Our History
On June 19, 1903, A. J. Brandon gifted a deed of one-half acre more or less in the state of Tennessee, Rutherford County solely for church purposes to Wiley Frazier, Tony Frazier and Louis Steals. These men would serve as Deacons of a newly planted Church in the Fosterville community. The Church was built and established as the Brandon Chapel Missionary Baptist Church.
Elder F. H. Geter served as the first Pastor of the Brandon Chapel Missionary Baptist Church. Following Pastor Geter others would serve the church as Pastor over early years of the church’s history. They included Elder Albert Wade, and Elder Leroy McKinley. Elder Frank Brown became Pastor in 1956 and held the position until his death in 1976. Elder J. W. Rankins, served briefly as interim Pastor until Elder William J. Harris Sr became Pastor in 1977. With the passing of Elder Harris in 2001, Elder Samuel K Avent III became Pastor in June 2002. He currently serves as Pastor of the Brandon Chapel MBC.
The church went through many renovations over the years as the membership grew. However, the church had a setback when the Brandon Chapel Church building was destroyed by fire on September 5, 1974. The church held together and continued to have services at the Smithfork District Tabernacle in Murfreesboro, TN until a new church was built and services returned to Brandon Chapel in August 1976. We give GOD the praise for the many donations that were made including monetary amounts too numerous to name to get Brandon Chapel rebuilt at our original location. The mortgage burning for the cost to rebuild was held in October 1983.
Brandon Chapel has the unique history of producing servants in the ministry. They include our current Pastor Elder Samuel Avent III, Elder Sidney Bell Sr, Elder John Brown, Elder Ed Cheers, Elder Watt Chesterfield, Elder Percy Clark, Elder Frank Gaines, Elder Dallas Green, Elder Dallas Lyons, Elder Sis Irene Lyons, Elder Robert Lyons, Elder Dallas Rankins, Elder J. W. Rankins, Elder John Rankins, Elder Clarence Verge and Elder Theodore Verge. Brandon Chapel has had a history of true Christian service to the community. The church over the years continues the tradition of preaching and teaching an uncompromised Gospel message and the life changing Word of GOD. We are simply a church with large hearts in a small setting, serving a big GOD! We’ve Come This Far by Faith!
