Newspapers / The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, … / Aug. 20, 1987, edition 1 / Page 8
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The history of the Methodist Churches in Perquimans County EDITOR'S NOTE: This past Sun day, August 16th the local Methodist Churches celebrated their history and the history of America's 400th anniversary. In keeping with the spirit of their celebration the Perqui mans Weekly has put together a spe cial article outlining their history. This is the second part of a two part series. Bay Branch A.M.E. Zion Church lo cated in Belvidere, North Carolina came into being in approximately 1866 Although the congregation does not know for sure the year the church was established because of inade quate records there is a deed regis tered in Book 66, Number 264 that shows that Rufus White granted one and one third acres of land and deeded it to Moses Overton, Joseph Morris, and Henry Lightfoot, trust ees for the Bay Branch Church on February 10th, 1866. With the dedication and love the church's forefathers it is believed that they constructed a log church which was their first building. The building was apparently constructed on their property shortly after it was aquired. The building was completed in approximately 1867. In 1886 the foundation of the present structure was built and the cornerstone of the church was laid under the leadership of Reverend Samuel Etheridge. The earliest available reference to the orgins of St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church is found in deed book 158, listed August 13, 1866. The indentures were made and entered between James F. Newby, D. P. Daughtery, and F.M. Cook, who were commis sioners for the town of Hertford at that time. The land was sold to Ran dolph Perry, Harry Felton, George Barrett, Fred Skinner, and Henry Barter who were trustees for the church. The land was sold to the trustees for a fee of $1.00. The purpose was to erect a meeting place on the corner of Liberty Street and Dobbs Street, for divine worship. Shortly following this conveyance St. Paul's Church was established. On July 13, 1873, a colored mass meeting was held in the chapel with black ministers and white politicans who gave speeches underlining the necessity for education. The St. Paul A.M.E. Zion Church was laid October 7, 1879 under the pastorage of Rever end M. Linyear. The first Methodist meetings in the Anderson community were held in the Thach School House. The Rever end J. M. Anderson was appointed to the Hertford Circuit in the years 1885 88. This circuit was then in the Vir ginia Conference, Suffolk District. In 1884 the Hertford Circuit was trans ferred to the North Carolina confer ence and the Elizabeth City District was formed. This Methodist Church was built about 1890. and given the name An derson Methodist Church in honor of its first pastor the Rev. J. M. Ander son. R. B. Thach sawed and hauled the lumber. J. M. Manra mortaged his chattels to pay the carpenters for their work. When the church was completed many members were re ceived from the Center Hill Method ist Church. In 1897 Anderson Church became part of the Hertford Charge, and in 1902 Mrs. A. K. Hardy invited Mrs. George Hawkins, District Sec retary of the Women's Missionary Society of the Elizabeth City District to come to the church and help orga nize a missionary society. The so ciety was named the Hardy-Winslow Circle honoring the first two presi dents, Mrs. A L. Hardy and Mrs. J. P. Winslow. i ? In 1912 Anderson Methodist Church was replaced on the Chowan Charge and holds that position today. At this time a " young peoples" Missionary Society was formed with Mrs. Manra Perry as leader, and since that time several other circles have been orga nized. In September of 1951 Sunday School rooms were completed and services were held for the dedication of the building in memory of Horace C. Layden. From 1957 until 1961 the sanctuary of the church was reno vated, and in 1958 the church cele brated its 70th anniversary. In 1962 a Methodist Men's club was formed. On October 31st, 1976 a homecom ing celebration was held, and in No vember of 1900 Anderson comme rated the 200th anniversary of Sunday Schools. Anderson's Sunday School dates back to 1885. Through the years many improvements have been made to the church, it's building and it's grounds. The present pastor of Anderson United Methodist Church is the Reverend Bobby Jor dan. In 1888, the lot on which Porter's Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church and com munity building now stand was pur chased by Ms. Elizabeth Overton, w'io was to become one of the first members of the new church. In that same year a group of men who were to compose the first Trustee board of the new church, purchased the lot from Ms. Overton and permitted the state to build a schoolhouse where the church meet ings were held until the new church could be built and dedicated. Under the leadership and skillful hand of Reverend Pettigrew and the contribution of standing timber by Ms. Lucinda Archer the church was built. The church was completed and dedicated by 1892, and Reverend Mc