small sons Orville and Wilbur.

Change occurs. New things are on the horizon. The Lord spoke to his people in Isaiah's time and said " Behold the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare before they spring forth I tell you of them. (Isa.42-9).

There are still new frontiers to be conquered and new things to be discovered for those who will dare to search for them. But let us remember and tell our young people of our traditions and history.  Amen.

 

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H. G. Jones, Sr.: I have been Superintendent of Knott's Island Methodist Sunday School for twenty-five or thirty years. It has been a pleasure in many ways to work with the different classes of the school. I have had many problems, but I think it has been very successful owing to the handicap of not having class rooms. The drive is on at this time for this cause. My greatest problem has been getting teachers for the different classes, but I thank all members for the co-operation which they have given me in this work. At the third Quarterly Conference of last year I asked to be relieved, but by the fourth Quarterly Conference no one had accepted; I could not let my Sunday School and members say we have no superintendent. We are looking forward to a bigger and better Sunday School this year and years to come. May all members and officials of the Knott's Island Methodist Sunday School pray for the advancement of the school in the year of our Lord, 1950. -

 

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From the Methodist Homecoming bulletin of May 2, 1982: Knotts Island Memorial and Homecoming services were begun in 1928, by Mr. E. D. Bowden, for the purpose of paying respect to those who had passed away during he year, and bring together in the fellowship of homecoming, those who had moved to far away places. Mr. Bowden was chairman until 1936, when, because of poor health, he turned his responsibilities over to Mr. David Waterfield, who presided through 1938. At this time Mrs. Ottma (Nerna) Bonney assumed responsibility. Later her daughter, Mrs. Lucille Bonney Williams, presided as chairman until 1968, when Mrs. Harold (Mattie) Capps, presided. Church records show 1969 and 1971 homecomings also. This year everyone has worked together to make our 171st birthday anniversary and memorial service a success. Ira Jones and Vivian Jones have headed up the food committee. Izola Bonney, Margaret Mathews, and Sharon Flannagan, program committee, and Zora Doxey and Virginia McClanan on publicity. The entire membership has helped! The Pastor welcomes each of you... and thanks each of you for your part in this great day! I love you all and your love for God and me, along with your support has been a blessing to me.

 

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