CHATHAM
COUNTY CHURCHES
prior
to 1865
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CHATHAM COUNTY NCGenWeb
CHATHAM
COUNTY CHURCHES
prior
to 1865
Updated 05/13/2019
The W.P.A. in the 1920's did many things that we, as genealogists benefit
from, today. They build roads, bridges and dams. But, they also surveyed
cemeteries, inventoried courthouses and churches.
This is an attempt to place for your benefit, the lists that were made
in Chatham. They established the date (approximate, in some cases) the church
was built, what kind of material is was made of, what kind of condition
it is in, if it was the original church, and who the pastor/priest/preacher/minister,
was at that time and where, they were located. In some pages there are
even the number of parishioners.
Even though there aren't a lot of names for you to connect to, if you
have an ancestor who was one of these Church leaders or you know that your
folks attended a certain church, this will tell you when and where. The
dates of the survey are not known nor written down.
Churches listed below in blue are links to pages with additional information or photos
The book gives short histories of other churches
in the area:
Brown's Chapel M. E. Church
in the Pittsboro Circuit.
Founded by Dr. Gaston Egbert Brown,
when he first came to Chatham Co. NC in July of 1848.
He had rented a farm in the Silk Hope Community
for a year. In the fall of that year a brush arbor camp meeting was conducted
in the are of what is now known as Brown's Chapel Church.
A group was organized and met in an old log
building called "Lebanon" near what is now known as the Noah Mixon
home. Later a building was built on the ground near the present church
and it was named after Dr. Brown. The building was used until 1883.
This church was erected and then a deed conveying 3 acres of land on
which it was standing, was deeded by Robert P. Alston, on July 24, 1856.
The trustees that were appointed were:
Junius A. Alston, Oliver McMath, J. E. Nettles, George Rogers, William
Fike, R. N. (Robert Nathaniel) Green, G. E. (Gaston Egbert) Brown, Obediah
Henderson and Samuel B. Perry.
Robert Alston donated the first Bible to the church.
Early members were:
Gideon Alston and his wife Adeline, Peggy Cotton, Margaret Long, Ana
Maria Alston, wife of Robert P. Alston and George Rogers and his wife.
Rev. Wm. Barringer was the first pastor. He married Louania Alston,
daughter of John Alston. Barringer was afterward president of the Greensboro
Female College. The second pastor was Mr. teillett, then Dr. W. H. Moore,
whose home was about a mi. West of Pittsboro. Then Rev. Gattis and Rev.
Stephenson. Also, a Dr. Sanford was a pastor.
Chatham Church
In the Deed Books B-C, pg. 511 and B-O, pg. 111 are the deeds dated
in Mar. of 1885 from Thomas Bland and his wife, who deed 1/2 acres of land
for this church. The trustees were:
Dr. Thomas w. Harris, William Y. Comble, H. C. Clegg, S. T. Womble,
George Thomas, C. W. Womble and Wesley Knight.
Then, the heirs of Isaac Clegg made deed to one an 1/4 acres of land
to the Chatham Church. The heirs were A. J. Clegg, L. Turner, Kate E. Turner,
I. N. Clegg, Bnj. F. Clegg, Mary M. Clegg, Mary J. Burns, J. B. Burns and
Nancy Harris.
Meroney's Methodist Church was founded in 1808 by deed for 1 1/2 acres,
from Wm. B. Meroney and Boling Hines for the land to build the church.
The deed was registered on Feb. of 1814.
The trustees were: Thomas Ragland (who was also the county clerk),
Micagah McGee, James Gaines, Wm. Raglan, Edwards Rives and Thomas Brooks.
Edwards Rives was b. in VA in 1775 and came with his parents to Chatham
Co.
There is a romantic story, of the daughter of Edwards Rives in which,
the thirteen year old daughter Martha Ann "Patsy" Rives and her mother
went to a church service across Rocky River, at Bethlehem Church, in 1819.
After the service, as they were going home they were riding along and followed
on the way home, by Joseph John Goldston who must have been smitten
by Patsy. He is said to have leaned over his saddle and asked
her to married him on the spot. She whispered "tell later" and the later,
became a wedding on Nov. 15, 1821.
Bethelem Church
According to some of the stories, this church probably dates prior to
the Revolutionary War. No one knows precisely when or what the denomination
was. But, it sat about 2 mi. W. of Pleasant Hill Methodist Church.
There is a cemetery about 4 or 5 hundred years away, all on the S. side
of the road. Most of the graves have not inscriptions left on them But,
there are five with inscriptions.
The oldest is of Joseph H. Burke, B. June 10, 181, d. Oct 2, 1842.
The other four are of Henry W. Burke, Martha S. Burke, Robert D. Burke
and Ann Robert Burke. the dates of birth and death, not given.
There was a second building build a hundred or more yeards east of
the first building.
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Pittsboro First Baptist Church
Located on Salisbury St, in Pittsboro. Organized in 1850. The first
church burned in 1861. New one built in 1862 of wood & brick.
