 First Wesleyan Church Gastonia, North Carolina "The Lighthouse on the corner."
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First Wesleyan Church 208 South Church Street Gastonia, NC 28054 704-867-7206 704-867-5607 (Fax) |
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Church History
“When Gastonia was a small town and Franklin Avenue a dirt street, the First Wesleyan Church came into existence ….” Thus wrote the pastor to the merchants of Gastonia in the fall of 1969, taking them back in memory seventy years to a different day than ours; to a time reminiscent of horse-drawn carriages, of trolley cars and of the styles and fashions of that day. In such a time as this the First Wesleyan Church came into existence! It was so long ago and yet such a short time as far as eternal things are concerned. Much of the material things of that day though stylish and modern then, are old and antiquated and passed away, but the work of a few people who were interested in eternal things and who banded themselves together as a church have a monument “eternal in the heavens.” Countless men and women and boys and girls have come through the doors of First Wesleyan through seventy years of time and have found there riches, greater than the world could ever offer - eternal, spiritual riches.
Yet how close did this come to not being a reality.
Rev. H. W. Hawkins was a pioneer preacher in the North Carolina Conference. In or about the year 1889 he received his exhorter’s license, and was ordained on November 18, 1899 by the South Carolina Conference. On October 24, 1900 he united with the North Carolina Conference at Shady Grove, Colfax, North Carolina, and can rightfully be called the “Grand Old Man of the North Carolina Conference” since he was instrumental in organizing at least thirty-five churches. “…he was an untiring worker; always cheerful, never complained. He was strong physically and could stand the hardships of pioneer work. He was president of the North Carolina Conference eight years, but there was no place he fitted into like he did in new fields. It didn’t matter where he worked; he had only one object in view; that was a Wesleyan Methodist Church.” (written by John Clement in the “Wesleyan Methodist” January 20, 1943, at Rev. H. W. Hawkins’ death). Mrs. B. M. Gibson summed up Rev. Hawkins by saying: “He was a Go-Getter.”
But the work was new, the ground hard, and opposition was bitter. “A trio of the strongest men in the Connection were sent here to disband the Conference and declare that Wesleyan Methodism in North Carolina be no more – Rev. Eber Teter; Rev. A. W. Hall; and Dr. J. N. Bedford of Houghton College, New York were the men sent here to "bury the corpse." (Dr. Roy S. Nicholson in WESLEYAN METHODISM IN THE SOUTH). When they came, “It was Brother Hawkins who pled with them to give them one more year of trial; that was the year that God came and turned the tide from defeat to victory. It was through the leadership of Brother Hawkins that the Conference was saved.” The year was 1902 and the North Carolina Conference is grateful to the foresight of one man who had faith enough to hold on.
Brother Hawkins had already organized the Church in Gastonia, and the following are the first recorded minutes. “The Wesleyan Methodist Church of America was organized in Gastonia, May 20, 1900 A.D. by H. W. Hawkins as Pastor and assisted by Rev. H. S. Abbot, District Superintendent. This class was organized with forty-five (45) members resulting from the tent meeting held by the above named brethren, also steps were taken at once to build a church with very good success. Rev. Hawkins remained as Pastor 1900 – 1902. The Church was then known as the “Avon Charge” and consisted of Gastonia First (Avon) and Firestone Church (Loray). It was not until 1917 that the two churches became independent.
Mrs. B. M. Gibson recalls attending tent meetings and later meetings in the homes before the church was built. But the minutes of February 24, 1902 reveal that they didn’t want to meet in homes and tents very long. “The Wesleyan Class (Church) met for the purpose of transacting business February 24, 1902 with H. W. Hawkins, Chairman. First item of business: On motion, a building committee was appointed – Julius Bridges, J. H. Hamilton, and J. L. Luck.” And the first Church was built.
Recalling memories of the earliest church was a nostalgic experience for those interviewed. Mrs. Maggie (Christenbury) Johnson recalled: “The first remembrance I have of the First Wesleyan Church is of a one room white frame building with one aisle going down the center. It was neatly kept and warmed by a large coal stove in the center of the room.” Mrs. Edna Bridges Nolen remembers joining the church (May 4, 1902, according to the Church records) on the porch of her home and attending church services “before the building was ceiled or before they had seats.” She recalls sitting on long planks. Her description of the church – “It was a long, white building facing Franklin Avenue.” “I don’t think I’ll ever forget the stove,” she said. “It was a great, big, old, tall potbelly stove that burned wood, with a sandbox built around to keep the coals from falling out on the floor. There were no walks or steps. You had to walk up a hill to the Church.”
From descriptions given, the early white frame building would seat about one hundred (100). It had been built by free labor on the part of the church members and Rev. H. W. Hawkins, Mr. J. J. Hamilton, Mr. Julius Bridges and Mr. B. M. Gibson were responsible for a great deal of the labor involved. Opposition was great and one man whose daughter was a member of the church made the prediction that the church wouldn’t last very long, and then he would take it and “make a good barn out of it.”
