From "History of Bethel Presbyterian Church, McLeansville, NC"
written in 1972 by Jerry Summers Nix
THE HISTORY OF BETHEL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
In 1771, after government and order had united the people,
Guilford was formed. It was named in honor of Lord North,
the Earl of Guilford, who was a Tory and prime minster to King
George III.
By 1812, Guilford was becoming more settled and the communities began to take form. Cedar Creek, the first Presbyterian church near Gibsonville, was organized. During the year
1815, the church was moved and its name was changed to Bethel.
In looking over the origin of Bethel we cannot forget that the
word Bethel came from the Hebrew language meaning, "house
of God."
In the region known as the Palatinate, hatred and troubles
over church lands caused large numbers of people to flee to
America. Their homes were laid in waste, the battles of the
French invasion on the Rhine, The Thirty Years War, and more
occurred. The new world offered a place of freedom and security. The immigrants poured into Pennsylvania and then
turned to the South. This movement occurred from about 1688
up to 1775. The archives of that time show more than 30,000
males over sixteen who had come over.
The first Presbyterian church in America was a Reformed
church established by the Dutch of New Amsterdam in 1628.
The Puritans rather suppressed Presbyterianism in 1,4ew England. The Virginians stood for Episcopacy. Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and the colonies of the Seuth were
more partial to Presbyterianism. The rich history of these early
days in this territory must include the story of five denominations: Lutheran, Reformed, Moravian, Quaker, and Scotch-Irish
Presbyterian. These denominations have left a rich heritage
for all succeeding time.
Dr. W. W. Moore states that Presbyterians were taking up
homes along the Haw and Eno rivers in 1738. Reverend Henry
Patillo became pastor of Hawfields in 1765; Buffalo Church was
organized in 1756; Alamance in 1762; and in 1764 Reverend
David Caldwell arrived. The Presbyterian synods of New York
and Philadelphia sent missionaries into this section in 1745 and
1758. The Nottingham Company of Pennsylvania bought a large
tract for settlement along the waters of Buffalo and Reedy Fork.
Although these events occurred many decades before Bethel
was organized in 1812, it was these occurrences that helped form
the beginning of our church that has survived through many
hardships.
During the War of 1812, a small but active group of religious
seekers formed a new house of worship. "Cedar Creek" was
thus established. Cedar Creek erected its first building on the
site of what is known today as Gibsonville Cemetery on land
donated by James and Moses Gibson. The membership was
small with three ruling elders: John Smith, James Gibson, and
Elisha Wharton. Samuel Paisley was the first pastor and served
the church until 1816. The building was crude with no means
of heating and the people came for miles on horseback through
the coldest winter weather and sat shivering through the long
sermon and considered it a privilege. This first church constructed was the third Presbyterian church built in Guilford
County.
When Cedar Creek thought it would be wise to move the
church from Gibsonville, Dr. David Caldwell, the pastor of Ala
mance and Buffalo Churches, opposed this move because he
thought this would weaken these churches. Although he was
very old, he rode horseback to persuade the people to abandon
this plan. Out of consideration for him, they decided to stay
temporarily.
It is not known, for sure, how long services were held at Gibsonville. The time period could have consisted of about three
years. It is known; however, that land was donated by Purnel
Chance about 1815 near the community of McLeansville.
Purnel Chance specified in his deed that the land be used
for the erection of a "meeting house." There was no denomination definitely mentioned, so the first organization that took
advantage of this offer could receive the land. The church accepted the land, moved, and changed the name from Cedar Creek
to Bethel. This log "meeting house" was built in front of the
site of the present church.
Later, a modest frame building was erected on the east side
of the church, close to where the old session house now stands.
The first session house for Bethel was built about the same time
the third church edifice was built. Then disaster struck, fire
swept through the session house destroying it and many valuable
records from 1822-1832 thus causing more hardships for
Bethel's congregation.
After the Civil War was over, the membership increased and it was decided to build a more suitable place for worship. The plans to build the new church were
started in the year of 1866. The following two years were the busiest with the gathering
of materials and labor from the members who could spare time. In 1868 John Doggett was elect
ed Chairman of the Building Committee. The following is a list of subscribers to the fund
for the new building which was taken from an actual document:
"We the undersigned agree to pay J. A. McLean, John Doggett, Wm. P. Wharton, R. C.
Wilson, H. C. Dick, the sums annexed to our names, for the purpose of building a new house of worship at Bethel to be paid in currency, labor, hauling, or lumber at the foIlowing prices, viz. lumber $1.50 per hundred feet, board measure, days hauling with four horse wagon $4.00 per day, with three horse
wagon $3.00 per day, with two horse wagon $2.00 per day. Days work $1.00 per day. Shingles $5.00 per thousand. Lumber to be furnished at the church by the last of April, 1867."
During the early colonial period, many churches did not have
a full time pastor. Ministers traveled from church to church.
Each church had a minister only once a month if he had to
officiate in three or four churches and the elders of the church
would conduct the other services. Several churches became
grouped together by having only one minster. Bethel was
grouped with Greensboro First Presbyterian Church from
1824-1845, then grouped with Buffalo from 1847-1905, then
grouped with Alamance and Springwood from 1905-1907,
grouped with Alamance from 1907-1912, and then with Springwood from 1913-1951.
Pioneers coming to Guilford County in 1750 found dense
hardwood forests broken by areas of grassland inhabited by
Indians. The land yielded to the settlers who were searching
for comfort and freedom.
THE EARLIEST SETTLERS
BUILDING CHURCHES IN WARTIME
Dec. 1st, 1866
John Doggett, Wm. P. Wharton, R. C. Rankin, Robert Wilson, J. A. McLean,
Stanford Woodford,
H. B. Stratford,
W. R. Forbis,
J. W. Forbis,
Persis Rankin,
Willis Sikes,
Derinda Summers,
Polly Woodford,
John McLean,
G. W. Wharton,
J. F. Hughes,
A. P. Rankin,
A. C. & J. Denny,
Thomas Rankin,
J. C. Rankin,
T. A. Rankin,
T. A. Gray,
Barbara Wilson,
Wm. Wilson,
Jane S. Gilmer,
R. A. Stratford,
Henry Gilmer,
R. C. Dick,
Rufus Smith,
W. 0. Stratford,
John Rankin,
M. S. Whittington,
W. N. Sikes,
J. M. Montgomery,
Wm. A. Paisley,
A. B. Tate,
J. M. Smith,
W. R. Story,
Jas. M. McLean,
E. Denny,
R. H. Rankin,
J. W. Forbis,
Thomas H. Whittington,
Phebe Huffines,
Wm. Gray,
J. R. Gilmer,
Allen Gilmer (of color),
Peggy Gray,
B. Stratford,
Henry Cobb (of color),
Green Wharton (of color),
Jopie Montgomery,
J. P. Montgomery,
James Rankin,
Fannie Watson,
F. D. Whittington.