Lynna served as first pastor of the church. '' When Poplar Run A.M.E. Zion Church began meetings were held in the home of Willys Lawrence. Then as the church grew and expanded meetings were held on the plot of ground where the church now stands. The plot of ground was donated to the church by the late Alec Rogerson. As time went on and the congrega tion grew the need for a building was foremost. People began to donate things for the new building such as logs and with the help of many a log church was erected. The church also served as a school. The present church was con structed in 1891 and was dedicated on March 18th 1892 by the Reverend H. B. Pettigrew who was the first pastor of the church. The Epworth Methodist Church had its beginning in 1898. The orga nizing minister at that time was the Reverend G. W. Starling. The first church conference was held in Feb ruary, 1904. The present building is the original building. The Epworth United Methodist Church is now part of the Perqui mans Charge and has Sunday School and Worship services every Sunday. In the early part of the eighteenth century the people in the community known as Bagley Swamp began to see the need for a church community and a place to worship. Shortly after that time a Sunday School was started, and the meetings were held in three different houses in the area. In 1905 a small church building was built at the location of the present building, and neighboring pastors held services there on Sunday af ternoons. In 1913 the need for a larger build ing was evident so the small one was sold, and it was moved. Shortly after this time a part of the present build ing was constructed. The church was nondenominatio nal until September 1914, at which time it was organized and joined the Apostolic Holiness Church. In 1922 this small denomination united with the Pilgrim Holiness Church, and in 196^ the group merged with the Wes leyan Methodist Church and the name "The Wesleyan Church" was chosen. In 1843, the founders of the Wes leyan Methodist Church withdrew from the Methodist Church because of a difference in belief concerning slavery, the power of bishops, and the recovering of the preaching of ho liness as proclaimed by John Wesley. These same issues were to play a part a few years later in the unfortu- ' nate split of the Methodist Church into two factions. Woodland Methodist Church devel oped because most of the people in the community were traveling to other churches. As they began to talk of organizing a community church, Mr. and Mrs. John T. Wood offered land. That is the reason the church is cur- \ rently named Woodland United Methodist Church in honor of the Woods. On September 30, 1917 the cor nerstone of the church was laid. The men of the community built the build ing and $1,218.00 was raised to use on the building. The church was com pleted in 1919, and was dedicated with 81 proud members and was offi cially named "Woodland Methodist Episcopal Church, South." The Reverend W. L. Loy was the first pastor, and Woodland was part of a five point charge the Rev. Loy had. In the beginning Rev. Loy pre ached at each of his five churches twice a month. In 1939 the church became known as Woodland Methodist Church with the Rev. J.D. Cranford as pastor. In 1957 there was another change when New Hope and Woodland be came a two point charge with the Rev. William Pickett, Pastor. The church than had services each Sunday in addition to many numer ous meetings, thus taking care of both the business and spiritual needs fo the church. Since 1919 many changes have been made at Woodland. One of the most important items in the church's history was when Barry Lee Lane, received his call to the ministry. He currently is serving as pastor of Fletcher Methodist Church, Durham, N.C.. Since organizing Woodland United Methodist Church eight men have served as Superintendent of the Sun day School, and there have been 25 pastors. Currently Lawrence C. Hig gins is the pastor. There are two other Methodist Churches of which little is known about. They are Leigh's Temple A.M.E. Zion Church, and Winslow's Temple A.M.E. Zion Church. Leigh's Temple is believed to be the oldest A.M.E. Zion Church in the county although no definate date can be found to prove that fact. The church has been under the leadership of several ministers. It is known that one of the church's outstanding lead ers was the Rev. E. L. Burton. Dur ing his tenture he was a dedicated ch ristian leader for the Albemarle district. As of press time no information was available concerning Winslow's Temple. Porter's Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church * Winslow's Grove A.M.E. Zion Church St. Paul's A.M.E. Zion Church Bagley Swamp Wesleyan Church i utmto uim* mm r-- , - Bay Branch A.M.E. Zion Church - Poplar Run A.M.E. Zion Church Leigh's Temple A.M.E. Zion Church I 1 "M??T ? ? Woodland United Methodist Church Anderson's United Methodist Church Epworth (J. Methodist Church 1 - 40 . A.-' 4 ' &
The Perquimans Weekly (Hertford, N.C.)
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Aug. 20, 1987, edition 1
8
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