Minutes of October 7, 1902, give the first recorded financial statement:
“Amount of money collected by the First Wesleyan Methodist Class (Church) at Gastonia for the Conference year, 1902:
For church building $275.73 For Benevolence 13.16 For S. S. Literature 16.89 Total $305.78 S. S. Money for Missions 9.80 $315.58
The statement is almost prophetic, for the history of the church reveals that these have been the predominant interests and loves of the church for the past seventy years – the desire to improve building facilities, to give to benevolences, to Sunday school and children’s work, and missions, is manifest in all the records of the church. Strangely enough, the first financial statement does not record any money given for the support of their pastor, indicating self-support. REV. BELLE McCLURE - PASTOR 1903 – 1904
Little is known of the ministries of the next few pastors of the church. Records were not kept in detail and sometimes not at all. The second pastor of the church was Rev. Belle McClure, the only woman pastor the church has ever had. She apparently served for two years from 1903-1904. “During her pastorate the Annual Camp Meeting was started on the property at the rear of the church. However, a tent was used then, and it was not until later that the Tabernacle was built.” (Church History of 1950)
The following is written in the minutes concerning the first purge of church members which took place during her ministry: “After looking over the record, by motion the church moved that thirty-one names should be taken off of the church record as they had moved away and didn’t let us know anything about their spiritual condition and we couldn’t trace them up, the church decided to drop them.” “On motion, fourteen were placed on the visiting list as they were in non-attendance. Sister Belle McClure, Beatrice Dalton, J. J. Hamilton, Carrie Arthurs were appointed to visit the members.” (Church minutes – March 15, 1903.
NO DEAD WOOD HERE!
REV. M. T. HARTSOE – Pastor 1905
The Rev. M. T. Hartsoe followed Mrs. McClure and remained at the church for one year. The minutes reveal that Rev. M. T. Hartsoe, his wife and daughter, Lois, became members again May 9, 1915, but no record is given of when they left.
REV. J. C. CLUBB – Pastor 1906
No records are available for the ministry of this man of God, but in the Church History of 1950, credit is rightfully given all who served during the first hard years – “These pastors labored hard and sacrificed greatly and much credit for the success of the work is due them.”
REV. C. A. HENDRIX – Pastor 1911-1914
The records of the church reveal that C. A. Hendrix, though not a charter member, was one of the first members of the church. He joined November 4, 1900. The earliest records reveal his love for his church and his willingness to serve. In the minutes of December 1, 1901 – “Rev. H. W. Hawkins acting as chairman, finding the class (church) in good standing, proceeded to business. On motion of the class, C. A. Hendrix was elected secretary.” Minutes of May 3, 1902 – C. A. Hendrix and five others were appointed to visit members who were in non-attendance. October 18, 1902, he was elected a class leader, and on December 6, 1910, he was elected to the missionary board. He received his license from the church but later went to Houghton College, Houghton, New York, for further study. When he was called to pastor the church in 1911, “he was a bachelor who early announced he was engaged to Miss Beatrice Dalton (a charter member) to inform so many interested young ladies who tried to win him.” (Maggie C. Johnson)
Several interesting excerpts from the minutes tell us – that at a church Conference, Avon Church, November 11, 1911, Lillie Queen was elected organist with Mrs. Christenbury as assistant – also on November 9, 1912, “Mr. B. M. Gibson was selected sexton for three months.” His children recall that he served (and they with him) as sexton for many years without remuneration. He considered this part of his service for his God and his church.
It was during the ministry of Pastor Hendrix that Rev. W. C. Lovin became associated with Gastonia First Church. He was attending Central College and came to Gastonia in the summers of 1913 and 1914 to work in the broom factory which had been started by Rev. H. W. Hawkins, and later bought by Brother C. L. Eppley, a member of First Church. It would appear that many “would-be preachers” earned money for college expenses by working there during the summers.
Rev. Lovin related that he attended two summers of Camp Meeting while he worked in the broom factory and “Brother Hawkins appointed me as a bell boy. I would have to ring the bell every few hours.” He related that after he rang the ten o’clock bell, which would be equivalent to “lights out” “all the sleeping places would be filled up and I would have to rake up some straw under the tabernacle and sleep there.” He told how the tabernacle would be filled with from 500-600 people and “the whole hillside would be covered with people that couldn’t get into the tabernacle.” Membership records show that Rev. W. C. Lovin joined the church February 7, 1914 and was granted his letter January, 1917, presumably after being called to pastor a church. His high regard for the church can be seen by his choosing three Gastonia First girls as his wives: Beulah Ramsey Lovin, Lucy Beatty Lovin, and Bessie Ramsey Lovin. (Rev. W. C. Lovin was interviewed March, 1970 concerning his rembrances of Gastonia First Church and passed away just a few weeks later.)
REV. E. W. BLACK – Pastor 1915-1917
The years of Rev. Black’s ministry were fruitful ones and at General Conference in November of 1917, the work had grown enough that Avon and Loray were put on separate charges. Rev. Black had taken in 79 members in the two churches during his ministry. His salary for the entire year of 1916 from the two churches was $547.00.
But they were fruitful years in other ways. The Sunday school record of that day reveals that the superintendent was A. J. Beauchamp (father of Herman Beauchamp). Mr. Beauchamp held this position in the church for twenty five years. R. H. Beaty was assistant superintendent and M. Christenbury (Mrs. Maggie Johnson) was secretary. R. Y. Putnam was licensed by the church during this time and in 1916 served as “Junior Preacher” with Pastor Black.
Sunday school attendance was close to the 300 mark in the combined churches and it was necessary to take that first big step in improving building facilities – the one side of the church was extended and four Sunday school rooms were added. Up to this time, according to Maggie C. Johnson, “the Sunday school classes were divided by curtains.”
