HISTORY OF THE
Gibsonville
Methodist
Protestant
Church
(1881 through1924)
During the year 1881, a Sunday School was organized which
met in the old Masonic hall, the house next to the home of Mr. C. B. Thomason.
Mr. J. W. Fogleman and Mr. Berry Davidson were the two leading members in
organizing a Sunday School. Mr. Davidson was elected the first Sunday School
Superintendent. Up until this time there had been no form of public worship in
the little
village
of
Gibsonville
.
Some months after the Sunday School was established, Rev.
T. J. Ogburn was asked to conduct preaching services occasionally. And, once in
a while, ministerial students from
Elon
College
preached to the small congregation.
Only a year or two had passed when the people voted that
they build a
Methodist
Protestant
Church
. At that time, there were but two property owners in Gibsonville, one of those,
Mr. Berry Davidson, gave the lot and financed the building of the church which
still stands on the site of the present location. Mr. Davidson paid all but one
hundred and thirteen dollars which the other members subscribed. However, all
the subscriptions were not paid but some of the members gave their time to
building the Church.
There had been about thirty members in the Sunday School
which was transferred to the new place of meeting. Of the thirty, only about
fifteen joined the church.
The first revival ever held in Gibsonville was conducted by
reverend C. A. Pickens in the year 1893. From this time on services began to be
held more regularly. Mr. Berry Davidson practically paid those who held
preaching services for the first two years. The Church was supported and
governed independent of the Methodist Protestant Conference.
Later the Gibsonville charge was added to the Graham
charge, but was afterwards transferred to the charge of
St. Paul
's Church and finally transferred to that of
Fairview
where it remained until it became a station.
There have been eighteen pastors of the
Gibsonville
Methodist
Protestant
Church
. They are as follows: the Reverend Messrs. Pickens, Bethea, McCullough,
Whittacker, Braswell, Ledbetter, Self, Bowman, Lindley, Abernathy, Hutton, and
Edwards.
The church was remodeled and to it additions were made at
various times; once during Mr. Braswell's pastorship and later when Mr. Bethea
was pastor. At present there are being considered the effecting of some much
needed improvements.
The church was at first a community church and many of
several denominations united with the
Methodist
Protestant
Church
. But some years later, when other churches were founded, several members left
to join the new congregations.
In the year 1908, there were forty members with four
teachers in the Sunday School. The church had sixty members and paid the pastor
one hundred and nine dollars.
While Mr. Abernathy was pastor for two years, he received
thirty six members into the church. Mr. Lindley, the pastor preceding Mr.
Edwards, received twenty eight new members. Mr. Edwards has received forty six
new members. There are now one hundred and sixty seven members of the church out
of which number, there are thirty four who represent families that own their own
homes. Whereas, there were only two property owners for the first ten or twelve
years the church was established.
From 1890 to 1924, there has been a gradual growth in both,
the church membership and that of the Sunday School. The Sunday School
Superintendents are as follows: Messrs. Berry Davidson. J. W. Fogleman, A. D.
May, G. W. Bowman, and D. M. Davidson. The latter being Superintendent for the
last seventeen years.
Connected with the church is an active Junior Christian
Endeavor Society, also, there is a Young People's Christian Endeavor Society
being organized and established.
Just a few years before his death, Mr. Berry Davidson
turned the property over to the conference. He had also bought an organ for the
church.
At present, there are ten officers and teachers, and two
hundred and sixty seven members. There has been a gradual increase in the
pastor's salary. For the present year, the budget for the church is seventeen
hundred dollars. And yet, the church is not entirely self supporting. Because of
the growth of the growth of the church and increases of wealth, the church now
supports a pastor to preach every Sunday rather than have services occasionally
as was done in the beginning.
BY:
Mary Ruth Huffman
Beatrice Forbis
Mildred Forbis
Nellie Ferne Greeson
