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"Tidewater Virginia was a crown colony which held staunchly, by law and regulations, to the Church of England. However, in 17th Century England, civil war had pitted Puritan against Royalist, Parliament against King and Bishop, and had produced many religious ideas contrary to the highly liturgical Anglican Church.Exerpts: The Episcopal Church in Bertie County 1701-1990; Henry Cullen Dunstan and Harry Lewis Thompson; (Available through Hope Plantation)In this aftermath of confusion, George Fox founded the Society of Friends by offering personal standards of honor, truth, equality and religion based on Puritan belief and democratic organization."
The authors continue by describing the persecution of the Quakers in 1660 in Virginia, which resulted in their moving to the Albemarle. Even though when the Colony of Carolina was created, a grant to establish an official church had been made, none was actually built.
These colonists held to the believe of freedom of choice of religious practice, and the Carolina Charters of 1663 and 1665 supported this freedom.
In 1672, George Fox preached in the Chowan region, holding 3 weeks of revival services to both the settlers and the Indians. " By 1677, the Society of Friends had established established regular meeting days at houses of members..."
You can see that this book makes fascinating reading.ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN QUAKER GENEALOGY VOL I NC - Wm. Wade Hinshaw is an excellent source for Quakers. Contains complete Quaker records on births, deaths, burials, and marriages throughout the entire Quaker territories from PA, NC, IN, OH, VA, MD, NJ, DL, and more. These are still available in hardcopy and on CD's.
North Carolina Genesis: 17th Century Albemarle County Chapter on Religious Life pg 62 -68. Quaker Research Facilities
Episcopal-Church of England
Grace Episcopal-Woodville
Outlaw's Chapel
Holy Innocents Episcopal Chapel
Saint Mark's - Roxobel (1881-1961)
St. Thomas Episcopal-Windsor
In early 1700's the legislature promoted the Church of England (Anglican Church) as the established church of the colony and two parishes had been created by 1715: St. Paul's and Southwest. These served the Chowan Precinct residents. England had also sent missionaries from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (SPG).
Nov 12, 1701, 12 gentlemen were appointed Vestrymen for the Parish of St. Paul's in the Precinct of Chowan. You'll recognize some of these names.
Hon. Henderson Walker, Esqr Col. Thomas Pollock William Duckenfield, Esqr Mr. Nicholas Crisp Mr. Edward Smithwick Mr. John Blount Mr. James Long Mr. Nathaniel Chevin Mr. William Banbury Col William Wilkinson Capt. Thomas Leuton Capt. Thomas BlountWhen Bertie Precinct was established in 1722, the Southwest parish was designated for it, but the name was changed to Socity Parish in honor of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. William Dukenfield of "Salmon Creek" was one of the early supporters and gave 52 acres for a permanent building in 1721 "lying on the northwest side of Ducking Run".By 1727, a second parish was needed and was called Northwest Parish, but this became part of Northampton County when that section was taken away from Bertie in 1741.
It was very difficult to find Anglican ministers willing to serve due to the low salaries and early pioneer life style. The Rev. John Boyd, was the first Anglican missionary to come to the Society Parish. Perhaps he came as the result of Gov. Johnston's plea to the bishop of London: "we are a most heathenish part of American and have no sect amongst us but Quakers who daily increase."
Rev. Boyd had a reputation for drunkenness and died by early 1740's when Rev. John Holmes served for a brief time. Following these unsuccessful pastors, Bertie was dependent on neighboring counties for their clergy until 1767 when the Society Parish called Rev. Thomas Floyd, followed in 1770 by Rev. Francis Johnston.
The Revolution ended the Anglican Church as the established church, but the Episcopal Church grew from these roots.
OUTLAW'S CHAPEL
The chapel mentioned above located on Wm Dukenfield's land, [Merry Hill] was nearly a day's journey to Cashy, the location of the new County Courthouse. In 1760, the families who lived there: Lockharts, Outlaws, Hills, Grays, Whitmels and Cliftons wanted a church of their own.In studying the Court Minutes, Harry Thompson was able to determine that a chapel (first known as simply Cashy Chapel) did exist as it is mentioned in various ways. A deed dated Nov 12, 1777 from Ralph Outlaw and David Outlaw to Alexander How and Humphree Hardee, Church Wardens for Society Parish, an acre of land on the Outlaw plantation is the indication of this Chapel.
