The first Methodist church in the Whites Creek-Dry Fork valley was a little log church built in pioneer days near a big spring on Dry Fork known as Ebenezer. Ebenezer Spring is still there and while the little log church no longer stands, there are two churches that can claim Ebenezer for their Mother church. Alex Green Church on Whites Creek Pike later moved and became St. Andrew United Methodist Church. Denton’s Chapel United Methodist Church is still worshiping every Sunday on Dry Fork Road in Whites Creek.
Denton’s Chapels history began during the summer of 1885 when a revival was held on Dry Fork Road under an old sawmill shed on the property of Jacob Mayo. The revival was held by the Reverend E. K. Denton. He was assisted by several others including Bishop Holland N. McTyeire who was present for several of the services. This was a great revival and lasted several weeks. The outcome the following year of this revival was the establishment and building of “Denton’s Methodist Episcopal Church South.” Ninety six members were taken into the church during the next two years. At that time there was not a Methodist Church on Paradise Ridge (now Germantown). Reverend Denton was the first pastor. Mr. J. B. Carney was the first Sunday School Superintendent; and, his daughter Sarah Elizabeth Carney was the first child baptized at the church. The first wedding performed at Denton’s was Ida Mai Carney to William Howell Rice on September 25th 1889. The land that the church was built on was donated by C. W. Nance on August 31st, 1886 with adjoining property donated by Mr. J. Warren Carney on November 26th, 1957.
During the Great Depression if was very hard for the church to pay the pastor’s salary and the benevolences. Several methods were used to collect money. There were church festivals where the entire neighborhood came to enjoy fellowship, food, and games. Members sold handmade quilts, crafts, peanuts, popcorn, and homemade ice cream. Small children enjoyed the fish pond where they put a penny in a basket, lowered it over a sheet that had been hung and received a small toy in return. Each family furnished food for the dinner which was sold for a small price.
During this time the youth group, called the Epworth League, provided great leadership and social fellowship for the young people. Forty-three youth attended regularly during this time.
The original church was a one room sanctuary. Additional classrooms were built on the rear of the church in 1947 by Mr. Warren Carney, Mr. Fred Stenberg, Mr. Dan Campbell, and Mr. Frank Barnes. In 1958 a new addition was built onto the front of the church as an entrance hall with two additional Sunday school rooms.
In 1968 The “Methodist Church” and “The Evangelical United Brethren Church” merged forming the “United Methodist Church,” thus changing the churches name to “Denton’s Chapel United Methodist Church.”
In April 2015, the sixth generation of the Carney family was dedicated to the Lord at Denton’s Chapel. The next 130 years of this church is just beginning.
Current Day Denton’s Chapel United Methodist Church
Submitted by Gene Carney