HISTORY OF BETHANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
Bethany Methodist Episcopal Church was organized in 1834. The church was in the High Point District of North Carolina Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church-South. On August 1, 1837, John Balfour Troy gave the land on which the church was built, one and one-half miles west of Liberty, North Carolina. Actually, Mr. Troy sold the land to Bethany for the sum of one dollar, but he asked to be compensated for the amount that had been expended by him in the erection of a house of worship on this property. Secondly, the Trustees of Bethany had to agree to finish the house of worship according to the rules and Discipline of the General Conference.
Both John Troy and his wife, Nancy Lane Troy, were active members in the church and were principal factors in the establishment of the church. The church was small and plain in design. The front door of the old church was on the east side, and there was another door on the south side near the pulpit.
There was a schoolhouse just south of the church, near the spring that was the water supply for the old church and the school. When the schoolhouse burned down, classes were held in the church. The Reverend Thaddeus Lebbeus Troy and his wife Jane Troy were teachers at the school and for the classes that were held in the church. Reverend Troy was a philanthropist and also one of the ministers of the old church.
There is a “story” about the location of the church. The old church was not on the exact spot our church is today. It seems that the Troy and Kirkman families started the church. The Troys wanted the church built at the upper end of the tract of land, and the Kirkmans wanted the church built at the lower end where the cemetery is located. The Troys evidently won out, if there is anything to the story, because our present church is also built at the upper end and the cemetery is behind. If you walk through the cemetery today, you will see the Troys are buried at the upper end and the Kirkmans are buried at the lower end.
In addition to the Troys and Kirkmans, some of the members of the old church were Mr. and Mrs. Luther S. Routh, Mr. and Mrs. Gurden F. Butler, Mr. P. C. Kivett, Mrs. Dosie Burgess, Mr. Alfred Kimrey, Mr. Alfred Troy, and Mrs. Mary Jane Kivett. Messrs. Jim McAdarns and John Lane were two of the superintendents of the old church and served for 21 or 22 years.
Some of the ministers of the old church were the Reverends John Tillet, James R. Scroggs, James DeLayette Carpenter, Maxwell Humphrey Hoyle, Pinkney L Groome, Eves, Thaddeus Lebbeus Troy, Melvin Chafin Field, Jeremiah F. Craven, and Bob Grettor. A Reverend Wrenn acted as substitute. The Bethany Trustees in 1837 were George Brown, Archibald Ferguson, James Hutton, Thomas Kirkman, Robert Kirkman, Edwin Miller, John Miller, John Balfour Troy, and Leonard P. Wren.
In 1890, the North Carolina Conference was divided to add the Western North Carolina Conference. Bethany at that time went into the Western Conference and is now in the Greensboro District.
The old church was torn down in the very early 1900s. Only bits of information are available about our present church. The one-room structure was built in 1901, but not in the same spot as the old church. The Reverend Barber was pastor when the new church was built. He was also instrumental in the building of Liberty and Randolph churches around this same time.
Reverend Bob Grettor preached the first sermon in the present church.
Mrs. Mary Jane Kivett (who died in 1954) told that her husband was one of several who helped haul the lumber to build the new church. She thought it came from near Ramseur from a Mr. Hinshaw. It is told that Mr. Thad Kimrey, when just a boy, was hauling sills for the new church. Night was approaching and he had no one to help him unload, so he hitched his horses to the sills and let them pull oil‘ the sills. In 1971, Mr. Tom Kimrey (Thad’s brother), of High Point, said he helped to put the rafters on Bethany Church in 1901.
Mrs. J. Cleve Williams (Nora Pickett) told that when she was a little girl, she carried lunch to her dad while he was helping with work on the church.
The first record of infant baptisms was in 1904 for the daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Kivett: Fleta Kivett Lane and Maude Kivett McMasters, both now deceased.
Mrs. Hassie Lineberry Kivett remembered that one of the Messrs. Kirkman regularly came to visit them. She shared that her Dad (Mr. Rue Lineberry) said you could always tell when it was time to pay the preacher because Mr. Kirkman would come around collecting from the church members. The preacher was paid with whatever the members could give, whether it was money or food.
Others remember when Riley Shoe would tie up his buggy in front of the church, where it remained until time to go back home.
Four classrooms for Sunday School were added to the church in 1926. (This area is now used as part of the sanctuary.) The Reverend Joe Brendall was pastor at that time. The church was heated by wood heaters. Danner Ferguson, Jr., remembers going early on worship days to start the fires to heat up the sanctuary and the Sunday School rooms. He also remembers lighting the oil lamps for night services. In 1938, electricity replaced the oil lamps in the church.
In the mid—l950s, a heating system was installed to replace the wood heater that was in the front of the church, a well was drilled, restrooms were added, the basement to the church was dug, five more classrooms were added at the sides and back of the church, the pulpit area was made larger, and cast iron railings were added to the side of the front steps. Danner Ferguson, Sr., planted shrubbery along the walk and around the church.
Also in 1950, the interior of Bethany church was remodeled and the church was underpinned. The Reverend Ernest Fitzgerald was the pastor then. The vestibule and steeple were added in 1951 when the Reverend K. W. Bedenbaugh was pastor. Cement steps and walkway were then added. The estimated value of the church building in 1952 was $6,200.