The Chapel can also be seen on the Collet and Mouzon maps. The exact location is not known, nor are there any known records from this Chapel. We can assume that it was active while the town of Cashy was thriving (1744-1769). The Revolution brought about a disregard for the Church of England, and no doubt affected this Chapel as well...and it may have been used by Baptists and Methodists. The first record of Episcopal services in Windsor is about 1830, so those years in between are missing in our history.
Resource:Episcopal Church in Bertie Co. (1701-1990) from its Anglican roots to the twentieth Century. Published by St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. (1991) $35 (Available in Hope Plantation Bookstore) 256 pgs. Photos.
SAINT THOMAS' EPISCOPAL CHURCH, BERTIE COUNTY, NC
Direct quote from The Bertie Ledger-Advance, Windsor, NC, September 28, 1972, Section C-6:EPISCOPAL CHURCH WORK BEGAN IN 1722
WINDSOR-----The work of the Episcopal Church in Bertie County began in 1722 with the erection of a Church of England Chapel near what is now Merry Hill. The Chapel was situated one mile from Nicholls Cross Roads on the first high land after crossing Chapel Bridge on the left side of the road to Colerain. It lasted until around 1831 when it was destroyed by fire.Perhaps motivated by the destruction of this building and a growing number of people in Windsor, the Rev. Joseph H. Saunders, residing on Warrenton, began conducting services in Windsor in 1831, as it is recorded at the Diocesan office in Wilmington.
During the years between 1831 and 1840, which were difficult years, a house of worship was being built in Windsor at the corner of Gray and Queen Sts. which is the present location. The Rev. Norwood, the Rev. John M. Robertson and the Rev. Samuel I. Johnson served the people of Windsor.
The Rev. Joseph Blount Cheshire reported in 1839 that there was a church building in Windsor which was partly completed. The Rev. Cheshire preached the first sermon in the present building.
The present building was built on the property of Lorenzo S. Webb. The property was transferred to the church on November 14, 1840 for the sum of $200. On the following day, which was the twenty-second Sunday after Trinity, the church was consecrated and 11 people were confirmed and given communion by Bishop Levi Siliman Ives. The chapel near Merry Hill had been named St. Thomas and it was thought appropriate to call the new church by the same name. The name was proposed by Mrs. L.S. Webb.
The first Vestry of the church in Windsor was composed of Lorenzo S. Webb, Joseph B.G. Rhoulac, along with William Gray, Charles E.Johnson, James S. Bryan, George Gray and David Outlaw.
St. Thomas' Windsor, sent delegates for the first time to the Diocesan Convention in 1843, which was held in St. Paul's, Edenton. They were L.S. Webb, J.C.B. Rhoulac, George Gray and George Holley.
As the communicants have increased from 18 to 178, so has the church grown to its present state of beauty. The original building consisted of only the nave of the present building. The recessed chancel, the narthex, the sacristy and spire have been added. The original windows were oblong and square at the top and made of clear glass.
From the beginning of 1850 the growth and mission of the church has been one of zeal. It is noted by Bishop Ives that the colored people were highly impressed with the ministrations of the church. From 1850 to 1852, during the stay of Rev. Charles Maison, it is noted that there had been services on alternate Sundays in Windsor and Williamston with communion administered once a month and with regular Sunday night services for the colored people. The church had been much improved and a gallery had been built for the colored people but this was later torn down.
In 1851, the vestry room was constructed and described a commodious by the Rev. Charles Maison. A chapel was erected at Woodville during this time and both parishes raised enough money to purchase a rectory. The period of growth ended as the War Between the States started.
