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HISTORY OF WINTERVILLE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
A Brief History from the 1988 Directory
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During the late 1930’s a number of people living in the Winterville area were active members of the Disciple churches in neighboring communities. In May of 1938, Mr. R.E. Boyd made contact with Rev. C.C. Ware, State Secretary of the Disciples Church, and requested that the organization of a Disciples Church be attempted in Winterville. Arrangements were made for the Rev. C. B. Mashburn to hold services in Winterville during the summer of that year.
The Winterville Christian Church was formally organized in the home of Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Abbott on October 13, 1938 with 25 charter members. Its newly chosen officers were ordained on the second Sunday in November by Rev. Mashburn, who continued to serve as minister until October 31, 1940. In December 1940, Rev. Perry Case became minister and served in this capacity until August 1956. Since that time there have been nine regular and eight interim ministers.
Services were held rent free in the Methodist Church building until a structure was purchased by the new congregation in February 1944. At the same time, a building fund was started. During 1948 this building was moved to the back of the lot in order to clear a site for the new church. Construction was begun on May 5, 1951, and the first service was held on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1953. On June 2, 1957 all mortgage notes were burned. In 1960 a parsonage was constructed, and in 1976 the church’s physical plant was expanded with the completion of a new fellowship facility, Ellis Hall.
Through the years, the congregation has actively participated in all areas of church life. Sunday School has been held continuously and there have been many youth oriented programs such as Bible School, Christian Youth Fellowship, Chi Rho, and Junior Fellowship. A Woman’s Council was organized in 1939 with Mrs. Annie Abbott serving as first president, and the women’s work has continued without interruption since that time. Early in 1959 the Men’s Fellowship was organized. Beyond its local ministry, the church is actively involved in denominational endeavors ranging from a growing commitment to world outreach, to representation at district, state, national, and international meetings.
The church continues to grow both spiritually and numerically. Its membership has evolved from a nucleus of lifetime Disciples to a church family with diverse religious backgrounds. The Winterville Christian Church celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in October of 1988. The celebration included the dedication of stained glass windows in the sanctuary which were installed in 1987 and depict the seasons of the church year. We look back to our heritage with appreciation for those so diligently and, at the same time, we anticipate a future of expanding vison and service.
CHARTER MEMBERS
In 1938, a group of twenty five people met at the suggestion of Mr. Robert E. Boyd, to organize the Winterville Christian Church. They have since been known as “Charter Members.” Although Mr. Boyd played a significant part in the church’s organization, he didn’t become a member until 1942. There were several others who attended this meeting and were recorded in the personal notes of Mrs. Bette Hunsucker as charter members but were never entered in the church records as members, namely Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. George Cox, Mr. O.H. Forrest, and Mrs. Haywood McLawhorn. In 1996, Mr. Eugene Cannon also stated that he had never become a member of this church.
Based on church and baptismal records as of 1996, it can be assumed that all of these people listed as charter members had joined and were attending other churches in the area prior to the organization of the Winterville Christian Church. It can also be assumed that all who came to the meeting became members by statement in 1938 when the church was organized. The following is a list of charter members as recorded in Mrs. Hunsucker’s records, including those who were never recorded as members or later said they were not members. For history purposes, these records shall remain as recorded but clarified by noting any new information that becomes available.
Mrs. Annie Abbott – Baptized at Roundtree Christian Church by Rev. C. B. Mashburn, was instrumental in the organization of the Winterville Christian Church and became a member in 1938. She remained a member until her death in 1983.
Mr. A.W. Ange – joined church at (unknown) in 1890 and moved his membership when Winterville Christian Church was organized in 1938. He remained a member until his death in 1961. Mr. Ange was the first elder elected in the newly organized church and was ordained on November 13, 1938.
Mrs. Bruce Boyd – Mrs. Boyd joined church at Eight Street Christian Church in Greenville, NC in 1942 and was baptized by the Rev. Lee Sadler. She moved her membership when Winterville Christian Church was organized in 1938 and remained a member until her death on August 1, 1997.
Mr. Eugene Cannon – Mr. Cannon joined church in 1898 (date unknown) and it was understood that he moved his membership and was a charter member. He later stated in 1966 that he never was a member of Winterville Christian Church. Date of death is unknown.
Mrs. Ronald Carroll – Although at the meeting to organize the Christian Church in Winterville, Mrs. Carroll chose not to join.
Mr. Ronald Carroll – Although Mr. Carroll was at the organizational meeting, church records do not record him as ever being a member, however a history of the Hookerton District shows that he was one of the first deacons ordained on November 13, 1938
Mr. and Mrs. George Cox – Mr. and Mrs. Cox were both at the organizational meeting but did not choose to join and were never on our church records as members. However, the Hookerton History, written by C. C. Ware in 1960 indicates that Mr. Cox was one of the first deacons ordained on November 13, 1938.
Mrs. Susie Rollins – Mrs. Rollins was baptized at Airy Grove by Rev. C. W. Howard in 1917. She moved her membership when Winterville Christian Church was organized and remained a member until her death in 1978.
Miss Ernestine Rollins – Miss Rollins joined the church in Ayden, NC and was baptized by Rev. W. H. Brunson in 1929. She later moved her membership to the Winterville Christian Church in 1938 when it was organized. Miss Rollins was married to Bythal Bostic of Greenville on September 16, 1945, and moved her membership to the First Christian Church in Jacksonville, NC in February 1952.
Mrs. Alta Lee Worthington – Mrs. Worthington joined church in Ayden, NC in 1916 and was baptized by Rev. Cross. She moved her membership to Winterville at the organization of the Christian Church and remained a member until her death in 1968.
Mrs. Hattie Worthington – Mrs. Worthington joined church at Red Oak Christian Church in 1906 and was baptized by Rev. Sam Sumrell. She became a member of the Winterville Christian Church when it was organized in 1938 and remained a member until her death in November 1970.
Mrs. Inez Worthington – Mrs. Worthington joined church at Ayden Christian Church in 1928 and was baptized by Rev. Brunson. She moved her membership to Winterville Christian Church when it was organized in 1938. She was an active member until her death on December 24, 2005.
Mr. Lloyd Worthington – Mr. Worthington joined church in 1938 when Winterville Christian Church was organized. He was a devoted member until his death in 1955, serving as one of the first deacons ordained November 13, 1938.
Mrs. Lucie Worthington – Mrs. Worthington attended the Greenville Christian Church until 1938 when she became a member of the newly organized Winterville Christian Church until her death on January 1, 2008.
KEEPING YOUR DIRECTORY UPDATED
From time to time, as corrections warrant, we will reprint some of the pages in your directory. When you receive updated pages, please remove the old ones and insert the new pages.
If you need assistance or have any questions or input, please contact the Church Clerk.
Information contained in this directory was obtained from numerous resources, including: The Constitution and By Laws of the Winterville Christian Church Available Church records A Handbook for today's Disciples, Revised Edition by D. Duane Cummings Hookerton History by Charles Crossfield Ware Members of the Winterville Christian Church
DEDICATION
August 1997 marked the first year of "The Official Handbook and Directory". It is with special thanks and gratitude that the Winterville Christian Church dedicates this Handbook in honor of Marland Moore who worked so diligently in the planning, designing and the implementation of this Directory during 19951996. Marland served faithfully as the Church Clerk for many years from the early 1990's until 2013. We are eternally grateful for Marland's foresight in the implementation of this all important Winterville Christian Church historical document
January 2015
