The Life and Legacy of City Road United Methodist Church
Today is a day of transition and sadness for those of us who love this place. This building, known for many years as City Road United Methodist Church, is closing this chapter of its life. None of us here today know what the future holds for this structure. Our hopes and prayers are that it will continue in a capacity to show the love of God to the people of this area.
While the future is unknown the history of this place is a glorious one that will go with each of for the rest of our lives. Our memories of the joys, the heartaches, the accomplishments, and the service to others will live on in our hearts. This building has been filled, not only with the spirit of God, but also with wonderful music, laughter, joy, friendship, and love.
As we hold our last service here today it would be easy to feel that we have failed. I will have to admit that I have experienced this feeling. But City Road was in fact a great success, serving to bring the Gospel to thousands over its many years of service.
The Bible tells us in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
A time to be born and a time to die
A time to plant and a time to uproot
A time to weep and a time to laugh
So, before you feel too sad today let us look back together at the season of City Road Church. Look back at all the good that has been provided to this community for so many years of witnessing, serving God, and serving the community.
In 1895 the North Henderson Cotton Mill was built, and people came by the hundreds to live and work in this area just north of the town of Henderson. Around the turn of the century the need was felt for a Methodist Church to be established to serve the people of the community and people began meeting in homes to get the church started. Those homes included:
John and Minnie Pridgen
Blanche Rooker
The Holmes family
The Will Harper family
The Bowden Family
John Lowery
The Adams Family
Soon the Mill built a one room schoolhouse for its families and the Methodist, Baptist, and Episcopal churches took turns meeting in the schoolhouse. At other times they still met in individuals’ homes.
In 1902 the Gill Family donated the lot to build the church and our first building was built. Our current building still stands on that same lot.
The first ministers were the Reverends J.D. Bundy and J.E. Bristowe who were students from Trinity College, which is now known as Duke University. The first choir director was Mr. John Lowery. Mr. Charlie Lowery, the father of Mrs. Helen Moore and Mrs. Myrtle Waite, was our first music director and also played the pedal organ.
From 1902 to 1903 we were known as the Henderson Church. In 1904 and 1905 we were the Henderson Mission Church. Then beginning in 1906 we were the North Henderson Church. During all this time we were being served by students from Trinity College.
In 1910 the original church building was destroyed by fire, but that did not stop the church. While a new building was being constructed the members met in the Hoyle home (later known as the Porter House). The new building was built on the same spot. It consisted of only one room with wooden benches to sit on.
Soon after that the Reverend W. G. Lowe came and served the church. It was during this time that the church began to grow and really became alive. Reverend Lowe was very interested in all phases of church work and outreach and he even started a church baseball team. It was around this time, that Mr. Henry A Dennis (who was a friend and fellow classmate of Reverend Lowe) came to the church to teach the men’s Bible class, just until they could find someone else.
For well over 60 years, and until his death Mr. Dennis stayed and taught that class, which was one of the largest in the city. I remember seeing a picture of that men’s class years ago and I believe there were a little over 150 men in the class at that time.
It was also during Reverend Lowe’s ministry that the Sunday school rooms were built and pews, which were built by the men of the church, replaced the wooden benches. Some of those pews can still be found in the basement of the church.
In 1918, we became City Road Methodist Church. Our Methodist name came from John Wesley’s City Road Church in England.
From 1927 through 1930, the Reverend Grady Dawson pastored our church and would go on to be our District Superintendent from 1933 through 1935.
It was during this time that the Reverend John L Joyce was the pastor, and City Road became known as the Church on the move. He was very interested in the youth of the church and was instrumental in getting the Epworth League started at City Road Church. It was said that youth of all denominations were coming to his youth meetings. He and the youth were known for the community garden they planted and for the food they gave to others.
In 1949 The Reverend Harold Leatherman became our pastor and was loved by everyone and served until 1953. During his pastorate he conducted a revival that lasted two weeks. So many members were added that we, in fact, outgrew the old church building and planning began to build the church as it stands today.
Many memories remain of the old church but probably the most mentioned was the fires of Mr. Raymond Adams. He would have that old pot-bellied stove glowing red and we were not only known as a church with a warm heart but a church that was warm all over.
In 1953, The Reverend Dr. Morris L. Husted joined our conference from the New York Conference and became Pastor of City Road. It was during homecoming of that year that the first shovel of dirt was turned, and the construction of this building began.
On September 14, 1954, the 10-room education building was completed.
Our first service in the new sanctuary was held during homecoming of 1955 to standing room only. The service was followed by a fellowship meal in the basement of the church.
The first pastor in the new church was the Reverend Dr. Morris L. Husted.
The first wedding was Jean Adams and Howard Hughes.
The first Funeral was John L. Pridgen Sr. And my wife tells me that she was baptized by Dr. Husted!
From 1959 to 1963 The reverend E.M. Rhiner was Pastor at City Road. Attendance during his tenure was quite good and the building debt was completely paid off. He also married a young couple name Pat and Gary.
In 1965 an outreach ministry began when Mrs. Alton Adams began teaching a Sunday school class on Sunday morning at what was then known as Pine Haven Nursing Home. Over the years one of us would present the lesson and others would lead in singing. This ministry continued for over 50 years and in recent years was led by Mrs. Helen Moore and her sister Mrs. Myrtle Waite who played the piano. Some of us here today taught or led the singing for many years.
I have to mention the Choir at City Road. When Pat and I returned to Henderson and began to attend City Road in 1978, the choir was like no other I had heard. With the talents of Jimmy Adams as choir director and Jean Hughes as the organist, often accompanied by Kelly Roberson on piano, along with a host of outstanding voices it was amazing. This choir loft was packed with a host of bass, soprano, tenor, and alto voices, most of whom have gone on to glory, that I will never forget.
August 20, 1989, groundbreaking for the new fellowship hall took place, and it was consecrated during the homecoming service in September 1991. This was the culmination of 15 years of planning and raising the necessary funds. The Fellowship Hall was named for Raymond and Edith Adams, both (flesh and blood definitions of the term pillars of the church). The official dedication of the fellowship hall took place in May of 1992 with the guest minister Reverend Kermit Braswell presiding.
This year marks 120 years of continuing ministry and service to the community. We feel that our ministry has touched many lives and is still reaching out to the four corners of the earth. Six of our members have gone into full time ministry from this church. They are:
The Reverend P. M. Porter
The Reverend J. T. Fisher
The Reverend C. B. Hicks
The Reverend Doug Lamb
The Reverend John M. Lewis
The Reverend Gary Allred
In addition to the full time ministers the church has produced numerous Certified Lay Speakers.
But our ministry does not stop here. Many families that started at City Road now have children, grandchildren and great grandchildren serving God in churches across the country.
So even though this season of City Road United Methodist Church is coming to a close what a glorious season it was; And though we leave today with sadness in our hearts, we know that a new season is beginning. We look forward to what God has in store for the coming season for us (His church) and for this building and all the great memories it has been host too.