In 1905, the Rev. John Gibble became rector and the church showed new life during his rectorship. Again another new rectory was purchased on Taylor St. A church building fund was started for the complete reconditioning and redecorating of the church. In 1910 before the Rev. Gibble's resignation, the beautiful altar which is used today was purchased.
In 1911 the Rev. Walter Raleigh Noe became rector. During his rectorship the church became a reality. In 1913 electric lights were intaslled. Later that year the present stained glass windows were put in and new choir stalls and pews were purchased. During this remodeling services were held in the new public school.
Jonathan Joseph Jacocks is a man who should never be forgotten by the members of St. Thomas' Church for he played a great part in the history of the church. He was so dedicated to and active in the church that it was sometimes called 'Mr. Jacocks' church.'
The period from 1954 to the present has been perhaps the most significant period in St. Thomas' long history. In 1954 the Parish House was built and for the first time the church had adequate social facilities.
In 1958 St. Thomas church became a full parish, which means that it no longer receives financial help from the Diocese. In 1960 the old rectory on Taylor St. was sold and a new one built on Gray St. across from Rosefield.
A new organ and electric lights were installed and in the summer of 1968 the building, which had weathered so many summers, was air conditioned.
Just being completed now is a new building, or rather an addition to the Parish House, which consists of four rooms, rest rooms and a hallway. This building is air conditioned and provides additional space for Sunday School classes."
For a complete history, consult:
Episcopal Church in Bertie Co. (1701-1990) from its Anglican roots to the twentieth Century. Published by St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. (1991) $35 (Available in Hope Plantation Bookstore) 256 pgs. Photos.The Book on St. Thomas contains the origins of the birth of the Anglican Church in North Carolina, and more detailed - the birth of four churches in modern Bertie. Authors - Henry Cullen Dunstan and Harry L. Thompson, History (Assembled by the St. Thomas Church) St. Thomas at Merry Hill 1722-prior to 1840) Outlaws Chapel 1700's Pugh's Chapel 1700's Included are quotations from the life of the parish in caring for the needy, which provide Genealogical clues. There is a complete list of Baptisms(1840-1990) and church memberships(1840- 1990); burials (1853-1990)
The Chapel was built and first used as an Episcopal Church possibly in Colonial days. As late as 1850 it was still known as Pugh Chapel. There are records in Grace Church Register saying Dr. Charles Smallwood and Miss Harriett Joyner Clark were married on March 20, 1850, by the Rev. Joseph B. Cheshire in Pugh's Chapel. Cheshire was the father of a Bishop of North Carolina of the same name. The old Chapel was later called Jumping Run Church and used by all denominations.
For several years, 1842 to 1854, the Episcopalians went to St. Thomas Church in Windsor for baptisms and confirmation, according to records.
Grace Church Parish was established in 1854. The church building was begun in February, 1854, and was consecrated on October 25, 1855, by the Right Rev. Thomas Atkinson.
The original frame building is still being used today and in good condition. A pipe organ given by Margaret Clark Thompson in 1877 is still being used. She had already given the stained glass East window in memory of her daughter, Martha Clark (Pattie) who died in her eighteenth year, 1857. The window has been described by several prominent people as being one of the most beautiful in this section. Most of the furniture was given as memorials.
On the 10th day of July, 1854, in consideration of $20, Dr. H.F. Williams of Bertie County, gave a deed for one acre of land for the church building and graveyard to surround it to the following Wardens, Vestry and Trustees of Grace Church: Thomas J. Pugh, John Devereux, Stephen A. Norfleet, H.F. Williams and Thomas W. Thompson.
It was largely throught the efforts of the Vestry that the Church came into being. Since the beginning the church has had six Bishops and twenty-four rectors.
The register has been kept up to date. Birth dates recorded from 1810, Baptisms from 1855, Confirmations 1854, Marriages 1860, Burials 1867.
The present membership is approximately thirty-five. While a small congregation, the church has an active Sunday School, every Sunday at 10 a.m. Eleven o'clock services on first and third Sundays except during the month of August. The Rev. Frederick B. Drane is the church's minister in charge.
