Our Beginnings
The United Methodist Church in Clever was originally known as Pope Chapel Class or was sometimes called Flat Top. It was located two miles northeast of Clever on a portion of the Jess Gardner farm which has since become Pope Chapel Cemetery.
According to available information, charter members included: Uncle Billie Rhodes, Ab Wilkes, George Little, Fate Little, Pick King, Sherman Little, Bill Little, Jess Gardner, Doc Manes, and WA Little. Wesley Pope, though a member of the Delaware Class some six miles to the east, was a generous contributor to the new building project and, therefore, Pope Chapel bore his name. It was completed in 1891.
A 1906 decision cleared the way to move the Pope Chapel building into the town of Clever and two lots were secured. Quoted from the Warranty Deed: “April 26,1906, Henry and Nancy Inman, for the consideration of one dollar, grant the sale of all of lots 1 and 2 in block 11 in the town of Clever, Missouri, to the Methodist Episcopal Church. These two lots are the same ones upon which the Clever United Methodist Church now stands.” Trustees GW Little, JL Little and WN Gray completed this transaction.
Timeline for the current buildings:
- 1915…it was decided to construct a new building, so the old building was moved to a lot just east of the CL Brown property, where it was used until the new building was completed. The church later sold that building to become part of the Sanford Little Garage. MO Hall served as Building Committee Chairman and Mr. Alfred Davis accepted the position of foreman. The church rented the lower floor of the Dale Cranford building to house the workshop where Mr. Davis constructed the framework for the doors and windows. Much of the furniture in use today was also built there, including the pulpit.
- 1916…with the help of donated labor, the building was completed at a cost of just under $8,ooo.00.The original Official Board members of the new brick church were; EE Wade, MO Hall, WN Gray, JL Little, Tom McCroskey, FL Hudson, John Robertson, Will Wampler, William Little, Taylor Little, Sr., and CL Brown.
- 1923…July 28, C.H. Wise sold to the Clever Methodist Church a lot numbered 3 in block 11, town of Clever, for the sum of $200.00. That lot, adjacent to the church, became home to the church parsonage. Trustees who completed this transaction were EE Wade, F S Little, FL Hudson, MO Hall, and MJ Little.
- 1970s…early in the decade, the church realized a need for classroom space & a fellowship area. These were added as a two story annex to the original building & replaced an old quanset style structure. The addition also provided a new entry to the basement through the lower story Fellowship Hall.
- 1995…a canopy was added to cover the front porch and stairs. This provided protection for entry during inclement weather.
- 1997… the original outside entrance to the basement under the church was removed and the entrance sealed.
- 1998… additional paved parking was added, making it possible to drive/park on all four sides of the church. Also completed that year were a new church roof and repairs to the bell tower.
- 2002… saw the dedication of the new Fellowship Hall on the south side of the church property.
The Clever Church was originally a part of a Circuit and was composed of Clever, Delaware, Lorenza Chapel, and Mt. Carmel. This was typical in Methodist churches of that time period and in rural locations.
Following the Circuit years, the Clever United Methodist Church became a part of a two-point charge with the Hurley United Methodist Church. In 1994, by action of the Springfield District, the two churches became separate and independent charges and remain so to this date.
Ministers who served this church and/or the Delaware, Lorenza, or Pope Chapel churches which is now the Clever United Methodist Church, include:
1887-1900 Ellis (Pope Chapel)
1905-1908 James Lokey (Lorenza Chapel)
1909 Ellis and G.S. Carden
1910 L.P. Crank(Delaware) and E.N. Garrett (Pope)
1911 C.C. James and Tome Brown (Delaware)
1911 J.F. Odom (Unknown location)
1912 William Gerald Rector (Pope)
1914 W. J. Simmons and a Mr. Steward (Clever)
(From this date forward, all served in Clever);
1915 William D. Gray
1916-1918 W. J. Simmons
1919 B.F. Teague
1920 Mr. Lokey and Mr. McCowen
1922 Mr. D.S. Frazier;
1923-1926 Charles S. Harpe
1927-1928 Ed Hopkins;
1928-1930 B.V. Wulff
1930-1932 J.W. Manney
1934-1937 Floyd Holt
1937-1940 Chester S. Young
1941-1943 D.H. Holland
1944-1947 Thomas J. Haney
1947-1949 James W. Herver
1949 D.S. Frazier
1951 William R. Butts
1952-1954 H.R. Green
1955 Harold E. Hunter
1956-1957 Kenneth H. Bunting
1957-1961 Paul Mayfield
1963-1967 Wayne Jones
1969 E. L. DeVore
1970 Ray Hodge
1972 Benjamin L. Schmidtke
1973-1976 Larkin Haden
1976-1982 Frank Gilmore
1982-1986 Randel DeMasters
1986 Terry Hinke
1987-1989 Larry Bohall
1989-1993 James Lee
1993-1994 Ray Willis
1994-2004 Dennis Bowling
2004 (1 month) Clif Rawley
2004-2010 Mary Ann Morris
2010-2011 Regina Bohannon
2011 Kirby Holbrook
Names listed as being Boaz pastors were: D.S. Franzier, Winston Stampler, William Wampler, and L.P. Crank.