About Us

Reid’s Chapel was established over one hundred and twenty years ago by a small group of people who had a conviction concerning the Methodist church and the founder’s experience had been with the Methodist church, with its emphasis on personal holiness, social outreach, and dynamic worship.

During the early years of the church many pastors were circuit riding preachers. Parish preachers commonly rode a horse from church to church establishing Methodist “preaching circuits;” while only visiting a particular church at given intervals. Reid’s Chapel was first built in its present location in 1897, but existed as early as the mid 1800’s known as “Old Reid’s Chapel Church.” 

Unfortunately, before the history of the church was examined, most of those with knowledge had passed on. The church and a school later build on property donated by the founders of the church was the center of their lives in both worship and education of Jesus Christ in the community.

Over the years, Reid’s chapel proved itself a church where people were willing to expand the circle for those who wanted a community in which to worship and live. In the late 1930’s the Tennessee Valley Authority prepared to build the Hiwassee Dam, bringing a large number of people to the rural area of the church. When the Dam was completed many workers remained in the area and built homes, unfortunately, World War II soon after the completion of the Dam, took away many of the young men from the church. 

Reid’s Chapel has become a dynamic and viable church in the Hiwassee Dam community, it remains “a small church with a big heart,” supporting many local and extended missions and ministries, reaching out to those struggling with poverty and other social, and economic issues, further expanding its ever-growing opportunities to serve Christ by serving the lost, the last and the least.