On May 11, 1866, Thomas J. Pugh gave a deed for one quarter acre of land adjoining the first lot to the following Vestry: Lewis Thompson, Joseph J. Pugh, Stephen A. Norfleet, H.F. Williams and Thomas W. Thompson. Copies of the two deeds are in the church register."
Notation: Most of this church history appears to be the same as originally written by Ms. Stella Phelps, a life-long member of Grace Episcopal Church, and which appeared in the Bertie County Historical Association's publication, The Chronicle, April,1961.
Sketch by Laney Layton, Artist
Direct quote from The Bertie Ledger-Advance, Windsor, NC, September 28, 1972,
Section D-3: Courtesy of Jeanette White.
"MANY CHILDREN TAUGHT AT HOLY INNOCENTS
MERRY HILL---On a little country road past Merry Hill and near Scotch Hall
stands a small framed chapel with a cemetery on one side and sheltered by
trees and hedges. The name of the chapel is Holy Innocents'.
Services have not been held at the chapel since 1964, but the influence of the church is still evident in Bertie County.
Holy Innocents' is a quaint and rustic building. A small vestibule was added several years after the completion of the building. The walls and ceiling are of natural wood which have darkened with age. The pews are square, of natural wood, and would seat approximately 100 people. There is no electricity and the only heat is a wood stove. The chapel still contains a marble baptismal font which was a gift from Dr. W.R. Capehart to his mother, Susan Martin, who presented it to the church.
The lectern is on the opposite side of the chancel. The communion rail divides the chancel and the sanctuary is a plain wooden altar. The altar hangings were made by Miss Margie Green when she was over 80 years old. Over the altar is a stained glass Gothic window. The other windows in the nave of the church are Gothic with plain glass. To the left of the chancel is a small vestryroom.
In 1879 Cadmus Capehart began building a chapel on a plot of land on his plantation, Elmwood, for his family of seven children. The Capeharts attended services at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Windsor and St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Edenton, but the journey was a long one to either place for seven small children.
Thus developed the need for a chapel of their own where they might worship. The chapel was never completed at Elmwood due to the sudden death of Cadmus Capehart and the removal of his family to Scotch Hall.
It was then decided by George Washington Capehart of Scotch Hall to move the foundations of the chapel to its present site where it was completed in the early part of 1880 on an acre of land given by Dr. W.R. Capehart of Avoca.
The chapel was named 'The Church of the Holy Innocents' by Mrs. Cadmus Capehart (Mary Martin Capehart), 'as being the most appropriate name (in her opinion) for a church to rear her little children in' where they might learn the teachings of the church.
Through all the years this tradition of a church for the children remained and much of the history of the parish has been that of a little group of children gathered around a mother, an aunt or a grandmother, learning the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, the Ten Commandments and the Catechism.
The construction of the church cost $500 and when it was completed, the Rev. Edward Wooten, rector of St. Thomas, held services at Holy Innocents' the third Sunday of each month.
On April 12, 1880, the chapel was consecrated by the Right Rev. Theodore Benedict Lyman, the Assistant Bishop of North Carolina. He was assisted in the services by the Rev. Wooten, and the Rev. Robert B. Drane, rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
The certificate of consecration, read by the Bishop, hung in the vestryroom. The Sentence of Consecration was read by the Rev. Wooten and stated:
'We, the Rector and committee, representing the congregation of the Chapel of the Holy Innocents' at Avoca, Bertie County, the state and Diocese of North Carolina, being by the good Providence of Almighty God, in the possession of a house of worship, erected in the county of Bertie:'Do hereby appropriate and devote the same for the worship and service of Almighty God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, according to the provisions of that branch of the Holy Catholic Church of Christ, known as the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America, in its ministry, doctrine, liturgy, rites and usages and by the Congregation in Communion with this church and Diocese.
'And, we do also hereby request the Right Reverend Theodore Benedict Lyman, D.D., Assistant Bishop of the said Diocese and that his successors in office and to consecrate the same by the name of the Chapel of the Holy Innocents'.
'And thereby separate it from all unhallowed worldly and common uses, and solemnly dedicate it to the holy purposes above mentioned.
