The Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church was located six miles southeast of Calhoun, in McMinn County, Tennessee. Calhoun is fifteen miles south of Athens, the McMinn county seat. The church was located near the Hiwassee River.

The Clear Springs Church was organized in the late 1830's or early 1840's, and was originally part of Knoxville Presbytery, which was created in 1827. The congregation held religious services in a large shelter that had been erected for conducting camp meetings. The Rev. Floyd McGonegal was pastor of the church from 1843 to 1845. William C. Porter was one of the charter elders in the church.

The Rev. Floyd McGonegal was one of the early Cumberland Presbyterian ministers in Ocoee Presbytery. The exact date of his membership in Ocoee Presbytery, however, is unknown. The Rev. McGonegal served many Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in southeast Tennessee in the 1830's and 40's. Besides serving as one of the first pastors of the Clear Springs Church, he was also moderator of the Hickory Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Monroe County, Tennessee from 1836 until 1838. He attended the meetings of Ocoee Presbytery from 1846 through 1848, and was appointed by Ocoee Presbytery to supply the Pleasant Hill Cumberland Presbyterian Church in March 1846.

It is believed that the Rev. McGonegal was the son of Patrick McGonegal. Floyd McGonegal, it is believed was born around 1793. Shortly after his birth, McGonegal's family moved from Caswell County, North Carolina to several locations in Tennessee before eventually settling in Grainger County, Tennessee.

Floyd McGonegal married the former Miss Nancy Mills on February 14, 1812, in Jefferson County, Tennessee. He was living in Monroe County, Tennessee in 1830, and in McMinn County, Tennessee in 1840. After his first wife died, he married the former Miss Nancy Dorsey of McMinn County, Tennessee on April 23, 1849. The Rev. McGonegal and his second wife, Nancy, were listed as charter members in the Madisonville Cumberland Presbyterian Church. This church was organized on March 14, 1835. He was moderator of the church session on May 12, 1836.

On April 5, 1860, the congregation dedicated its church house. The Rev. Jeremiah R. Fryor preached the dedication sermon. Andrew Clark and J. J. Culpepper gave the land for the church house, and the first of four different plots of land for the church cemetery located one-fourth mile to the right of the church house. The oldest marker in the church cemetery was that of Levina Scarbrough, wife of William M. Scarbrough, who died on November 25, 1842.

Early records about the history of the Clear Springs Church are sparse. From these records, it is known that the Rev. Allison Templeton was moderator of the church session on January 6, 1870. The Rev. George W. Butler reported in the Cumberland Presbyterian that he had conducted an eleven day protracted meeting beginning on Christmas Eve, 1874 which resulted in twelve professions, and four additions to the church. Six of the professions united with the Baptist Church. Butler also observed that before the meeting, four had joined the church, and he expected eight or ten more to join the Clear Springs Church soon.

The Clear Springs Church remained a member of Knoxville Presbytery until April 6, 1895, when it was granted permission to be placed within the jurisdiction of Chattanooga Presbytery. A review of the Minutes of Chattanooga Presbytery and Knoxville Presbytery did not provide any specific reasons for the Clear Springs congregation's decision to affiliate with Chattanooga Presbytery. However, a review of the boundary lines separating Chattanooga Presbytery from Knoxville Presbytery revealed that the Clear Springs Church was a border congregation in Knoxville Presbytery. Just across the boundary line in Chattanooga Presbytery was located the Charleston Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The Clear Springs Church was simply located closer to the churches in Chattanooga Presbytery than the churches in Knoxville Presbytery.

Because of their location to Chattanooga Presbytery, the Clear Springs congregation probably believed they could be better served as a member of Chattanooga Presbytery. They also probably thought they could be better supplied with a pastor. Knoxville Presbytery, in the past, had had difficulty supplying the congregation with a minister. For these reasons, and perhaps others, the Clear Springs Church was enrolled in Chattanooga Presbytery at its fall 1895 meeting.

The Rev. J. S. Porter was moderator of the church session from September 10, 1899 through 1900. It is assumed that he was probably one of the supply pastors for the congregation from 1895 through 1900.

The Rev. James S. Porter came into Ocoee Presbytery from Tennessee Presbytery. From 1872 to 1876, he had been pastor of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Tennessee. In 1875, Porter served on the Executive Committee of the East Tennessee Sunday School Convention. By the time, he became pastor of the Clear Springs Church in 1899, he had been a member of Ocoee and Chattanooga Presbyteries for almost twenty-five years.

In 1906, the Clear Springs Church remained loyal to the Cumberland Presbyterians in the abortive union struggle with the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. In the August 23, 1907 issue of the Cumberland Banner, the Rev. A. J. Berryhill reported that he had just concluded a nine day revival meeting at Clear Springs. This revival resulted in six new members, and one infant baptism. Berryhill described Clear Springs as one of the border congregations of Chattanooga Presbytery that had "not a dissenting member from the blessed Church in which I have spent two-thirds of my life."

