| Notes |
- From Jean Colyer Grumbling:
the following is a transcription of a weekly column published (dateunknown) in the Commonwealth Journal 110-112 E. Mt. Vernon Street, Somerset, Kentucky 42501
From Our Past
A REGULAR TUESDAY FEATURE BY JACK NORTON
From Our Past appears one day late because of space limitations in Tuesday's Commonwealth Journal. today's column is written by Mrs. Herbert R. Ledford, 201 May Street, Somerset. she is a native of the Grundy community of Pulaski County.
About four miles from Somerset, nestled in a valley just off Ky. 80 and a short distance from the foot of Sugar Hill, stands an abandoned Methodist church. The white frame church, whose windows have long been boarded and whose doors are locked, is called Soules Chapel church. It was named for Bishop Soule, head of the local Methodist Church when this particular building was erected.
The church replaced an old log structure called Gragg's Chapel. In 1857 John P. Ridings bought the old church, dismantled it and used some of the logs to construct a barn on his farm, which is located near the site of Soules Chapel. Construction of the present building was started in the autumn of 1857 and completed the same season a year later. It is thought the land was donated by Allen Cox.
Ridings directed the construction of the new church, which has a stone foundation and underpinnings of hand-hewn logs. He, along with John Richardson and *** L. R. (Collier) Colyer, helped most in furnishing materials and money for the new structure. All the lumber used for framing was whip-sawed by Bill Calhoun and Peter Baker. The lumber for the church pews was sawed at a watermill some distance away.
At one time Soules Chapel had a membership of more than 200 people andthe second-best organized Sunday School in the Danville District. It was the Mother Church to the First Methodist Church of Somerset. However, at the time of the Civil War, a tremendous uprising came in the church and,as a result, the membership split. Those with sympathies for the North left the church and formed Bradley's Chapel - Northern Methodist Church,located about two miles south of Soules Chapel. Soules Chapel was then known as Soules Chapel Southern Methodist Church.
It is impossible to find a list of the real charter members, but from theearliest church records are found the names of Collier, Richardson, Gragg and Ridings.
In 1940 Rev. Charles Marshal Cavit, a circuit preacher, compiled much of the church's history and listed the following membership:
Alton F. Bates, Evelyn M. Bates, Clarence G. Bryant, Della V. Bryant,Luther Bullock, Bessie Williams Camble, Alice Cundiff, Charles Cundiff,Maude Gibson, and Mrs. Cora Gilmore. Eugene Gilmore, Sarah A. Greer, Mrs. Mary Hall, Addie B. Mills, Mary B.Mills, Zeda B. Mills, Mrs. Allie Richardson, Craig Ridings, Henry S.Ridings, and Stella Ridings. Willie Ridings, C. M. Simpson, Jewel Simpson, Mary Simpson, Mrs. Zella Struck, Irene Whitaker, Jennie Whitaker, Dessie Williams, Glydas Williamsand Clara Yahnig.
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1813 - 1892 (78 years)
