The fifty local families began
building a church in 1876. Superintendent Wesley was so helpful in
helping the church to get started, the congregation named the church after
him and his son (Ray). The first pastor was Rev. S. Osbourne.
Founders of the church included Sam Brown, Frank Peters, M.J. Daniel, John
Burrell, Pomp Harry, Mack Frederick, Hardy Henry, Moses Moses, Erwin Peters,
and William John.
In the 1930s, George Ploughman
donated a lot in front of the community school to the church. Though
they needed to build a parsonage, the lot wasn’t big enough for a church
and a home. So W.L. Jefferson sold the church its present site.
Led by Rev. E.L. Jackson, the
frame church was torn down in 1937. The congregation began
building a block structure. A storm destroyed their work before they
were complete. After securing a grant from the church extension board,
the church began work once again. The women provided the food while
the men provided the labor. During construction, services were held
at the community school.
In the 1960s, the church was
remodeled under the leadership of Rev. A.E. Franklin. The church
began making plans and raising money to build new facilities on four acres
bought from Olivier B. Brown.
When Mrs. Olivier B. Brown moved
to California in 1975, she sold her home and land (1 acre) to the church.
Her home became the new parsonage. In 1982, construction began on
a new church. The pastor at that time was Rev. Robert Brown.
The UMM and UMW raised $5,000 to install carpeting. Pews were donated
in honor or memory of loved ones. The cornerstone was laid on November
3, 1991. The church mortgage was paid off and the note was burned
on July 26, 1999. |
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