How Wayne’s Chapel began
When Brother J. C. Earp was just beginning his ministry, he felt led of the Lord to go into the Wayne’s Chapel area to make contacts for the church. He and his wife Ruby, by invitation, started holding prayer meetings in about twenty five different homes. Sometime later, permission was granted to erect a tent on a lot in the Strickland Crossroads area where revival services could be held. After several weeks of revival, the church was officially set in order on June 7, 1950, by J.C. Earp with seven charter members.
Herman Strickland let the congregation have a house at Strickland Crossroads where Sunday School and Worship services were held. Sometime afterwards they relocated to the home of Mammie Quinn, who later donated to the church its present property. This is where Brother Earp began construction on a new sanctuary. During the pastorate of Dorthalene Rose, the congregation moved into a small A-frame block building. Under the leadership of Earl C. West, much work was done on the church building. Later, during the pastorate of Brother Archie Smith, a fellowship hall and Sunday School rooms were added, as well as several other things done on the building. During Clarence Moore’s appointment, he purchased a mobile home to use as a parsonage until a new parsonage could be built. Since this time, some adjacent property was donated to the church, where a multipurpose building was constructed and completed in December of 2009.
The local church has maintained continued growth throughout the years. Pastors who have served at Wayne’s Chapel include the following: J.C. Earp 1950-52; Milton Stewart 1952-1953; Dorthalene Rose 1953-1954; Milton Stewart 1954-1956; Earl C. West 1956-1957; Roland Howell 1957-1958; Earl C. West 1958-1961; Hershell Kell 1961 (three months); J.C. Earp 1961-64; Bruce Williford 1964-1965; Larry Turner 1965-1966; Hazel Carter 1966-1967; Rupert Brown 1967-1971; Archie Smith 1971-1978; Clarence Moore 1978-1983; Michael Johnson 1983-1988; Vernon B. Riggins 1988-1991; Raymond Talton 1991-1997; Guy Robinson 1997; R.D. Langley 1997-2001; Donald Gulledge 2001-2007; Ralph Parker 2007-Present.