'And we do solemnly declare that there is no lien charge, responsibility or debt upaid or subsisting, for which the said chapel or building or the congregation owning it or worshipping therein, is or can be either legally or morally responsible.
'And we do, moreover, covenant and agree in behalf of this committee and mission that the said house of worship, being thus at out bequest, duly consecrated, shall be held and used in true conformity with the Office of Consecration, and with the Canons of the General Convention and of the Said Diocese of North Carolina.
'In testimony where of, we the said rector and committee have caused the Instrument of Donation to be prepared and have hereunto subscribed our several names and affixed our Seals the twelfth day of April in the year of our Lord, one thousand and eight hundred and eighty.
Signed) Edward Wooten, Rector and Committee'.
Wooten remained rector of Holy Innocents' until 1884 when he moved to the diocese of Delaware. The Rev. E.P. Green, a retired minister, had charge of Holy Innocents' from 1895 to 1899. The Rev. B.S. Lassiter, rector of Hertford was in charge from 1900 to 1902and again in 1908. He came by boat from Hertford, arriving Saturday and returning home on Monday.
The ministers who held the last services at Holy Innocents' were those from St. Thomas Episcopal Church. The last minister in charge of Holy Innocents' was the Rev. John Prior. Services were held the first and third Sundays of each month.
In 1964 Holy Innocents' was declared diocesan shrine by the Diocese of the Protestant Episcopal Church in East Carolina and regular services were discontinued. Now the church is used for occasional special services."
Notation: Excerpted from The Chronicle, October, 1960. has done a number of sketches of historic sites in Bertie County.
"The church building, with its Gothic windows and doors was originally painted gray...The interior plastered walls were scored with verical and horizontal lines in imitation of rectangular blocks of stone"
"The earliest entry in the Church Register is August 14, 1881. This was the baptism of Miss Leila Moore Powell [later Mrs. Thomas S. Norfleet]"
Resource:Episcopal Church in Bertie Co. (1701-1990) from its Anglican roots to the twentieth Century. Published by St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. (1991) $35 (Available in Hope Plantation Bookstore) Chapter on St. Marks by John E. Tyler. pg 80-84.
St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Roxobel by John E. Tyler (1881-present) Family names of communicants; graves in churchyard Listing of Cemetery for St. Mark's
Microfilm: Church Register and Minutes. Years 1881-1961.
Molly Urquhart transcriptions from St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Roxobel
Confirmations
Early Baptisms
Burials
Marriages Posted Jan 2010
This page tells what resources are available and about researching your Methodist ancestors. The collection is housed at Drew University in Madison NJ.
Aulander Methodist Church
Ebenezer Methodist Church
Robbins Chapel - Snakebite
White Oak Methodist Church
Windsor Methodist Church
St. Frances Methodist Church
The Reverend Joseph Pilmor, a Methodist itinerant preacher, visited the Carolina Colony in September, 1722, preaching in the Currituck County Courthouse. Francis Asbury, the famous circuit rider, records in his journals of 1783 and 1784 his visits to congregations already established.
Undoubtedly Windsor Methodists held meetings long before they began the erection of a church building in 1851. In April of that year George W. McGlauhon wrote to George Gray, 'the church is progressing finely and if you stay away much longer, when you come home, you will find we have quite a neat little church.'
On September 3, 1852, a deed for a lot on which the church stood was conveyed by Augustus Holly to H.H. Hardy, Zebulon L. Simmons, Augustus Holly, George W. McGlauhon, Jehu N. Webb, B.H. Simmons, Samuel B. Spruill and B.B. Rupill, trustees for the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
In an old scrapbook of Bertie Circuit church activities, kept for the year 1912, there is the following item: 'Rhoden Ward, a colored man in his 85th year, an ex-slave whose health has been good and whose memory is clear, says he was the first sexton of the Methodist Church in Windsor and that he rang the bell for the first service and that the first sermon was preached by the Rev. William Grant. This was in the year 1852 and the building was completed that year.'