The spirituality of the church at this time can be seen as the record of the “Tither’s League” is read. The book begins with the following pledge: “Believing it to be the clear teaching of Scripture that God commands his people to return unto Him at least ONE-TENTH of their income for the maintenance of His church and the increase of His Kingdom among men, and being fully convinced that it is my duty, I hereby covenant that as long as I am a member of the First Wesleyan Methodist church in Gastonia, N. C. (and live in said vicinity) I will obey the command of God in Malachi 3:10 and bring God’s Tenth into the church.” Following this are the signatures of those who made the pledge and the record of the amounts turned in each week – evidences of faithfulness to God and His church. Among these are the Pastor E. W. Black and wife; J. S. Price (father of Grace Huffstetler, Lillie Queen and Dewey Price), A. J. Beauchamp, B. M. Gibson, and others.
REV. CHARLES CURTIS, Pastor 1918 – 1919
For the first time in its 17- year history, First Church was on its own. Pastor Curtis began with eighty (80) members and although twenty-four (24) were added in his two year ministry, records indicate that quite a purge was made in the church membership. In 1919, the membership list was down to seventy-three (73). Throughout the early church years, hundreds of names are dropped from the church rolls because of “non-attendance and non-support.”
The few remaining records of that period concern mostly the names of those elected to church offices and Sunday school classes. One particular note of interest was in the minutes of 12/18/18 when “Sister Curtis was elected pianist with Sister Maggie Christenbury (Johnson) and Sister Carrie Gibson (now Mrs. J. L. McKee) as assistants.” Grover C. Ramsey served as music director for many years during this era.
In spite of the sadness of the war years, the following notation indicates that the saints of that day enjoyed their good times of fellowship: “ September 4, 1918 is one day we wish to remember – the S. S. went out for a nice time, picnic and ‘everyone’ seemed to enjoy the day. The place was convenient; many were able to go; we had a ‘real’ nice dinner, snapped Kodak pictures, rode in boats. After spending the day pleasantly together, we departed to our different homes.”
REV. J. A. CLEMENT – Pastor 1920-1921
Rev. J. A. Clement returned to Gastonia for the second time in 1919 and pastored the church for two years. R. Y. Putnam served with him as Assistant Pastor during the year of 1920. The work prospered under his leadership during this second term of service, as can be seen by the growth in Sunday school and church membership according to the conference records, but he is best remembered by his building the rock wall on Franklin Avenue, which made the church property more attractive. This wall was to be torn down and rebuilt several times during the next few years – each time Franklin Avenue was widened.
It was also during this period that the North Carolina Conference Camp Grounds were officially moved from Gastonia to Colfax, N. C. and Rev. W. C. Lovin remembered that “Brother J. A. Clement held the first meetings in the tent at Colfax. By the next summer they had built the tabernacle and a few cottages.”
After leaving Gastonia, Pastor Clement became a general evangelist under the North Carolina Conference. Several years later after his first wife died, he married Cleo Young, who had been one of the pioneer missionaries to Sierra Leone, West Africa.
REV. C. A. HENDRIX – Pastor 1922-1926
Complete and interesting minutes were kept at this time by Nellie B. Graham, daughter of the N.C. Conference President, and Maggie B. Dalton, church clerks. Throughout the records, the name of Maggie Dalton appears frequently such as on July 29, 1929 when “a rising vote of thanks was given Miss Dalton for her excellent work as treasurer the past years.” It is loyal and faithful service such as this that has made Gastonia First the church it is today.
It would appear that the paving of Franklin Avenue was a drain upon the financial condition of the church several times in its history. Each time Franklin Avenue was widened, it not only took more of the church property, but involved rebuilding the stone wall and steps and presented bills such as a $1500.00 bill for paving Franklin Avenue shown on the minutes of December 31, 1923. In August, 1924 a contract was given to install new seats for the sanctuary at a cost of $1300.00, and by October 6th of the same year (1924) Raymond H. Beaty, secretary of the seating committee, reported that “on Homecoming Day, October 5th, most of the money was pledged to pay for the new pews that had been installed.” A great deal of the credit for this should be given to Mrs. C. A. Hendrix, (Beatrice Dalton) who worked tirelessly to get people to pledge for the new pews. These pews have been in use from 1924-1970. The old ones were later sold to the North Carolina Conference and are in the tabernacle of the Conference Camp Grounds at Colfax, North Carolina.
In 1925, the pastor’s salary was raised to an all-time high of $30.00 per week.
On April 25, 1927, Brother C. A. Ramsey of the church was licensed and recommended to the Annual Conference to pursue a course of study. Another one of the church’s sons was stepping out in full time service.
In later years, after serving other churches in the North Carolina Conference, Pastor and Mrs. Hendrix returned to Gastonia to live and remained active in the work of the church up until the time of their deaths.
First Wesleyan was greatly blessed by the ministry of C. A. Hendrix during two periods of their history. That he was a man greatly beloved by his people could be seen in one of the windows of the old sanctuary: to “Rev. & Mrs. C. A. Hendrix For loving and faithful service By the Church”
REV. W. EARL ARMSTRONG – Pastor 1927-1930
In 1926, Rev. W. Earl Armstrong came to First Church from the Long Shoals Church. Sunday school attendance had been steadily increasing and the need of a building program was evident. Up until this time. All Sunday school classes met in the one building. Mrs. Maggie C. Johnson recalls “Supt. Raymond Beaty started a building fund in the Sunday school with a program presenting the Joash Chest Fund where members gave generously to build the education building. In the minutes of April 23, 1928, the story is given to us: “report of R. H. Beaty for the building committee that excavating had been done and construction of the young people’s (educational) building would begin immediately.” Further report of building committee by Rev. Armstrong on the same date – “Contract was to be given to M. F. Hoffman for the sum of $2,900.00 with the exceptions as noted in contract.”
