Originally founded in a log structure, Hamblen County’s Bewley's Chapel began holding services in the community of Russellville in 1872. Called at the time, Russellville Methodist Church, the building also acted as school for African American children just some seven years after Emancipation. The first trustees of that church included S.N. and Elbert Bewley, Glen Hall, Authur Taylor, C.C. Rice and Charles Cheatham.

 

Around 1900, the church was renamed Bewley’s Chapel M.E. Church and a new building was erected. The Reverend James Hawkins Sr. conducted the first sermon and it is in this structure where the congregation continues to worship today.

 

151 years since its founding, the members of Bewley’s Chapel are moving forward with needed restoration and long term preservation efforts with the next 100 years in sight.