Has a bell, piano and furniture. First clergyman was Wm. A. Lineberry,
whose tenure was 15 years. All early records, if any burned in 1862, during
the Civil War by incendiaries, according to oral tradition. . Records of
Baptisms have been kept since 1920.
St. Bartholomew (Episcopal) - 1772 - R. G. Shannonhouse
Located on Salisbury St. in Pittsboro. Organized in 1832. Present building
was dedicated on June 10, 1833. colonial style gallery, bell tower, containing
one bell. There used used to be a gallery along teh back and sides of the
interior; sint it was remodeled it is just in the back. The first
clergyman was Rev. T.F. Davis, his tenure was from 1832-1835. There were
two minute books - 1833-1933 and 1932-1936. The parish Registers number
I and II, which contain the baptisms, confimation & marriages from
1833-1936.
{MY NOTE: I was told at the Pittsboro library, that these are gone
now, because some woman many years ago, came to transcribe them, took them,
to her home and the books have not been seen, since}
I don't know how true this is. I'm just relating what I was told. There
was supposed to be one minute book in the vault, in the office of A.H.
London, in Pittsboro. There is a small book published of the church called:
"History of St. Bartholomew's Parish; edited by Rev. R. G. Shannonhouse;
June 4, 1833-1933; Pittsoboro, N.C.
A number of memorials are in the church, among them are the pipe organ,
silver altar, communion service, church furniture, memorial windows, etc.
Land for the presen rectory was given by Patrick Dowd, in 1847. Gov.
John Owen (1787-1841) and Gov. Abram Rencher (1798-1882) are buried in
the church cemetery.
Moons Chapel Baptist - 1849 - J.C. Canipe, Siler City
Located in Siler City. Organized in 1849. Present building was built
in 1855. No church history, founded in an illiterate & poor neighborhood
but, rich in character. The first clergyman ws C. Jones, whose tenure was
25 years. No. vital records kept. Sunday School records are kept at "Evergreen"?
Rural: Shady Grove Baptist-1823- C.C.
Wheeler, Merry Oaks
(Nothing known)
Mt. Gilead Baptist - 1824
Mt. Gilead Baptist Church, located in Pittsboro, was organized in 1824.
There was one church before the present one. The present church built in
1900. It is a wooden church, 30" X 50", wooden, with a balcony, well furnished
and seated, with a bell and organ. Rev. O.C. Keller was the first Pastor,
his tenure was 8 years. No written records of Minutes, Baptism, Marriages,
Death or Burial records for the church exist. Church was built on
ground donated by Joshua Hackney, in 1820. The members are all planters
and in good financial standing in the community. Rev. R. R. Gordon,
is the present pastor.
O'Kellys Chapel Christ ( Christian?)- 1825 (no name)
O'Kelly's Chapel is located on Highway 751 about a mile from the Durham
County line. It was the first Christian church founded in North Carolina.
James O'Kelly, a circuit rider and minister in the Methodist Episcopal
church broke away from that church in 1790 after an argument with Francis
Asbury over the latter's desire to be Bishop of the Methodist church. Other
ministers left with O'Kelly, who found the first church (later called Christian)
at Surry County in Virginia. O'Kelly's Chapel was the second church. (Founded
in 1825. The present building is the third on the same site. The building
was taken into the National Register of Historic Places, and it is used
now, only for important occasions in the life of the denomination. Elon
College was established about 1890 to teach Christian ministers, and all
records of th church including those of O'Kelly's Chapel, are preserved
in te Church History Room of the college library.
Hanks Chapel - Methodist / "OKellyite"
Located two mi. East of Pittsboro. Organized in 1835. The first building
erected about 1840. The present building dedicated in 1933, 30' X 50'.
Has a bell, balcony and good organ. 110 members at present.
First clergymand was Rev. Martin Hanks, whose tenure was 10 years.
One minute book that contained information now in custody of "Will Bland"
(possibly the present pastor) There are records of baptisms, marriage &
deaths. the preacher has the latest records.
South Fork Friends (Quaker) - 1793
No location given. Organized in 1793. This is the second building,
built in 1865. Has no bell or balcony. It is a frame building. "First clergyman,
not known. no books kept. If there were records they have been lost. They
do not have much preaching. The members make short talks when the spirit
moves them. They do not have any form of Baptism neither do they take communion."
{MY NOTE: Notice the quotation marks above. They are the remarks of
the surveyor who must not have known much about the Quakers}
Rives Chapel Baptist - 1832 - O.A. Keller, Jonesboro
Located in Pittsboro. Organized in 1832. The present building, which
is the second one, was dedicated in 1930. It is made of brick 30' X 50'.
The first clergyman was David Hackney, who started preaching at
the age of 65 years. (He had been a member of the legislature from Chatham
co., in 1830-1836. T.Y. Seymore was the pastor from 1920 to 1930.
In 1930 Rev. C.A. Doud, became pastor, whose tenure was 14 years. There
are no vital records kept for this church, only financial records.
The church grounds were donated by Simeon Rives, one of the charter members
and he endowed the church with $1000 at his death.