Rev. C. A. Ramsey was serving as assistant pastor in 1929 and the future of the church looked bright. Then came the depression and with it, the sad story of hard, bitter years of financial strain and struggle to keep the church going. Added to the regular maintenance bills were the Building and Loan payments on their new educational building, a street paving indebtedness for Franklin Avenue, a much-needed furnace for the church and a “leaking roof.” The story is told very poignantly from the minutes – December 1, 1930 – “The Furnace Committee reported that the furnace was installed and giving service. Mr. W. L. Love gave $100.00 on the purchase price and the balance, $190.00, is to be cared for with TWO NOTES – The first note due September 1, 1931, and the second note due September 1, 1932.” (It took two years with two notes to pay a debt of $190.00). Building and Loan payments on the new educational building were reduced to the “exorbitant” figure of $11.71 a month.
A humorous note crept in the minutes of October 7, 1929 of the “Let George do it” type. The street paving indebtedness was then discussed. The treasurer reported that $788.19 was due at this date, October 7, 1929. The chairman called for suggestions on how to raise a payment on the street debt.” J. H. Taylor reported that his impression was that the North Carolina Conference would pay this from the McBrayer estate. The treasurer read from the N. C. Conference Minutes of 1929 that this fund could not be used in this way. B. N. Black reported that he thought the N. C. Camp Meeting Association would pay this street pavement debt when the old Gastonia Camp Ground was sold. The chairman, A. J. Beauchamp, said this was mere supposition since this association was under no obligation to pay our street debt and especially since the association had not paid their own debt, they would not likely assume ours.
In 1931, Rev. Armstrong left First Church to pastor a church in the East Tennessee Conference.
REV. J. A. WOOD – Pastor 1931-1944
The depression was at its worst when Rev. & Mrs. J. A. Wood and children came to Gastonia from the Hezpzibah Orphanage in Georgia. It was a step of faith and only a man of God would have accepted the call for, financially, things could not have been worse. To prove this, nothing needs to be added to the church record of August, 1932 when the balance in the church account at the beginning of the month was thirty-two cents and the balance at the end of the month was thirty-eight cents. In October of the same year, one page is labeled: Outstanding Obligations – October 1st, 1932, and listed below it were:
1. Warlich & Barkley (balance) $9.25 2. J. H. Taylor (Janitor service – balance) 5.00 3. Rev. J. A. Wood – back salary (August 8 thru Sept. 26) 84.65 4. Street Assessments: Paving – 6 installments at $168.75 due October 15, 1932 Sidewalk – 6 installments & Int. $168.80 Interest on pavement at 6%, $496.00 Total 1671.30 5. Building and Loan 2500.00 6. Note on Furnace - ? (just a question mark indicating the figures were too staggering to even think of how much more they owed).
The total “Regular Collections” for the month of March, 1933 amounted to $88.52. Disbursements were broken down:
March 6th Pastor’s salary $18.27 March 13th Pastor’s salary 17.79 March 20 Pastor’s salary 20.00 March 27 Pastor’s salary 25.00
But the dark clouds of the depression years passed over and the work of the Lord prospered under the leadership of Pastor Wood. With Sunday school and church membership increasing, additional rooms were built on to the church for pastor’s study and Sunday school classrooms. The entire church building was brick veneered and the interior of the church was redecorated and remodeled. The old parsonage that had served so many pastors so faithfully down through the years was beginning to creak and groan with tiredness and old age, and when even a new porch didn’t help, a complete face lifting was given by brick veneering it to match the adjacent church building.
The hand of God was evident on the work for in December 13, 1940 Dixon Wood, the eldest son of the pastor, was granted a license to preach. Already licensed under the care of the church were George H. Allred, and Carl V. Sparks. In April, 1942, G. K. Millen was recommended to the annual conference as a general singing evangelist. Four sons of the church were preparing for Christian service!
All ministries of the church were thriving. In 1942, Cradle Roll enrollment was given as 16 by Mamie Blalock, Supt.; the Young People’s report by Orr Neal Lynn (now Mrs. Alvin Robinson) was 50; YMWB by Mrs. Maude Richardson gave enrollment as 33; the missions program under Mrs. R. A. Christenbury’s leadership claimed 36 members.
All systems were “GO” when Rev. J. A. Wood was called to be Conference President. He served the church for 14 years, the longest of any of the church’s pastors, and was well loved by all. After his death in 1947, Mrs. Wood and the family returned to Gastonia to live.
REV. WATSON C. BLACK – Pastor 1945-1952
The years of Watson C. Black’s ministry may well be called the years of growth and expansion. There seemed to be no stopping place for the building program and this is a healthy sign of the spiritual condition of any congregation.
Wesleyan Methodists have been known down through the years for their love of music and the pastor had hardly adjusted to the new field when this love was strengthened by the purchase of a new Hammond organ.
Before the first year was over, a building committee was authorized by the church to have plans drawn for a building to be erected on property recently acquired on Franklin Avenue, and a beautiful and much needed pine-paneled modern youth building was erected at a cost of $7,000.00.
Ezra 7:27 may well be used of this people as it reads “Blessed be the Lord God of our Fathers, which hath put such a thing as this ‘in the people’s hearts’ to beautify the House of the Lord.” In 1947, the sanctuary of First Church was beautified by twenty-four art glass windows - some given in memory, some to honor, and others as a gift to the church. The two central picture windows depicted "Christ the Good Shepherd” and “Christ In the Garden of Gethsemane.” (a list of the window inscriptions will be given later in this history).
In 1946, the Guy Smith family presented a beautiful carved communion table. To the church.
