WoodingtonceJnitedMethodist

ChurchA History Spanning ...

1898 -1998

•

METHODISM IN LENOIR COUNTYMethodism had its beginning in Lenoir County in 1785, whenBishop Francis Asbury preached while the Assembly was insession. Asbury, a well-known Methodist circuit rider, was aguest of Governor Richard Caswell. He preached in the oldCounty Courthouse. In 1796, he was in Kinston again, whenthere was an organized society of 100 members, white andblack, but the society owned no house of worship, andAsbury preached in the Episcopal Church.

It has been said that Bishop Asbury, on his visit to Kinston in1785, baptized two of the daughters of Governor Caswell.The old Colonial Court House, where Asbury preached,continued to be used by the Methodists as a house of worshipfor many years. In 1851-52, the first Methodist Churchbuilding was erected. It was used for seven or eight yearswhen it burned by lightning. The erection of the nextbuilding, which now stands on the corner of Caswell andIndependent Streets, was begun in 1859 and known as CaswellStreet Methodist Church. It was occupied during the war bythe Confederate troops as a hospital. The basement was usedas stables.

Snow Hill Circuit was formed in 1830 and included Kinston.During 1851, Kinston was made a station. In 1887, the NewRiver Circuit included the following counties: Lenoir, Jones,and Onslow. Later, Greene, Lenoir, and Craven were on theNeuse Circuit.

METHODISM'S ROOTS IN WOODINGTONIn the years prior to 1900, there was only one church buildingin the Woodington community. It was known as a "Free

1

Church," since any denomination could use it. WoodingtonMethodists used this building, and probably the early Methodistcircuit riders preached in it. Whatever organization WoodingtonMethodists had was part of a circuit in Jones County with sixother churches. The earliest written record of Woodington isfrom a Quarterly Conference held at Lee's Chapel in JonesCounty on October 11, 1879. Mrs. Henry A. Edwards and Mr.Daniel Hasket were named as officers from Woodington.

WOODINGTON~FIRSTCHURCHUntil 1901, there was not a Methodist church in Lenoir Countyon the south side of the Neuse River. In the years 1896-98,during his pastorate in Kinston at Caswell Street Church, Rev.D.H. Tuttle, who was always looking for new territory toconquer for his Master, crossed the river and was a leader insoliciting funds, with which to build a church at Woodington.Mr. and Mrs. James Herbert Waller donated some land onJanuary 16, 1901. Work began, and the church was completedon June 30, 1901, on which date it was dedicated.

Though the Reverend D.H. Tuttle helped raise funds to buildthe first Woodington Church building, he did not get to preachin the church, because the conference moved him before thebuilding was completed. The first pastor was the ReverendW.E. Brown, a young preacher who had studied and workedwith the Reverend Tuttle.

In Woodington, the first church register had the followingentry: "Woodington Class, Dover Circuit, New Bern District,North Carolina Conference, Methodist Episcopal ChurchSouth. This last year, a circuit was formed at WilmingtonConference, comprising six appointments, Bethany and Doverin the Craven Circuit, Woodington, Webbs, Beulah, and East

2

Kinston in the Lenoir Mission, March 20, 1903. Signed byThomas W. Mansfield P.c."

We have no records of when the circuit was divided, butWoodington and Webbs were on a charge with Caswell Streetuntil December, 1921. The Conference then transferredWoodington to the Pink Hill Charge.

A NEW CHURCH FOR WOODINGTONDuring the years 1934-1939, under the leadership of theReverend Howard McLamb, the Woodington congregationwas inspired to start a new church building. Mr. Max Bectondonated quite a sum of money to the church in memory of hismother, Mrs. Eliza Denny Becton. Mr. Becton grew up in theWoodington Church and went on to become cofounder of theBecton-Dickinson Company (makers of medical equipment,such as the fever thermometer).

Additional land was donated by Preston Waller (minor)through his mother, Mrs. Lottie G. Waller (guardian). In 1940,the Reverend Robert Walston came to the charge. While hewas pastor, work on the new church was completed. OnApril 28, 1946, dedication services for the church were held,a Hammond electric organ donated by Mr. Max Becton wasdedicated, and a Memorial Service was held for all memberswho had lost their lives in World War II.

CHARGE CHANGES & CHURCH ADDITIONSIn the conference year 1953-1954, Webbs and Woodingtonbecame a two-point charge, with the pastor's residence built onland donated by Mr. and Mrs. Preston Waller, and money,material, and labor given by both churches.

3

In 1972, a new brick bulletin board was erected in front of thechurch. In 1973, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for amuch-needed fellowship hall, and it was completed within a fewmonths. This building has been used and enjoyed on manyoccasions.

In 1974, Webbs asked to become a one-point station charge. Atthe Annual Conference in June this was done, and St. Mark'sChurch in Kinston was put with Woodington as a two-pointcharge.