In late 1950s, after the basement and classrooms were added, steel reinforcements were required to prevent a collapse from the weight of the flat roof. The flat roof was later covered with an A roof.
On September 10, 1950, Bethany and the three other churches on the Liberty Circuit (Randolph, Staley, and Whites Chapel) dedicated the parsonage of the Circuit. This parsonage was used until 1975, when Bethany left the Circuit and the parsonage was sold.
In 1960, two Sunday School classes purchased new pews for the sanctuary. Some of the old slatted pews are now in the basement. The rest of the slatted pews were sold to Cool Springs Baptist Church.
Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Williams donated the lectern in the pulpit in 1969. In 1970, Mr. J. Cleve Williams had John Henry Kivett build the brick columns at the end of the walkway in front of the church in memory of his wife, Nora.
There was a clock in the church that was donated by Mr. Walt Thomas. The clock, which was broken and not in use, was sold at auction at one of Bethany’s fall festivals. Mr. John Henry Kivett purchased the clock. The clock in the sanctuary now was placed there by Linville, Louise, and Mark Allred in 1979, in memory of their son and brother, Warren Hal Allred, who died November 1978.
There have been numerous improvements to the church building in recent years. All pews have been upholstered, and carpet was added. A new well was drilled (the church’s third) and a new pump was added. In 1998, all windows were replaced, new outside doors were installed, and canopies were added over the entrance doors. Stained glass windows that were added to the sanctuary and vestibule were dedicated on April 18, 1999.
FELLOWSHIP HALL
While the church basement was already being used as a fellowship area, in 1973 the basement was improved to make it even more useful. There were additions of a stove, refrigerator, cabinets, benches, tables, and chairs so the basement could be used more. The basement was not only used by the church for fellowship, it served the community as well. The church used the area for various fellowship meetings, but also for youth gatherings and the youth choir. The local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings were held here, and there were many bridal and baby showers, family reunions, and birthday and anniversary celebrations.
One Sunday, when there was no power because of an ice storm, we had the entire worship service and Sunday School in the basement, because it was warmer there and it had lots of windows for light. The one thing lacking, however, was handicap access. —-— The basement no longer served the needs of the elderly in our congregation and community.
We began dreaming and planning for a space that would be on one level, with handicap access. A building fund for a fellowship hall had been established many years ago with money donated specifically to that cause, but no action had been taken. This was our start! It was a long time coming, but with Fall festivals, Brunswick stews, hotdog suppers, spaghetti suppers, and yard sales, we kept going. Providing concessions at auction sales added to the pot.
For such a project, there has to be somebody to step up and get started, and Archie Saunders and Roscoe Poe came to the rescue. Tony Lineberry, with Lineberry Architectural Group, drew the plans, and Roscoe brought in his construction crew and went to work. He did have some assistance from men at the church. Our dream was now a reality, with special thanks to Archie and Roscoe. The building was completed, and in October, 1999, the Consecration Service was held. A baby grand piano was also purchased and placed in the fellowship hall. And one of the best parts, with help by the Duke Endowment, all construction and additions were paid for by the time everything was completed. The Hall is now used for even more events than the basement was.
MUSIC
Very little is recorded regarding the music in the church. There seems to have been no musical instruments in the church for several years. A small pump organ was bought and used until it was sold to Cool Springs Baptist Church. Mrs. Lucy Williams Kivett served as pianist/organist from 1943 until shortly before her death in 1992. On April 18, 1999, the stained glass mural of The Lord’s Supper was dedicated in memory of Lucy and her father, F. C. Williams. Mrs. Faye Williams Saunders served as pianist from 1965 until 1993.
Bethany has a choir that could perhaps be described as “a joyful noise.” The group has sung for special services at other churches, sunrise services, Fifih-Sunday Singing, and other song services. Ed Stevens, our past pianist/organist, and Stacey Fisher McDonald, full-time, then part-time pianist since 1993, helped the choir to learn new music and to improve on the older songs. We had help from Ray Thompson and Lynn Bridges, from Staley UMC, and Myrna Nixon. Stacey is still with us and we’re still singing!
During the years that we had classrooms filled, we also had a Children’s Choir. They met in the basement, and the children enjoyed the singing and even sang in the sanctuary for the adults. When Art and Nancy Allen were our pastors, they worked with the children’s choir, teaching them songs that Reverend Allen had written.
Bethany had a tape ministry for many years. This served the elderly and shut—ins of the church and community. Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Williams donated a sound system, and United Methodist Women donated $100 to enhance the system. The choir microphone was added in memory of Texie Reitzel, one of the choir members, who died in 1995.
Some of the Sunday School Superintendents have been P. C. Kivett, A. C. Pickett, R. C. Palmer, J. C. Williams, Larkin Kivett, Paul Stevenson, Walt Thomas, Charlie Butler, Arthur M. Smith (20 years), J. C. Stevenson, Ray McMasters, and Danner Ferguson, Jr. At the present time, there are several individuals serving as superintendent.