The need for more space in the sanctuary was becoming apparent. Mrs. Edna Nolen recalls that they “had to put chairs in the aisles” - so the walls had to be literally “pushed out” in order to make more seating space. The Sunday school rooms that had been built by Rev. Watson Black’s father some thirty years before were made into added seating space for about 175. The rooms at the other side of the church were also enlarged at this time giving a larger pastor’s study and additional Sunday school space.
But more space was needed for classrooms as the Sunday school went over the 300 mark in 1949 and ten rooms were added to the rear of the educational building. By April of 1952, W. R. Upton, church treasurer, reported that the total indebtedness had been paid.
With the facilities at Colfax Camp Grounds in Colfax, North Carolina becoming more crowded each year, and Gastonia church folks enjoying the blessings of camp meetings, youth camps, and district conferences, in 1952 the church bought land and build a lovely five room cottage directly across from the dining hall to accommodate those who wanted to attend such conventions, and was rightfully named “the Gastonia Cottage.”
Even the parsonage had its share of rejuvenating with a new central heating unit and a brick garage.
But it wasn’t all building programs for evidences of the church’s growth were visible in other ways. The membership of the church reached 197; Sunday school attendance was 300; two licensed preachers were faithfully reporting to the church – Parnell Lewis and Dixon Wood. Missions were being faithfully supported as the records tell of the young people of the church pledging $100.00 in 1949 to help build The Vapi Wesleyan Hospital in India and the Woman’s Missionary Society faithfully supporting their full time missionary, Ruth Gibson in Colombia, South America.
In the summer of 1952, Rev. Black left First Church to pastor the Ragan Mills Church.
REV. PAUL M. ALLRED – Pastor 1953
When Pastor Paul Allred came to the church in August of 1952, the temperature outdoors may have been high, but the church was enjoying the first benefits of a new air conditioning system that had just been installed. Worship was made so much more pleasant in the hot, summer months.
Reports indicate that Sunday School and church membership remained at a high level. Interest in missions was shown in many ways: the W.M.S. with Roxie Smith as president was still supporting Ruth Gibson in South America, and sending gifts to the Archie Argos and Roberta Wylie in Sierra Leone, Africa, but when tragedy came to the home of the Richard Uptons, a gift of $1,000 was sent to India as a memorial to their son, Richard, Jr., to help in the construction of the Vapi Wesleyan Hospital. Dr. and Mrs. Lowell Jennings were serving their first term of missionary service in directing the construction of the hospital.
C. F. Rose was contributing regularly at this time to the support of the radio programs of the church and R. J. Lynn was serving as secretary of the Board of Stewards, a position he held for seven years. Hubert Brown, son of Mr. And Mrs. Blon Brown was granted a quarterly conference license as his brother Blon Dean Brown was preparing for graduation at Marion College, Marion, Indiana.
The building program was still in effect, for in November of 1952, a new entrance was put on the southwest corner of the church with a vestibule dividing. The stained glass window bore the simple inscription “In memory of Richard Upton, Jr..”
A pastor’s work is hardly begun in a year’s time, but when conference time rolled around again, Rev. Allred left to pastor the church of Lexington, North Carolina.
REV. LYMAN F. LANCE – Pastor 1953-1959
It is evident in reviewing the records of this era of the church’s life, that the emphasis was on children and youth. Hardly had the Lances come to Gastonia before a Girl’s Scout Troupe was organized with Mrs. Lyman Lance as leader. Within a short time, a Boy Scout Troupe was started with Alvin Robinson as leader, but later taken over by Melvin Reed and Hubert Denton.
The WYPS (Wesleyan Young People’s Society) boasted forty (40) on roll in 1953, forty-four in 1954, and in the year 1955 with Jerry Gunter as president and Andrea Williams (now Mrs. Sammy Honeycutt) secretary, the minutes give the enrollment of the WYPS as fifty-three. During this time a Teen Age Wesleyan Youth Group was organized, getting ready to step into the spiritual shoes of the older WYPS’ers as they went on to college and careers. Still coming up along the way was a Cub Scout group, Pack #31, with C. W. Mills, Cubmaster, and Den Mothers, Mrs. Nelle Frye, Mrs. Lowell Jennings, Mrs. C. W. Mills, Mrs. Herbert Snipes and Mrs. Al Stowe.
When the Lowell Jennings family went to Africa for their second term of missionary service, a Den was started in Kamakwie, Africa for their oldest son, Donald, and other missionary children of Cub Scout age. Not to be outdone, the girls started a Brownie Troupe #41, with Mrs. C. W. Mills, Mrs. Grady Holbrook and Mrs. Stella Niekirk as leaders.
Ready to fill the gaps still farther down was a thriving Sunday school with an enrollment of 298 and a cradle roll of 12.
But evidence of their concern for children and young people was shown in other areas – gifts to Hephzibah Orphanage, participating in the payment of the salary of the Bible teacher in the Gastonia City Schools, a Young People’s Bible Study on Wednesday nights during the prayer meeting hour with Dr. Lowell E. Jennings as leader, and gifts to Central College.
The Woman’s Missionary Society with Mrs. Blon Brown as president was still supporting Ruth Gibson as missionary in Colombia, South America, and sending gifts to the Cherokee Indian work in the mountains of North Carolina.
The work of the church was shared by Rev. Donald Dawalt who was assistant pastor from 1955-1956, but three “budding” preachers were being licensed by the church at this time: Blon Dean Brown, his brother Hubert Brown, and in January 1956, Paul Baker Wood, the second son of Rev. & Mrs. J. A. Wood.
In 1955 the family of Kenneth Powers presented chimes to the church in memory of their son, who had been killed in an accident. Also that same year, B. M. Gibson, who had served so faithfully down through the years as a steward, was made an honorary member of the Board of Stewards.