POWELLSVILLE METHODIST CHURCH, BERTIE COUNTY, NC
Official records reveal that Powellsville was incorporated 6 March 1919; however, it is thought that this community (shown as Powell's Cross Roads on the April, 1863 Gilmer Map) was probably established in 1879. This latter date is noteworthy, for on 15 September 1880, Joseph B. Ruffin and his wife, Mary E. Ruffin, and Frank Askew, deeded for ten dollars to Edward P. Simons, W.B. Claiton, W.H. Tayloe, J.J. Perry, Joseph Leary, William Miers (of Bertie County) and D.V. Sessoms, J.L. Jenkins and J.J. Scull (of Hertford County), Trustees In Trust, 1 2/7 acres "for the use and benefit of the Methodist Episcopal Church South".
The deed recorded in Bertie County Deed Book VV, Pages 518-520, further states, "...the said trustees shall erect or cause to be erected on said land" ( "on the publick road from Powellsville to Pitch Landing", now Bethelem Church Road) "a house of Religious worship, in which, at all times, such ministers and preachers as shall from time to time be duly authorized to preach the Gospel and administer the Sacraments of the church, shall have the privalage to officiate, according to the rules and regulations of said Methodist Episcopal Church South as may be adopted or enacted by the General and Annual conferences of such church."
It is thought that the church was built in the 1881-1882 era, making it 117-118 years old. This modest, simple building (constructed of wood) has a shingled steeple and roof, the latter having been covered with a tin roof for preservation purposes. A small room, used for Sunday School purposes was added to the rear of the building a number of years after the original structure was constructed. Oil, then kerosene lamps were used to illuminate the interior. A pot-bellied stove was used to heat the sanctuary in earlier years. A cemetery, no longer in use, is located on the church grounds.
The small, lovely stained glass windows which grace the chancel, were dedicated in memory of William H. Tayloe (died September 14, 1884) and Frances Tayloe (died July 3, 18--8); William B. Cleaton (died July 30, 1896); John W. Britton (born June 24, 1886 - died April 27, 1894) and Lunis Cyrus Britton (born May 24, 1894 - died October 1, 1894).
J.O. Moss was one of the earliest ministers associated with the Powellsville Methodist Episcopal Church South. Charter members were Lucy A. Britton, Bettie Bryan, Sallie Casper, L.E. Cleaton, William B. Cleaton, J.B. Freeman, Lettie S. Gilliam, Sarah H. Myers, Wright Powell, Frances S. Tayloe, Kate Tayloe, William H. Tayloe, Eliza Sessoms, D.V. Sessoms and Martha P. Sessoms.
The earliest Sunday School records that survive are from the 1909-1910 era.
Members listed included:
D.C. Miller A.S. Wynns John C. Britton (Superintendent) Hattie Tayloe Fannie Tayloe (Teacher) Hattie Brown W.S. Tayloe Mary Wynns James Hill Lee Price Thomas Dildy Bessie Arrington L.S. Stoke Sadie L. Britton Talmadge Wynns Willie Tayloe Addie Wynns Lucie Tayloe Leon Alston Rusville Overton Rue Holloman Lucie A. Britton Mary Overton Nannie Dildy Fannie Dildy Joseph Ruffin Sidney Taylor Mary Hill Leslie Casper Irene Overton Ella Mary Holly Paul Tayloe Braxton Wynns Winston Ruffin Elizabeth Ruffin Rexwill Brown Joseph Dildy Rosie Hill Minnie Hill L.R. Sessions Tinie Sessions Sarah E. Holly Spurgeon Powell (name marked through) A. Lee Powell (name marked through)
The Powellsville Methodist Church continues in operation and is served by a
circuit minister. Services are held once monthly.
Prepared by Lynn McCarthy
St. Frances Methodist Church -Woodville
Click for History and picture of St. Frances Methodist Church
The main part of this building had been partially erected about four miles southeast of the present White Oak Methodist Church by the Baptistsof that section. Because of the War Between the States was evident, slavery uncertain and many of their leading citizens were moving away, they had abandoned their plans and sold their undertakings to the Methodists of Windsor, who had the timber brought up the Cashie River on flats.