Bethany congregations have long taken pride in the appearance of the church and the grounds. For many years the women in the church took turns cleaning and the men looked after the grounds. Linville and Louise Allred and their sons, Hal and Mark, cleaned the church and cared for the grounds from 1969 to 1978. In l978, Franklin and Margie Lednum and Emogene Daniel took on the responsibilities. After Margie’s death in 2006, Franklin and Emogene continue to look after the church.
In the interest of Christian growth, Bethany withdrew from the Liberty Circuit in 1975. Our first pastor was Reverend Raymond Himes, who was with us for two years. Then came Reverend Okel Evans, who was the pastor for eight years, and Reverend Marilyn Cirrulis, for one year. These were good years for Bethany, but when the District did not locate a pastor for the next year, Bethany was forced to return to the Circuit in June 1986. We are still in the Circuit, and we are enjoying services every Sunday.
YOUTH GROUPS
Mrs. Mabel Pickett Callahan and Mrs. J. F. Willard organized the first young people’s organization in 1913, the Epworth League. This group gave the chairs that are now in the pastor’s study to the church. In 1957 Bethany had two Methodist Youth Fellowship (MYF) groups——Junior and Senior groups. Both were large and active. They enjoyed many activities and were a significant part of the church. The two groups raised money and gave the church a new altar set ——cross, candleholders, and vases. Because of the exodus of the young people, the MYF no longer exists.
METHODIST WOMEN
The first Ladies Aid Society was organized in 1923. Reverend A. L. Lucas organized this society of five women: Mrs. A. C. Pickett (who was 96 years old when she died), Mrs. J. Cleve Williams (Nora), Mrs. R. H. Lineberry, Mrs. S. L. Routh, and Miss Margaret Isley. According to Mrs. Nora Williams, Reverend Lucas gave each of the women a little bag of stick candy for refreshments at that first meeting.
The Ladies Aid Society was changed in 1933 to Bethany Missionary Society. Reverend L. P. Barnett, whose wife was in the Society, was pastor and was influential in the reorganization. In 1940, the Society was changed to Woman’s Society of Christian Service. In October 1968, the name was changed again — this time to Women’s Society of Christian Service — with 21 becoming charter members: *Jackie Bullard, *Loucina Brower, *Lola Coltrane, Shirley Clark, *Ila Stevenson, Maxine Stevenson, Grace Voncannon (wife of the pastor, Howard Voncannon), Donna Lee Holt, Ellen Lineberry, Shirley Farmer, *Mary McMasters, Clara McMasters, *Cleo Kivett, *Donnie Ferguson, “‘Ruby Turner, *Ada Thomas, and *Cora Williams. *Denotes deceased.
The name of the organization was changed again in 1973–This time to United Methodist Women. Mrs. Cora Williams joined the Society in 1935, held numerous offices, and was faithfiil until the group disbanded in l993——58 years.
Throughout Bethany’s history, the Women’s groups have made big contributions to their work in missions and benevolences and to the church. In 1959, WSCS members purchased the electric organ that is still in use. This group bought new pulpit furniture in l969~—altar table, flower stands, and chairs. The matching lectern was donated by Mr. and Mrs. F. C. Williams. Archie and Faye Saunders drove to Franklin, Tennessee, to pick up the furniture. In March 1972, a library was established and a bookcase was placed in the vestibule in honor of Mrs. Nora Pickett Williams. The Society established memorial gardens in memory of deceased members of the United Methodist Women.
METHODIST MEN
The first men’s group to be organized at Bethany was April 25, 1958, under the direction of Reverend Jim Singleton. There were l7 members. This group disbanded September 1961. The Methodist Men started again February 1 1, 1990, when Wesley McLeod was pastor. This group met once each month for breakfast, meditation, and planning and was active in projects for the church, the community, and various benevolences. By October 2005, several members had died or moved away and the Methodist Men disbanded.
CEMETERY
The cemetery is as old as the church. The earliest date of death on any monument is February 15, 1834, for Tommy Kirkman. Next were Madison Lowe — June 26, 1835, and Jesse Carter — August 3, 1835. Isabella Balfour Troy, mother of John Balfour Troy, was February 22, 1837.
In 1963, the cemetery was made larger by having some of the trees pushed back and clearing the land. In 1967-68, the graves were leveled and grass was sown in the cemetery. In 1972, the brick columns were built at the entrance of the cemetery in memory of Messrs. Harvey Brewer and Cecil Turner, for their faithful interest in beautifying the cemetery.
In 1999, Guy and Winifred Troy donated additional land for the cemetery. (Yes, Guy Troy is a descendent of John Balfour Troy, who gave the land in 1837 for our church and cemetery.) This additional land will add approximately 300 grave plots. The tract has been landscaped and is ready and available for use.
Bethany’s name has been changed twice since the church was organized. Bethany Methodist Episcopal became simply Bethany Methodist, and then became Bethany United Methodist Church. Of course, there were many other changes and there will be many more. We can only hope and pray that, as the surrounding area is more thickly populated, the church will grow. We hope to see all that Bethany has to-offer is used to the fullest.
Compiled by Shirley Ferguson — December 2009
Next > page 3