The financial work of the church, as great as it was at this time, could well be understood by the minutes of January 7, 1959, when Herbert Harmon, tithing secretary, reported eighty (80) tithers in the church. God was once again opening “the windows of heaven.”
But there appeared to be something that the church was planning on that hadn’t been as yet in the records, for when Pastor Lance left to go to Washington, D.C., the Building and Loan account was $16,763.90. REV. MELVIN GENTRY – Pastor 1960-1963
The ministry of Pastor Gentry is outstanding with its emphasis on missions. With one missionary from the church, Ruth Gibson serving in Colombia, South America, and the Women’s Missionary Society giving to her support, Dr. and Mrs. Lowell E. Jennings combined their medical talents and headed to Africa; this time with four little Jenningses to take with them (Donald, David, Janene, Ellen), and once again the church gave gifts toward their support. During this term of service, Dr. Jennings directed the building of the hospital in Kamakwie, Sierra Leone, West Africa.
The little YMWB’ers with Mrs. Maude Richardson serving as superintendent, were actively engaged in their own missionary projects which were many and varied. It is interesting to note that their project one year was “A Mule for Colombia, South America,” but by the following year, modes of transportation were improving, for the project became “A Car for Colombia, South America.” In 1962 the YMWB boasted 34 paid up members.
Mrs. Jewell Lynn was keeping the records of the WMS straight at this time and that in itself was a big job, for in the years 1960 to 1963, the WMS, apart from other gifts by the church, gave $13,661.55 for missions (Conference Minutes).
But, as is always true when God’s people get their eyes on the foreign fields, the work of the home church did not suffer. During those years, Douglas Childress came to the church as Minister of Music and Youth Director, and remained until 1972. Other interests of the church were Bible in the public schools, a growing Sunday School of 317 enrollment, a Senior Youth group of 36.
Those who served faithfully in other capacities were not forgotten; in the church minutes of July, 1961, the faithful service of Richard Upton, who had been church treasurer for 20 years was remembered with the following resolution: “Be it resolved that the Fourth Quarterly Conference of the First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Gastonia, convey to Mr. W. R. Upton, our sincere thanks and appreciation for his many years of faithful service and counsel as church treasurer. His diligence in looking after the smallest detail and his dependability in the whole task has been superb. His system of records is excellent and his daily dispatch of duty merits our ‘well done.’” This is a well-deserved message of thanks to one man, but the church treasurers down through the years who have served so faithfully may likewise feel that it has been said of them.
Toward the end of Pastor Gentry’s ministry, the large building fund which had grown to $30,212.73 by June 30, 1961, dwindled down to a few hundred dollars after the erection of a beautiful eight room brick parsonage at 110 Patrick Street, Gastonia, but Pastor Gentry was called to the College Church of Marion, Indiana as pastor and only enjoyed the parsonage for which he had labored so faithfully for a few months.
In July, 1963, Rev. Lyman Lance returned to the First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Gastonia as shepherd of the flock, moving into the parsonage that had just been completed. There were 259 members on roll, 296 in the Sunday school, and 86 tithers in the church according to the records, and there were going to be busy years ahead.
It was spelled out for him the first quarterly conference of 1965! Prior to his coming, a Planning Committee, composed of two members from the Board of Stewards, one from the Advisory Board, one from the Trustees, and one from the Sunday School Board had been elected. The Committee was “to set goals for the growth, building, location and activities for the next twenty-five years.” Their work completed, in October, 1965, the Planning Committee recommended that “a building committee be authorized by the quarterly conference for the purpose of planning for the definite building needs of the Congregation. We suggest that the building committee have responsibility of planning for size, distribution of floor space, financing and successfully concluding the direction of the new church. It is our desire that the entire membership be utilized as consultants in the specific areas of their interest and training during the various stages of progress." The following names were submitted for the Central Building Committee:
Ray Kayler, Chairman Richard Upton E. B. Thomas Douglas Childress Dr. Lowell Jennings W. F. Adams Hilbert Huffstetler, Sr. Dwight Ballard
The recommendations were adopted by the Quarterly Conference and the building program was started.
In 1965, the church bought, and within two years, paid for a five-acre piece of property, known as the Dixon Road property. They later voted to build on the present site, rather than on Dixon Road. In the same year, a second piece of property on Second Ave., know as the Clayton home, (formerly the home of the president of the N. C. Conference) was bought.
With the Sunday school showing an enrollment of 294, a need was felt for a mid-week program for children and young people and a C.Y.C. (Christian Youth Crusaders) program was started in the church in the late fall of 1964, with Miss Virginia Sonderman as director. By the end of the full year, enrollment in this program for first through ninth graders was eighty-six (86) registered Crusaders and twenty-one (21) certified directors. The program was sponsored the first two years by the Wesleyan Men’s Fellowship of the church.
In the summer of 1967, Rev. Lyle Geist was granted a license to travel under the direction of the church and became Associate Pastor until he entered seminary in the fall. Rev. Charles Johnson served in the same capacity in the summer of 1968.
First Church suffered a double loss in January, 1968 through the deaths of Rev. C. A. Ramsey, a superannuated preacher of the N. C. Conference, and of Mrs. Luna Wall Lance, wife of Rev. Lyman Lance. In June, 1968, Rev. Lyman Lance tendered his resignation as Pastor and began work in the Central Wesleyan Church of Central, South Carolina – the second of Gastonia’s preachers to be called to a college church. In August, Rev. Lance returned to First Church to conduct the funeral of its oldest and much beloved member of the congregation, B. M. Gibson.