The completed building was a plain structure with a porch all the way across the front, tall columns, double doors in the center and a gallery across the back for slaves. There was a bell but no steeple until 1871. In 1875 the church acquired its first musical instrument, an organ.
During the pastorate of the Rev. Z.T. Harrison the church was enlarged by enclosing the porch and moving the gallery back. A vestibule was built and a pulpit recess was added.
A few years later the Rev. A. R. Goodchild led a program of church beautification. The floor was carpeted, stained glass windows put in, the chancel made larger, a choir stand built and chandeliers and pulpit lamps added. Another change in the church building was made during the pastorate of the Rev. N.M. Wright when the Sunday school rooms were added.
A final service was held in the old church building on October 1, 1962, and Methodists moved into a completely new building. The old building was later torn down.
Ground-breaking ceremonies were held on Easter Sunday, 1959, for the new educational building. This was completed and put into use a year before the new sanctuary was completed. A service officially opening the new building was held on October 14, 1962, with the late Rev. Holland Hale in charge.
The next building program undertaken was the construction of a new parsonage. This brick home is located across the street from the church.
For many years the Windsor Church was in the Virginia Conference. At the fourth quarterly conference of Bertie Circuit, Murfreesboro District, held November 2, 1889, a resolution introduced by A.W. Snell and A.J. Smithwick was passed asking that the members of the annual conference, at the approaching session, be instructed to ask the general conference to transfer the territory of the Murfreesboro District in the State of North Carolina to the North Carolina Conference.
The action was taken, the petition granted and in 1890 Windsor Church became part of the Warrenton District of the North Carolina Conference. Subsequent reorganizing of districts placed it first in the Weldon District and finally in the Elizabeth City District.
Windsor Church has always been on a circuit of sometimes as many as 10 churches. In 1862 Bertie Circuit was composed of Windsor, White Oak, Cashie, Ebenezer, Lewiston, Aulander, Howard and Mt. Gould. In addition to these churches the pastor preached at Harden's and Pine Forest, two school houses.
Approximately 46 years ago Windsor, White Oak and Cashie became the Windsor
Charge. White Oak Church has been closed in recent years and only two
churches remain in the charge."
Notation: Originally from The Bertie Ledger-Advance, November 28, 1968.Courtesy of Jeanette White
White Oak Methodist Church, which ceased to function a few
years ago, was one of the oldest Methodist Churches in North Carolina.
Photo by Mamie Chamblee 2016.
Tradition says that when Bishop Asbury and the Rev. Mr. Pilmore went over this country preaching, there was a Church of England chapel located somewhere near what is known today as Chapel Bridge near Merry Hill.
In a history prepared by Professor W.R. Smithwick, he says, 'Many of the people of this section, after hearing these men and others preach, gave their allegiance to their teaching, accepting the Wesleyan doctrines, organized a society and had a class leader appointed thus beginning to prepare the way for a permanent Methodist Church.
They continued to meet for awhile at the chapel mentioned above but because there were more people nearer Merry Hill, they moved their place of meeting to what was afterwards known as the Merry Hill Campground, which was their meeting place for several years.'
Deed for the land where the church still stands was given on October 8, 1831 on 'that point of and located between the road leading to Colerain and the road leading to Webb's ferry, being two acres.'
The name White Oak was given to it because there was a large white oak standing near the house where the meetings had previously been held.
First church to be erected on this piece of land was built in 1831 by Marmaduke Smith.
In 1785 John Dickens was the preacher but after this there are no records. Beginning with 1811 there is a complete record of preachers in charge with their assistants and, in most cases, the class leaders and stewards. A record of the membership in 1838 indicates there were 48 members in the White Oak Meeting House class book.
There are also records of many quarterly meetings and church conferences prior to and after 1839-40. Without any interruption, services were held in this church until 1876 when it was decided that a new house of worship was needed.