The Clear Springs Church was supplied by the Rev. Berryhill until 1914 when the Rev. Z. M. McGhee was called as supply pastor. Following McGhee's death in 1919 [sic: 1920], the Rev. J. S. Carson was called as supply pastor. He, along with the Rev. Charles R. Matlock, was supply pastor of the church through 1922. Since the minutes of Chattanooga Presbytery from 1922 to 1937 (except partially for 1924-25) are unavailable, it is impossible to determine how long Carson supplied the Clear Springs Church.

The Rev. Charles R. Matlock supplied the Clear Springs Church until he resigned as pastor of the First Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Cleveland, Tennessee in 1924. The Rev. Matlock was the son of Charles N. and Lydia Carolyne Buck Matlock. Born on February 5, 1888 in Beech Bluff, Tennessee, the Rev. Matlock's grandfather, Henry Matlock, was a Cumberland Presbyterian elder and prominent businessman in Madison County, Tennessee. The Rev. Matlock's father was a landowner and a Cumberland Presbyterian minister who preached in and around Beech Bluff. The Rev. Matlock's younger sister, Estelle, married the Rev. T. N. Hays.

The Rev. Matlock married Mary Frances Douglas of Parsons, Tennessee, in 1913. They had one son, the Rev. Charles R. Matlock, Jr. He became an Episcopal minister who served in Liberia, West Africa, and in the Philippines for 27 years. Mary Frances Matlock died in 1947. Four years after his wife's death, he met and married Lucile Wallace of Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1952.

Influenced by his parents, the Rev. Matlock became a Christian in 1904 and joined the Maple Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Two years later under the care of Madison Presbytery, the became a candidate for the ministry, and in 1908 was ordained.

The Rev. Matlock attended elementary school in Maple Springs, Tennessee, high school in Jackson, Tennessee, and Bethel College in McKenzie, Tennessee. In 1923, New York Biblical Webster University awarded him the degree of Doctor of Divinity, and in 1925, the L.L.D. degree. It is unknown if these degrees were honorary or earned.

The Rev. Matlock was always very active in the Cumberland Presbyterian faith. He served at least twelve Cumberland Presbyterian Churches in Tennessee, Missouri, and Indiana. In 1915, he was elected to the Denominational Board of Ministerial Relief. In 1922, he was appointed Field Secretary and Supervisor of Young People's Work. He published in The Cumberland Presbyterian, and in the Young Peoples Annual and Efficiency Chart. He was also denominational trustee for the United Society of Christian Education. In 1946, he was elected Moderator of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church meeting in Birmingham, Alabama.

In 1976, Madison Presbytery established the "Charles R. Matlock Endowment Fund" for the Memphis Theological Seminary in honor of the senior minister of their Presbytery. The initial contribution to this endowment by Madison Presbytery was $1500.00. This endowment was to be administered by the Denominational Board of Finance. The Rev. Matlock died on October 5, 1978.

In 1916, Mr. Clint Wright, who claimed ownership of the land on which the Clear Springs Church was located, donated his interest in the property to the congregation. The ruling elders in the church at this time were N. S. Price, Perry McAlister, Richard McBrient, and John McAmish. The Clear Springs Church also claimed ownership of the property, but since a courthouse fire in Athens, during the nineteenth century, had destroyed the land records, Mr. Wright's release of the property claim resolved a possible future land dispute for the congregation.

By the late 1940's and early 50's, the Clear Springs Church had become disorganized. The relocation of many members, after World War II, and the transferring of other members to neighboring Cumberland Presbyterian Churches and other religious denominations also weakened the church. In 1957, while acknowledging the congregation was disorganized, the Board of Missions of Chattanooga Presbytery also noted that the church building was in good repair, and being maintained by a member of another denomination. Chattanooga Presbytery, at this time, also hoped to reactivate Cumberland Presbyterian Church work in the area.

Two years later, the Board of Missions of Chattanooga Presbytery reported that only three congregations, Clear Springs, Ooltewah, and Ebenezer, were inactive. "At Clear Springs, we have a very good building, which at present is being maintained by the people of the community. For the time being it appears that this field offers no future for our Church."

In 1975, the Board of Missions of Chattanooga Presbytery investigated the condition of the Clear Springs Church house, and reported that it "finds no congregation, nor services being held. The Board can see no possibility of a congregation in the near future. It is our recommendation that presbytery take the necessary steps to salvage property, furniture, etc. for possible use in other mission work." Chattanooga Presbytery accepted the recommendation of the Board of Missions. At the fall 1976 meeting, however, Chattanooga Presbytery reversed this decision after it discovered that the church property had been used for various religious functions such as weddings, and homecomings. The church property also had a reversion clause in the deed of property conveyance prohibiting Chattanooga Presbytery from disposing of the property.