W. LEE COCKERILL – Pastor 1968-1976
W. Lee Cockerill came to Gastonia as the first pastor of the First Wesleyan Church, for in the summer of 1968 the Wesleyan Methodist and Pilgrim Churches merged and adopted the name of “Wesleyan.” But there were other changes to be made in the future besides the name of the church!
The church had already made the decision to remain at the present location, but additional property had to be obtained to meet the requirements of the city of Gastonia for parking facilities. In the fall of 1968, the “Bumgardner Home” adjoining the church was bought for $13,900.00 and a few months later, additional land on Second Avenue, know as the “Robbins Property” was bought for $7,000.00.
A bond program for $175,000.00 was held in the spring of 1969 to help finance the new church. The church accepted the plans drawn by J. L. Beam, Architect of Gastonia, N.C. and now they were faced with the challenge of a lifetime. Gastonia First rose to the challenge and voted a very enthusiastic “yes” when the motion to build was put before them and within a few short weeks the contract for a new, modern, spacious sanctuary and educational building was given to the Robert Pinnix Company of Gastonia, NC for $425,000.00. Groundbreaking was held on October 28, 1969 with a huge bulldozer standing a few feet away lending a foreboding and ominous appearance. Within a few days, huge trees were uprooted and the buildings that had once been so modern, and so adequate, were torn down to make room for the new.
But many other things have taken place during the ministry of this pastor. The church has gone through the necessary restructuring of the church organization according to the new Discipline of the Wesleyan Church; a new evangelism and pastoral care plan to win the unchurched and develop Christian growth was begun with Ray Kayler as leader; a summer recreation program was held during the summers of 1969 and 1970 for midweek recreation for all the family; E. B. Thomas and Clarence Denton went to Haiti for a short missionary term to lend their building talents to the mission field; the music program of the church with Doug Childress as Minister of Music continually brought inspiration and blessing to the worship services of the church, the Women’s Missionary Society has faithfully supported their missionary projects at home and abroad, two young people, Janene Jennings and Debra Jackson, won the John Wesley Award, the highest award in C. Y. C.; a Day Care Board with Dwight Ballard as chairman was formed with the prospects of having a 72-pupil Day Care program in the immediate future; Lyle Geist, who was licensed by the church in 1967, was recommended to District Conference as a minister after completing his seminary work; Gary and Rosa Cockerill left for Sierra Leone, West Africa to serve as missionaries; and James Cockerill has been granted a license for the Christian ministry by the church.
In 1972, 14 people from the Church traveled to Dallas, Texas for Explo ’72, an evangelism training conference sponsored by Campus Crusade for Christ.
Also in 1972, the Youth Chorus, under the Direction of Doug Childress traveled to Austria and the White House.
In 1974, Rick Careno, a dynamic Youth Evangelist came for a series of meetings at the Church. 1,000 people crowded into the Sanctuary and Fellowship Area as God moved and people were saved. Over 150 requested ongoing Bible studies
DR. C. WESLEY LOVIN Pastor 1976-1981
Having served the Wesleyan Church as a pastor, District Superintendent and General Secretary of Evangelism and Church Growth, the son of W. C. Lovin returned to North Carolina to become the pastor of Gastonia First.
He saw the need for a school ministry and expanded the Day Care to Kindergarten and an Elementary School. Essential to that effort was the hiring of Stan and Evelyn Banker in June of 1977. The Bankers brought educational expertise and warm-hearted leadership—along with Stan’s saxophone.
Dr. Lovin’s wife, Lois, was embued with an energy and enthusiasm that earned her the nickname, “Mrs. Fix-it.” That spirit lives on in her daughter, Esther Mullinax. Sadly, the lifetime of service Lois offered was cut short by cancer and leukemia.
One of the legendary stories of that era involves a grand old man of First Wesleyan—Alvin “Poppa” Dill. Poppa Dill was the Greeter of Church. He was the first to arrive and unlock the doors and the last to leave and “lock up.” After performing his duties, he would slip into the sanctuary and sit down with his arm around the love of his life, . It was a simple case of mistaken identity when, one Sunday, he sat down and cuddled up to THE WRONG WOMAN! REV. J. W. STILES Pastor 1981-1983
Rev. Stiles came to First Wesleyan from Cherryville where the parsonage had been built by the same builder (Worth Hoffman) using the same plan as the Gastonia First Parsonage. Few decisions had to be made as to where the furniture went since the floor plans of both homes were identical.
“J. W.” was somewhat a celebrity in Wesleyan circles. He was the featured soloist on “The Wesleyan Hour”—a weekly radio broadcast begun by the Wesleyan Church during Dr. Lovin’s tenure at Headquarters. He brought his powerful ministry of music and combined it with a dynamic visitation program that reversed a downward trend in attendance that had begun earlier. J. W. Siles was an avid gardener who labored effectively among both tomatoes and people. DR. MARLIN MULL Pastor 1983-1986
After sharing facilities with First Wesleyan Christian School for more than ten years, the decision was made to build a new school building adjacent to the Church. The original design included a “half-gym” as a cost-saving feature. Marlin decided to see if he could raise the needed funds to build a full-sized gymnasium and did so in just over a month! His vision has been appreciated by many who have NOT had to move tables to play basketball.
The million dollar school facility was built by a son of First Wesleyan, Larry Pace of Laxton Construction, and dedicated to the Lord on September 7, 1986 .
Marlin was actively involved in social concerns in the community. A vote on liquor-by-the-drink in Gastonia was defeated under his leadership.