Membership had increased to a point that it seemed the church would go forward. A subscription to build a new church was opened in August, 1876, and the new building was completed and dedicated in August, 1877, by the Rev. W. G. Star. After the sermon a collection was taken and was found sufficient to meet the indebtedness on the church so that it was presented and dedicated debt free.
Without any changes this building was regularly used for religious purposes until September 23, 1899, when the Rev. J.M. Ashby brought up the question of repairing the church. At this time new pews were placed in the church, the aisles carpeted and the building repainted. A fence was put around the church.
The committee collected $485.18 for the repairs and the work cost $483.80 leaving a balance of $1.38 which was turned over to the stewards for the preacher's salary.
During the pastorate of L.D. Hayman in 1914 the church was again repaired and the inside remodeled. In the late 1950's Sunday School rooms were added at the back of the original building and further repairs made.
A decline in population in the area caused the church to close with the few remaining members transferring to Windsor or other churches nearby."
Many members transferred to Methodist Church - Windsor South in 1966. (407 S. Queen Street)
Accounts 1839-1840, Accounts of Charles W. Jacock, steward with the Methodist Episcopal Church, Murfreesboro Circuit. (Southern Historical Collection)
This church was there in 1863 and is shown on the map of Bertie county drawn by confederate engineer Jeremy F. GILMER.
Aulander Methodist Church
By 1910 a number of Methodist families had moved into the predominately
Baptist community, and the United Methodist Church was established by the
Rev. J.G. Johnson of Windsor. Among the organizers and charter members of
this church were Mr. and Mrs. John Knight, Mrs. Knight, something called "The
Mother of the Aulander Church," lifted the first spade full of soil from the
site where the cornerstone of the church was laid. Until a parsonage was
built, "Mother Knight" kept and "Upper Room" in her home for the pastor and
visiting ministers. Mr. Knight served in almost every capacity, from
Steward, Sunday School Superintendent - even to janitor, when necessary. The
original Methodist Church, on the corner of Commerce and West Elm Streets,
has been remodeled and a comfortable parsonage erected.
Contributed by: Marianne Nichols Ordway Dugolee@aol.com. Her grandparents William Mack Nichols & Mary Joe Willoughby were married in
Aulander Baptist Church, Pine Drive & East Main Street, Tuesday, July 19,
l898 @ 8:30 PM.
A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE KEHUKEE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION
FROM ITS ORIGINAL RISE TO THE PRESENT TIME. Burkitt, Lemuel and Jesse Read
Revised edition.
The Kehukee Baptist Association, with only 10 churches when founded in 1765, grew to a membership of 5000 Baptists and 90 churches by the end of the eighteenth century. Lemuel Burkitt himself took the lead in setting standards for membership within the churches that were part of this important instrument of Baptist growth in the South. This first hand account of the rise of this "association," defined in the preface as "a combination of churches uniting together in one body,"' deals with the formation and growth of the Kehukee Association, and its relationships with other associations, as well as histories of the churches involved and how they joined the association. LC 79-52591 Philadelphia, 1850 ISBN: 0405124589 $31.95 Ayer Company Publishers Phone: (888)-267-7323 FAX: (603)-922-3348 [Copy in the Yale Divinity Library in CT. List of subscribers with some Biographies.] [Joseph Biggs II supposedly wrote a history of the Kehukee Association in 1834. There is some information that Joseph Biggs I -- may have been a Quaker who later was an early baptist. ]
The Archives of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, 201 Saint Alban's Drive, PO Box 17025, Raleigh 27619. Michelle A. Francis, Archivist. Tele: (919) 787-6313.
BAPTIST
Freewill Baptist Historical Collection Mt Olive College Mt Olive NC 28365 Southern Baptist Historical Collection, Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, NC. - Mr. Woodard in charge. www.wfu.edu/Library/baptist/baptcoll.html They have almost all of the old Baptist records that exist.
Askewville Assembly of God Church. Not sure when it was taken - I would guess late 50's or early 60's based on the car in the photo but don't know. From what I can see on the left side of the photo it appears that the old (original) parsonage was probably still standing when this was taken.