In 1992, a new steeple was erected in memory of Warren Harperand in honor of Frances Harper. Steeple chimes were given inmemory of Oscar Waller, and a steeple floodlight was given inmemory of Gordon Rouse.

For many years, members had wished for a building whichwould connect the sanctuary with the fellowship hall. Thisseemed almost an impossibility because of a difference in thefloor level of the two buildings. In 1994, meetings were heldwith the Building Coordinator of the N.C. Conference, JimWard (an architect), and the Duke Endowment. A buildingcommittee was elected, and loan money was secured from theConference Board of Missions.

Some years earlier, Clara Becton died in California and in herwill bequeathed to Woodington Church a sizeable gift ofBecton-Dickinson stock. Clara had attended WoodingtonChurch in summers of her childhood, when she visited hergrandmother, Mrs. Eliza Becton. With her gift, a generousgrant from the Duke Endowment, and loan money, the projectbegan. It was completed and consecrated on March 26, 1995.

4

This building project was composed of several parts: amultipurpose! choir room (named the Becton-Rhoads Roomin memory of Clara Becton and Bill Rhoads, a member whodied during the building project in 1994and bequeathed aconsiderable gift to the church), renovation of the narthex,kitchen, and fellowship hall, changes in classrooms toprovide a pastor's study, installation of a public address systemin the sanctuary, and a memorial garden.

The new building was largely furnished with money frommemorial gifts and the new addition made all church facilitieshandicapped accessible. Memorial gifts are noted on a board andin a book of remembrance located in the new passageway lead-ing into the Fellowship Hall.

WOODINGTON UMC TODAYIn this centennial year, 1998,Woodington United MethodistChurch has 108members. There are 57 members in the SundaySchool, composed of five classes. There is a unit of UnitedMethodist Women and there is a United Methodist Men organi-zation. Each summer, a Vacation Bible School ministers tochildren in the community. Homecoming is observed each yearon the first Sunday in November.

The church has been involved in a number of projects tobenefit others. The annual missions emphasis is filling "ricebags" during Lent for the One Great Hour of Sharing offeringreceived on Easter Sunday. Each year, this offering sets a record.The congregation has helped to build new United Methodistchurches in the N.C. Conference by having up to 13 people asmembers of the Ten Dollar Club. During the Persian

5

Gulf War in 1991, members filled and shipped boxes filled withgifts and personal items to National Guard members fromKinston who were serving in the Gulf region.

One winter, members contributed over 100 coats and shippedthem to people in Armenia. United Methodist Women madeschool kits and sent them to children in Liberia.

On this occasion of the centennial of Woodington UnitedMethodist Church, the past must be viewed as a treasure givento this generation of members by many saints who have beenfaithful and hard-working through the years.

Their example should stimulate in those of us who celebratethe centennial a renewed commitment to carry out Christ'sministry to those who live in this community and to the endsof the earth, in the name of Woodington United MethodistChurch. Thus, we look ahead with confidence and excitementto the second century.

6

Following is a list of ministers and the years of their service atWoodington United Methodist Church:

W.E. BrownThomas W. MansfieldJ.M. CarrowayW.D. ForbesW.F. GallowayF.D. SwindellF.S. LoveF.S. BectonR.R. JohnsonE.L. HillE.N. HarrisonDaniel LaneJ.M. Carro wayL.M. HallJ.R. EdwardsR.W. BarfieldK.S.L. CookeSam LeffertsJ.W. DimmetteW.]. FreemanH.LeRoy HarrisHoward M. McLambR.L. WalstonRalph JollyW.G. LoweW.B. CottonR.W. GoodchildThomas N. HornerDaniel C. BooneWalton N. BassTracie VarnumVirgil N. MooreHenry F. PollockF. Gerald PetersonJohnD. LongArthur G. Fisher, Jr.Billy CuthrellDonald BurnsWalter W. GaskinsWallace LewisJere RouseMarty CauleyClaude Wilson

1901 - 190219031904 - 190519061907 - 19081908 - 19091909 - 19101910 - 19111911- 19131913 - 19151915 - 19171917 - 191819181918 - 19191919 - 19211921 - 19241924 - 19251925 - 19271927 - 19281928 - 19301930 - 19341934 - 19391939 - 19421942 - 19441944 - 19451945 - 19461946-19481948 - 19501950-19531953 - 19571957 - 19611961- 19631963 - 19651965 - 19671967 - 19701970-19721972-19761976-19771977 - 19801980 - 19821982 - 19921992 - 19941994 - present

7

ABOUT THIS BOOKLETOriginal History by

Tiffany Stroud Waller;revision and update by

the Reverend James H. Miller, Jr.;cover sketches by Laura Blizzard;

booklet design by J.P. Waller

APRIL 1998