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The people of Davis Creek gathered to worship as early as 1859. Why were they so long in building a church? Research has turned up one reason: the existence of a one-room, pole-log building in which services were held. It was built on the Dillon farm, up the hollow from the present church. Before there was a road built, people traveled the creek. When the water was up, they could not hold services, so the Dillons decided to donate land on the road so the congregation could meet year round. Eulah Jeffrey remembered attending services there as a child. Her mother, Lilly Hensley Dillon, often talked of the old log church up the hollow. Except for their reminescences, there would be no record of such a structure ever existing.

       The year Rev. Houston came to Davis Creek, he had a full schedule. He worked for West Virginia Steel for a time; he was attending Marshall, and he was pastoring full-time. A revival was planned and there was some debate about whom the evangelist should be. Alec Nash suggested that they might as well "season" the new preacher, much as one might season firewood that it might burn with a hotter flame. So in spite of his busy schedule, Rev. Houston agreed to preach what turned out to be the most memorable and far-reaching revival in Dillon Chapel history.
       The spadework was carried out weeks in advance: "You can't convert people if you can't get them into church." Team visitation, a hallmark of Houston's ministry, was intensified in the weeks before the revival. Cottage prayer meetings were held in homes around the community once or twice a week.
       At one such prayer meeting, Alma, Louise, Carl and Sherwood Eden were converted. Bennie, who was then middle-aged, had never been a Christian. He came to the altar during the revival. But he seemed unable to make a commitment. The preacher asked:
       "Ben, what is your problem?"
       "Preacher, it's hard for me to believe that my faith can just change my life."
       "Well it can if you just let it." They talked a little longer and finally the preacher said: "Ben just give me your hand. From this moment on you are going to accept Christ whether any big feelings come or not." And so he did. And the feeling came -- right on the spot! He has served well and faithfully for over forty years.
       Others who were saved became the backbone of the growing church: George and Ruby Chambers Porter and her father, Don Chambers; Hattie and Roy Doss, Hugh Lamb, and Kathleen Blankenship. In all twenty souls came to Christ, including two who became preachers.
       So the best remembered revival of all time was conducted by a busy new preacher in an unfinished basement. But it provided the enthusiastic fire to complete the church building, and to provide the vigor to serve the church for many years to follow.

       In the course of this research, many stories have been gathered which have not been used in a Centennial Minute, but still deserve to be preserved for posterity. This is a wrap-up of those stories.
       Do you remember when Mr. Ross bought land across from the church and put a fence across the road? R. W. Hensley made a trip to town and got it removed in a few hours!
       Do you remember Jeffie Nash reluctantly taking on the post of Sunday School Superintendent, and keeping it for over fifteen years?
       How many old-timers remember when Jeffie Nash planted all the maple trees around the church? How many remember the maple trees, the last of which was cut down a few years ago?
       Do you remember when Jack Jeffrey was Mrs. Blankenship's star performer for Church pagents? She always thought he would be an actor!
       Do you remember the District Superintendent who wanted to close Dillon Chapel and "send" the congregation to Pea Ridge? Jack spoke for all of us when he said: "You might close the church, but you won't send us anywhere." And we pulled together and kept the church afloat.
       Do you remember the pastor who was hooked on missionary work? Laddie Meadows and Jack Jeffrey were in Knoxville for Little league play-offs, and rounded the corner of a building to find the preacher on the arm of a blonde. Jack said: "Well, how do you do Rev. _______. Is this where you do your missionary work?
       Ladies, do you remember the time the cat was locked up in the church and ate off the corner of a dish of ham salad prepared for a dinner? The women scooped around the bite and served it anyway. Some of the women took that secret to their graves.
       Do you remember Al Harshbarger saying if he sold his house he would tithe the purchase price to the church? Peggy Jeffrey assured him he would sell it. He did so and used the money to pave the parking lot.
       Do you remember the night after a Christmas Play when some of the men parked outside a woman’s house all night to let the preacher know that they weren’t going to put up with his monkey business?
       If you are old enough to remember all these things, you go back a long way with Dillon Chapel!

CENTENNIAL MINUTES
PROGRESS DURING THE CENTENNIAL YEAR - Rev. Tim Allen

December 31, 1989

       Today is a special day. It is the last Sunday of the year, the last day of the year, and this morning we share our last Centennial Minute. This period of our worship is a time that I have grown to look forward to because I have learned so much, and through the sharing of these minutes witnessed a bonding of this congregation.
       With deliberate intention, I have reserved this last Sunday and last Centennial Minute. When we began this process, and as we proceeded, I felt as though I had nothing to contribute to the history and nostalgia of Dillon Chapel. However, in addition to learning about the church, you have also taught me that through our connectional system and the Spirit which makes us one, I was linked to this church before I came, am an active part of it while I am here, and should the church do this again in another hundred years, my family and I will no doubt be a Bi-Centennial Minute ourselves.
       What I'd like to ask you this morning is, "Do you remember 1989?" It was the year when the parsonage became home to a baby of the pastoral family for the first time in some fifteen years. It was the year Dillon Chapel celebrated 100 years as a Methodist/United Methodist Church. There was a year long celebration involving Centennial Minutes each Sunday morning, a special Homecoming, and Bishop William Boyd Grove came during Advent to guest preach and contribute to the celebration. Do you remember the beautiful banners which adourned our Sanctuary walls and reminded us that though we had completed 100 years, we were simply catching our breath to begin the next 100.
       Many physical improvements were completed at the church and parsonage. For example, awnings went up, concrete pads were poured, smoke detecters and emergency exit lights were installed, roofs got patched, the nursery ceiling was lowered, and a considerable amount of gravel was spread to vastly improve the parking lot and the road around the church. Furthermore, it was the year when the parsonage hot water heater was moved inside the back porch of the parsonage, a new water line was laid, and plans were made to finally do away with the old well house between the church and the parsonage. These are only some highlights of the many large and small improvements made by the people of Dillon Chapel as they worked together in 1989.
       Apple Butter making tradition continued, Senator John D. Rockefeller visited in August to present Eagle awards to Scott Furry and Doug Triplett (the 50th and 51st Eagle Scouts at Dillon Chapel) and it was so cold in December that the parsonage water was frozen for ten days. Last but not least, 1989 was a year which both began and ended on Sundays.
       Doubtless, each of you have your own memories to share and could add to this list, but our allotted time has expired. Consequently, as you leave here this day, go forth with the realization that your history is still happening. Look back to the past and celebrate God's presence in your lives and in the life of your church. Live in the present and celebrate the active hand and Spirit of God as you minister to one another and the community. Look to the future and celebrate the promises of God. Happy 100 years Dillon chapel and "God bless us everyone!"