Marlin was a successful businessman before he was converted and he brought those business skills with him to his ministry. He conducted a study to determine long-range needs of the Church and put in place means by which the upkeep of the Church could be accomplished systematically. He was good at working with people and was always prepared for every responsibility.
REV. JAMES CAPPS Pastor 1986—1991
The North Carolina District recognized the talents of Dr. Mull and elected him as District Superintendent in the summer of 1986. James Capps followed the path blazed by J. W. Stiles moving from Cherryville to the identical parsonage on Patrick Street.
One of the features of Youth Ministry at First Wesleyan was an annual beach trip. One year, the hijinks included eggs, peanut butter and “Caro” syrup. The next year, Pastor Capps went along on the trip!
Marilyn and Audrey Thornton were honored for their years of service as organist and pianist for the Church.
Mary Smith began “God’s Kids”—a children’s choir that traveled to other Churches to present musical productions. Steve Wilkins continued the work of the Wesleyan Faithfuls. Larry Maddox paraded the flags of the Nations of the world reminding the Church of her responsibility to those around the world. REV. DAVID VARDAMAN Pastor 1991-
Pastor Vardaman brought the Church into the computer age. In 1991, the Church began using computers and his knowledge and expertise made the transition possible if not always smooth. In 1996, he led the Church to replace the carpet and pews in the sanctuary. In 1998, money was raised to purchase a 32 passenger bus. The next year, the FWCS building was paid off and the note was burned on .
But buildings and computers were not the focus of Pastor Vardaman’s ministry. Outreach efforts like Back Yard Bible School and a bus ministry on Wednesday night focused on winning children. The CYC program on Wednesday night led to a partnership with an independent African-American Church. Their involvement eventually led to the establishment of the first predominantly black Wesleyan congregation in North Carolina. Adam Crooks and the early North Carolina abolitionists must have been pleased.
Outreach efforts did not stop at our borders. Under the influence of a semi-retired minister, Rev. Hoover Smith, the church reached out to Russia, St. Kitts, Costa Rica, St. Lucia, Jamaica, Toronto and Buffalo, NY. Two generations of the Child’s family went to Russia as Co-Mission volunteers. Phil and Becky Davis served on staff and introduced extraordinary Easter dramas before going to Surinam as career missionaries. Two Russian visitors were baptized here. Vince Gappa took a team of teenaged missionaries to New Orleans. REV. TIM SMITH Pastor
Pastor Tim had served the Church on staff as a minister to Young and Older Adults and as a Youth Pastor under both Marlin Mull and James Capps. He returned as Senior Pastor. Recognizing the need for a return to the Church’s spiritual roots, Pastor Tim promoted prayer as foundational to every other ministry and evangelism as the #1 priority of the Church. “The Lighthouse on the corner” had been a catch phrase for the Church for many years but the reality had certainly dimmed as the Church had suffered decline for many years.
Two area revivals sparked significant change. The first, with the Rev. Anthony Graham, generated an early morning prayer meeting. The second, with Rev. Arian Depres, generated a desire to “sit in the first chair” of holiness and commitment.
At the urging of the late Rev. Bruce Hopper, the Church began a ministry to young people who cruise Franklin Blvd. on Friday nights. Each Friday, from 9:00 p.m. until midnight, free hotdogs and soft drinks attract hundreds of people, young and old to the Church parking lot.
BUILDING PROGRESS 1900 - 1970 1902 Original White Frame Building 1910 Parsonage Built 1914 Church Remodeled .. four new Sunday school rooms added 1928 Front Part of Educational Building 1940 Sanctuary brick-veneered Sunday school rooms added to rear of sanctuary Interior of Church redecorated and modernized Parsonage remodeled .. brick veneered 1944-1950 Youth Building built Art Glass windows for sanctuary Sunday school rooms made into additional seating space in sanctuary Rooms at rear of church enlarged Addition of ten rooms to original Educational Building 1963 New Parsonage, 110 Patrick Street, Gastonia, NC 1965 Dixon Road property bought Clayton Home, Second Avenue bought 1 1968 Bumgardner Home, Church Street, bought Robbins Property, Second Avenue, bought 1970 NEW SANCTUARY AND EDUCATIONAL BUILDING BUILT
VALUE OF PROPERTY AT END OF EACH PASTOR’S MINISTRY
CHURCH PARSONAGE Rev. H. W. Hawkins Rev. Belle McClure Rev. M. T. Hartsoe Rev. J. C. Clubb Rev. J. A. Clement Rev. C. A. Hendrix Rev. E. W. Black $2,000.00 $1,500.00 Rev. C. A. Curtis 4,000.00 2,000.00 Rev. J. A. Clement 6,000.00 3,000.00 Rev. C. A. Hendrix 8,481.00 3,800.00 Rev. Earl Armstrong 12,000.00 7,000.00 Rev. J. A. Wood 19,000.00 4,000.00 Rev. Watson C. Black 20,000.00 11,000.00 Rev. Paul E. Allred 120,000.00 11,000.00 Rev. Lyman F. Lance 150,000.00 12,000.00 Rev. Melvin Gentry 160,000.00 12,000.00 Rev. Lyman F. Lance 242,560.00 38,525.00 Rev. W. Lee Cockerill 38,525.00 Dr. Wesley Lovin Rev. J. W. Stiles Dr. Marlin Mull Rev. James Capps Rev. David Vardaman Rev. Tim Smith
Fourteen Pastors served 70 years Three of these, Rev. M. T. Hartsoe, Rev. J. C. Clubb, Rev. Paul Allred served one year each. Eleven pastors served 67 years out of 70.
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