Rock
Spring Baptist - 1758 - (Second oldest Baptist Church in
N.C. records since1817)
Located 3 mi. N.W. of Pittsboro. Organized in 1783. The first church
was built of logs. The members worshiped ten years before obtaining an
ordained preacher.
The present building was dedicated in 1930. It is of wood, 30' X 50'
. Has no bell but, a good organ. The first clergyman is unknown. {Nor does
the surveyor name the one at that time} This church was the second
oldest Baptist Church in the state. The oldest being the Sandy Creek Baptist
Chruch, in Randolph Co., which was organized in 1750.
Fall Creek Baptist - 1799 - J.C. Kidd, Bennett
Located in the Western part of the county. Organized in 1799. One building
before the present one was built of hewn logs. It was rebuilt in 1868 of
wood. It has a bell and tower. The first clergyman was Stephen Gilmore,
whose tenure was 20 years. There are no records.
Rocky River Baptist -1757- O.A. Keller, Jonesboro
Located in Siler City, near the headwaters of Rocky River. Organized
in 1757. There was one other building before the present one, built of
hewn logs. It was dedicated/consecrated in 1760. The church was rebuilt
in 1848 of wood. There is no bell or bell tower. The first clergyman was
Rev. James Savage, whose tenure was 20 years. No records of published church
history known.
Tyson's Creek Baptist -
This church was organized in 1800. There has been only one building
and it is poor condition. The church was dedicated or consecrated in 1805.
The first clergyman was T. S. Townsend, who was pastor for 20 years. There
are no records in existence.
First Presbyterian Church of Pittsboro -
Located on East Street in Pittsboro. It was organized in 1848 and dedicated/consecrated
in 1849. It has not been rebuilt. The church is a brick building with bell
tower and balcony. The bell came over from England. The first clergyman
was Rev. James H. McNeill, whose tenure was from 1848-1852.
There are Minute Books. Minute Book I (1848-1922) and Minute Book II
(1922- ) These books include the Marriage, Baptisms, Death and Burial
records. Also, financial records of the church. They are in good condition.
(MY NOTE: You can be thankful, if you are of this church. You might find
some records)
Mt Zion Methodist Episcopal
Loacted 3 mi. South of Pittsboro. Organized in 1850. Original church
still standing at the time of the survey. Made of wood, 25' X 40'. First
clergyman was Joseph Martin, whose tenure was 8 years. One of the pastors
was Abernethy Hill (doesn't give the dates). No records kept. Condition
of the church is very poor. The church was built on land given by Luther
Clegg in 1850. Has a good organ. The present pastor (at time of survey)
is Rev. J.D. Young.
St Marks - Episcopal
Located in Deep River (then it says Little Gulf?) Organized in
1835. The first building was made from timbers, on the J. Houghton place.
The present building was dedicated on Aug. 1847 and it was remodeled in
1924. It is a frame building with a spire on the roof; balcony for the
negro slaves; several interesting relics. First clergyman was Philip B.
Wiley, whose tenure was 1837-1844.
The building was given by John Houghton; J.J. Harker of Sylva supervised
the remodeling of the building. A homecoming was celebrated in 1927 at
which time, Bishop Chesire officiated. The present pastor, Rev. R. G. Shannonhouse.
Mt Pleasant - Methodist
3 mi. S.E. of Bynum, NC. Organized in 1800. Pastor - Rev. Joe Martin,
whose tenure was 12 years. There were two churches prior to the one now
standing. The second one burned 3 months prior to this survey. Had not
been finished or dedicated. The one that burned was the most costly Methodist
Church in the County. All books were destroyed by the fire.
Sandy Branch - Baptist
Located at Bear Creek, S.W. in the county. Organized in 1836. The first
church was built of logs, very crude. It was dedicated in 1840. Was rebuilt
and finished in 1934. It is made of brick. A large beautiful structure
with balcony, piano and bell. The first clergyman was Rev. J.L Smith, whose
tenure was about 20 years. There are no old minute books. The new ones
begin in 1934. No church history records. The present pastors are, Rev.
Watson and H.H. Porter Bonlee. Was this also known as the Mineral Springs
Baptist?
St. James Mission - Episcopal
Loacted in Pittsboro. Organized in 1883. First clergyman, Rev. William
Walker. This church has had a number of 'colored' rectors among them, being:
Edward Butler, J.E. King, F.L. Bush, P.P. Alston, Thomas Bailey, A.M. Cochran
and Rev. Fisher. ( Mr. Shannonhouse is now serving) In the Parish Register
are records of some of the 'colored people's work.' The people worshipped
in a dwelling in 1883. After the mission burned, donations were given
and a small church was built.
Welch Neck Baptist Church Records
Society Hill, SC
Possible emigrants into Chatham from what was an area of
Delaware, now Pennsylvania, by way of South Carolina
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BELOW ARE CHURCHES THAT I DO NOT HAVE ANY INFORMATION ON, OTHER THAN WHAT IS HERE.
© 2001 to Present - Sue Ashby for the NCGenWeb Project