Since 1976, the Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church property has remained in the possession of Chattanooga Presbytery, Tennessee Valley Presbytery, and Tennessee-Georgia Presbytery. It was hoped in 1994 that someday a Cumberland Presbyterian organization could be created in the community, and the property utilized for full-time religious activities and programs.
[Source: Gregory, Jr., Conway. A Presbytery Called Chattanooga: Tracing the History of Chattanooga Presbytery, Cumberland Presbyterian Church From 1842 to 1989, pages 246-250]

1890
Clear Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Pastor: Z. M. McGhee
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. M. Weeks, Calhoun, Tenn.
Hiwassee Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1890, page 216]

1891
Clear Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Pastor: none listed
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. M. Weeks, Calhoun, Tenn.
Knoxville Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1891, page 240]

1892
Clear Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Pastor: none listed
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. M. Weeks, Calhoun, Tenn.
Knoxville Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1892, page 250]

1893
Clear Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Pastor: none listed
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. M. Weeks, Calhoun, Tenn.
Knoxville Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1893, page 250]

1894
Clear Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Pastor: W. U Griffith
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. M. Weeks, Calhoun, Tenn.
Knoxville Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1894, page 262]

1895
Not listed in General Assembly minutes

1896
Clear Spring Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Pastor: S. A.Sadler
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: none listed
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1896, page 238]

1897
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Pastor: Z. M. McGhee
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: Weeks, J. M.., Calhoun, Tenn.
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1897, page 201]

1898
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister: J. S. Porter
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. M. Weeks, Calhoun, Tenn.
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1898, page 222]

1899
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister: J. S. Porter
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. M. Weeks, Calhoun, Tenn.
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1899, page 117a]

1900
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister: J. B. Wilhoit
Clerk of the Session and Post-Office: J. M. Weeks, Calhoun, Tenn.
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1900, page 135a]

1901
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister In Charge: J. B. Willhoit
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. M. Weeks, Calhoun, Tenn.
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1901, page 162a]

1902
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister In Charge: Z. M. McGee [sic]
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. M. Weeks, Cleveland, Tenn.
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1902, page 152a]

1903
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister Now In Charge: none listed
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: none listed
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1903, page 137a]

1904
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister Now In Charge: none listed
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: none listed
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1904, page 118a]

1905
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister Now In Charge: none listed
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: none listed
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1905, page 99a]

1906
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister Now In Charge: none listed
Clerk of the Session and Post Office: J. F. Smith, Charleston, Tenn.
Chattanooga Presbytery - Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1906, page 90a]

1933
Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church
Minister in Charge: C. W. Hays
Clerk of Session and Post Office: Miss Fannie Bishop, Calhoun, Tenn.
Chattanooga Presbytery - East Tennessee Synod
[Source: Minutes of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 1933, page 137]

"At the spring session of the Hiwassee Presbytery, in the year 1843, after prayer and preaching, twenty three people with letters presented themselves from the Spring Creek Church to unite with the Pleasant Hill Church. They were Anderson Clark, Isabella Clark, John Clark, William Scarbrough, Emely Dillon, Emeline Willson, Pressley Longly, Mary Hambright, Melissa Hambright, Madison Hambright, Deniza Hambright, George McConnell, Lane McConnell, John Armstrong, Nancy Armstrong, Bryant Manker, Abraham Michaels, Allison Templeton, John Hampton, John Camp, Mary Camp, James S. Liner and Nancy Coughman." There are no records known showing how far back Pleasant Hill Church goes back at the present. One can rightly suspect it was a close rival to Hiwassee Baptist Church which has minutes in 1812. There is no recorded evidence of any school being held in Pleasant Hill Church but one can suspect there was. The large numbers of its tombstones in the two cemeteries lend evidence to the fact that this community has been flourishing for many more years than is given credit.

The movement for a second building was started in 1851, being finished in April 1860. The Elders then were: "Anderson Clark, John Clark, Thomas Bishop, Wade Hampton, William Porter and William Scarbrough" who sold the two acres for the church for $12.50.

Members of the congregation did most of the work and furnished most of the materials. It is a one room sanctuary with a pot bellied stove in the center at its early beginning.

The name was changed to Clear Springs Cumberland Presbyterian Church possibly because a large spring is at the north end which still issues crystal clear water.

Clear Springs is known for it's early camp meetings, its famous singing schools and the male gospel quartet composed of Tom Bishop, Fletcher Melton, John McDonald and Allen McDonald. (A Xerox picture of one singing school is available upon request listing about three dozen students.) One correction to the Heritage
Book is the school was held in a separate building up the hill from the church and across the road.

Today the church is only used for an occasional funeral and the annual homecoming on the second Sundays in June.

The bell from its belfry no longer tolls as it once did beckoning the faithful to come and worship in this historical church which lies down an embankment off county road 956 leading in from 750.

[Source: McMinn County and Its People, pages 71-72 ]