Pinetops
North Carolina
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Pinetops United Methodist Church
History of Pinetops United Methodist Church
Methodism within the Pinetops area had its beginning near the community of St. Lewis, four miles west of Pinetops. A Methodist Church, called St. Mary's Chapel, was organized there around 1895. Land on which St. Mary's Chapel was located had been donated by the Sugg family and the Chapel was named in honor of Mary Frances Sugg Pitt.
Another Methodist Church was organized at Old Sparta, just four miles to the east of Pinetops, in the late 1800's. Somewhere around 1903, a few Methodists who lived in Pinetops began holding worship services in an upper room over the old blacksmith's shop located at the corner of East Dunn and North First Streets, which was owned and operated by Mr. B.S. Gardner. Methodist preachers from the Farmville area would often conduct the service of worship. The Methodists who lived in Pinetops wanted to organize a church; however, they were reluctant to do so because of the close proximity of the churches that were already located at Old Sparta and St. Lewis. In 1906 the church at Old Sparta was sold to the Universalists and the proceeds were paid to W.L. Dunn, Sr., B.S. Gardner, and L. F. Hales to organize a church in Pinetops. Since the center of growth had shifted to Pinetops, due to construction of the East Carolina Railroad, arrangements were made to move St. Mary's Chapel to Pinetops in 1906. The land for the church's location in Pinetops was purchased form the Macclesfield Company and deeded to W.L. Dunn, Sr., B.S. Gardner, and W.D. Boyee. Thus the Methodist Church at Pinetops was born. The newly organized church served Methodist families in Old Sparta, St. Lewis, and Pinetops.
The Pinetops Church was part of a six-point circuit, which included Farmville, Langs, McKendree, Bethlehem, Shady Grove, and Pinetops. When the church was first organized, it largely consisted of women. Mr. and Mrs. B.S. Gardner, Mrs. W.M. Whitley, Miss Maggie Atkinson, Mrs. Delphia Atkinson, Miss Bennie Dunn (Mrs. F.E. Edwards); Mrs. Mammie Savage and Mr. W.L. Dunn, Sr. were among the earliest members. The first wedding was performed in the church in 1910 at which time Miss Maggie Dunn and Mr. Fred Jenkins were married.
Mr. J.W. Russell was elected Sunday School Superintendent in 1908 and was succeeded by Miss Maggie Atkinson two years later. The Quarterly Conference record of October 1911 shows the average attendance in Sunday School was 25. By 1914 the membership of the Sunday School had grown to sixty with J.H. Jenkins as Superintendent. Mr. Fred Jenkins was elected superintendent in 1916 and served fifteen years when he was succeeded by W. L. Dunn, Jr. By 1926 the Sunday School enrollment reached an all-time high of 200. Around 1930 the enrollment began to decline until it dropped to 100 in 1940.
The wood-frame building which was moved to Pinetops from St. Lewis was used as it was until 1922-23, at which time it was brick veneered and church school rooms were built across the back.
A new education building was added to the church in the fall of 1957. In March of 1977 the old sanctuary was moved to the opposite side of the education building to be used as a fellowship hall, and a new church was built on the same site where the old sanctuary was located. The central focal point of the new sanctuary is the alter or Lord's Table which is free-standing and surrounded by an altar rail where communicants gather completely around the table for Holy Communion. The beauty of the sanctuary is enhanced by two large stained glass windows, one portraying the Resurrection and the other depicting the Nativity Scene. The worship setting is graced by the rich melodious sounds of an Allen Digital Computer Organs, one of the most beautiful and versatile organs ever built.
Thus, from those meager beginnings over a blacksmith's shop over one hundred years ago, came a thriving, well-established church which seeks to point all to a Savior of love and great compassion.
Methodism within the Pinetops area had its beginning near the community of St. Lewis, four miles west of Pinetops. A Methodist Church, called St. Mary's Chapel, was organized there around 1895. Land on which St. Mary's Chapel was located had been donated by the Sugg family and the Chapel was named in honor of Mary Frances Sugg Pitt.
Another Methodist Church was organized at Old Sparta, just four miles to the east of Pinetops, in the late 1800's. Somewhere around 1903, a few Methodists who lived in Pinetops began holding worship services in an upper room over the old blacksmith's shop located at the corner of East Dunn and North First Streets, which was owned and operated by Mr. B.S. Gardner. Methodist preachers from the Farmville area would often conduct the service of worship. The Methodists who lived in Pinetops wanted to organize a church; however, they were reluctant to do so because of the close proximity of the churches that were already located at Old Sparta and St. Lewis. In 1906 the church at Old Sparta was sold to the Universalists and the proceeds were paid to W.L. Dunn, Sr., B.S. Gardner, and L. F. Hales to organize a church in Pinetops. Since the center of growth had shifted to Pinetops, due to construction of the East Carolina Railroad, arrangements were made to move St. Mary's Chapel to Pinetops in 1906. The land for the church's location in Pinetops was purchased form the Macclesfield Company and deeded to W.L. Dunn, Sr., B.S. Gardner, and W.D. Boyee. Thus the Methodist Church at Pinetops was born. The newly organized church served Methodist families in Old Sparta, St. Lewis, and Pinetops.
The Pinetops Church was part of a six-point circuit, which included Farmville, Langs, McKendree, Bethlehem, Shady Grove, and Pinetops. When the church was first organized, it largely consisted of women. Mr. and Mrs. B.S. Gardner, Mrs. W.M. Whitley, Miss Maggie Atkinson, Mrs. Delphia Atkinson, Miss Bennie Dunn (Mrs. F.E. Edwards); Mrs. Mammie Savage and Mr. W.L. Dunn, Sr. were among the earliest members. The first wedding was performed in the church in 1910 at which time Miss Maggie Dunn and Mr. Fred Jenkins were married.
Mr. J.W. Russell was elected Sunday School Superintendent in 1908 and was succeeded by Miss Maggie Atkinson two years later. The Quarterly Conference record of October 1911 shows the average attendance in Sunday School was 25. By 1914 the membership of the Sunday School had grown to sixty with J.H. Jenkins as Superintendent. Mr. Fred Jenkins was elected superintendent in 1916 and served fifteen years when he was succeeded by W. L. Dunn, Jr. By 1926 the Sunday School enrollment reached an all-time high of 200. Around 1930 the enrollment began to decline until it dropped to 100 in 1940.
The wood-frame building which was moved to Pinetops from St. Lewis was used as it was until 1922-23, at which time it was brick veneered and church school rooms were built across the back.
A new education building was added to the church in the fall of 1957. In March of 1977 the old sanctuary was moved to the opposite side of the education building to be used as a fellowship hall, and a new church was built on the same site where the old sanctuary was located. The central focal point of the new sanctuary is the alter or Lord's Table which is free-standing and surrounded by an altar rail where communicants gather completely around the table for Holy Communion. The beauty of the sanctuary is enhanced by two large stained glass windows, one portraying the Resurrection and the other depicting the Nativity Scene. The worship setting is graced by the rich melodious sounds of an Allen Digital Computer Organs, one of the most beautiful and versatile organs ever built.
Thus, from those meager beginnings over a blacksmith's shop over one hundred years ago, came a thriving, well-established church which seeks to point all to a Savior of love and great compassion.