OUR HISTORY

 

The North Carolina Church of Christ has a long and interesting history. Around 1877, R. Wallace Officer and Murrell Askew converted several members of the Union Grove Baptist Church to the Church of Christ. On January 14, 1882, 12 men met to form the Union Grove Christian Church. It is believed that they worshipped in a small log church building northeast of the present day building located on County Road 36. 

  Charles Brickley Jones and his wife Sally gave the Union Grove Christian Church a parcel of land. This land was for the church building and a cemetery. A log building was built, probably in the late 1880's where the current cemetery is located. At some point the name was changed to the North Carolina Church of Christ. The name North Carolina was probably chosen because many of the old settlers originally came from that state. At some point the log building was torn down and the frame building at the right was constructed. There was no air conditioning and the tin roof would make the building very hot in the summer. Paper fans and open windows provided the only relief from the heat. 

  During the early years of North Carolina, there was no such thing as a "located preacher". Often members would just meet, study the scriptures, share the Lord's Supper, sing and pray. Occasionally, a traveling or "circuit riding" preacher would come to preach for them. In 1908, a preacher named Will Behel began to preach once a month. He often rode a mule to church because the roads were too muddy for his buggy. Many times he preached without pay.

  Around 1935, a preacher named John Campbell came and North Carolina saw a period of growth. His son, Melvin also started preaching and did some of his first preaching at North Carolina. Melvin and one of the elders of the congregation at that time, Raymond Parker, are credited with starting our annual "Homecoming Day" which is now celebrated on the third Sunday in May.

  In 1954, a college student named Hagan Cooper came to work with the congregation. It was the first time the church had preaching every Sunday. He started the first church bulletin called "The Admonisher." He also began a mid-week prayer meeting. Bro. Cooper encouraged the congregation to replace the old frame building with a new larger brick structure. This was accomplished and in 1956 the congregation began holding services in the new building.

  In the fall of 1967, the need for a full-time preacher was realized. Brother Thomas Wortham came to work with our congregation as our first full-time preacher. The church had grown to the point that additional room and remodeling was needed to accomodate that growth. In the fall of 1969, we had our first service in a new auditorium, which is still in use today. The old auditorium was converted into much needed classrooms. Since that time we have had many good and faithful ministers and have enjoyed much growth in our congregation.