Soule Methodist Church

Soule Methodist Church

Soule Church, one of the oldest established Methodist congregations in Hyde County, got its name from Bishop Joshua Soule. In the early days Soule Church was the center of worship for a large portion of aristocracy at the time. Soule Church had its beginning on August 11, 1858, when John R. Donnell deeded the church site to Riley Murray, James R. Fisher, Edward Jones, Samuel G. Watson, Sr., James W. Swindell, Milton Sadler, Gideon S. Sermons, James Weston, and Leroy M. Swindell, who served as the first trustees of the church. Immediately after the church site was obtained, work was begun on construction of the building with Tulley Williamson as head carpenter. The church is a white-frame building with stained glass windows. In recent years wings for Sunday School classrooms, bathrooms, and a kitchen have been added.

Nearby is Soule Cemetery, which is the largest burying ground in Hyde County. There lie the remains of people from all sections of the state--the place chosen because it is one of the highest spots in the county.

Milton Sadler, one of the first trustees of Soule Church, is said to have "hoisted" the first tune there. It is interesting to note that Mr. Sadler is the grandfather of Willie Mae Spencer Graham, the great-grandfather of Carolyn Spencer Harris, and the great-great-grandfather of Richard O'Neal, each of whom has taken his/her turn in "hoisting" the tunes in Soule Church since 1921.

(Photos courtesy of Sandra Carawan. Information from Hyde County History published by the Hyde County Historical Society in 1976.)