Lenoir County NcArchives Church Records.....Wheat Swamp Church
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Hazel Yarbrough hhyarbrough@embarqmail.com October 19, 2010, 4:23 pm
SHORT SYNOPSIS OF THE GENERAL HISTORY OF THE WHEAT SWAMP CHURCH
This paper was presented to the members of the church prior to the
celebration of the church's 100th birthday in 1958. It was found in the papers
of Roscoe and Dorothy Hill who were members of Wheat Swamp Christian Church at
the time. John D. Hill who was the contractor for the Wheat Swamp Church was
the grandfather of Roscoe Hill. Author of this article is unknown, but may
have been Mrs. Floyd Gray Sr. Grammatical and spelling errors have been
changed only slightly in the transcription where clarification was needed.
The article was transcribed and is in the possession of Hazel Ruth Hill
Yarbrough of Kinston, NC.
The Wheat Swamp Christian Church located nine miles from Kinston on the
Hull Road will celebrate its' 100th Anniversary of the present church
building. The Wheat Swamp Church was organized and founded by Joseph Parker
as a Free Will Baptist (church) in 1752, which would make this church sight
[sic] and congregation 206 years old. In 1841 it was organized as a Disciples
of Christ [church], making it 117 years old as a Disciples Church. Wheat
Swamp congregation has built two churches. The first building had sand
floors. The present building was completed and dedicated the fourth Sunday in
May 1858. This building was contracted by John D. Hill for the sum of
$500.00. It was deeded by M.B. Creech to William B. White, Parrott Hardy,
Walter Kennedy and Drury Hill Jr. as a building committee.
Thomas Campbell, Alexander Campbell and Barton W. Stone are known as the
men who contributing [sic] most in the factors concerning reformation of the
Disciples from the Baptist. It was the influence of Robert Bond and Benjamin
Parrott that was effective in leading Wheat Swamp to the Disciples belief in
the first days of the movement. Benjamin Parrott was a native of Lenoir Co.
born on Lausan Swamp and died at his farm home near Wheat Swamp. During the
early part of his ministry he labored hard during the week on his farm and
then he rode many miles to preach on Sundays. The old farm house still stands
on this farm located in the Falling Creek township, where he entertained on
several occasions, Alexander Campbell. This farm is owned by Mr. Jim Parrott
of Kinston. Mr. Benjamin Parrott is the Great, Great Uncle of Marion Parrott
and the brother of Jacob Parrott who was one of the nine Charter Members of
Gordon St. Christian Church, Kinston, NC. He was married to Miss Harriet
Kennedy, Sept. 23, 1825. They had none [sic] children. The last conference
Mr. Parrott attended was at Wheat Swamp in Oct. 1858. He died a few weeks
later from pneumonia.
In 1845 Mr. Parrott reported a Membership of 175 Members, and that it was
a strong Mother Church and it was always represented at the State Meetings.
Their delegates in the forties were as follows: Thomas P. Hartsfield, 1842;
William White, 1843; Parrott Hardy, 1844; Dr. J.A. Hartsfield, 1847-1848; Pitt
Hardy, 1847; R.T. Hodges, 1847; T.W. Hart, 1848; H. Suggs, 1849.
Wheat Swamp entertained the Bethel Conference in 1835, 1840, 1843, (and)
the Disciples State Meetings in 1853, 1858, 1863, 1868 (and) 1884.
The first Women's Missionary Society organized into State Group Oct. 5,
1876 at Wheat Swamp.
On May 24, 1858, the fourth Sunday in May the building was dedicated to
the Service of God. The Congregation was large and attentive. Discourses
were delivered by elder John F. Dunn and the Editor. It was stated by
him, The Brethern at Wheat Swamp with commendable Zeal have erected a very
neat and commodious house which does great credit to them and to the
neighborhood. We hope other Churches may profit by her example and that many
of our old, dilapidated houses may give place to such structure as will be
more in harmony with the purity, zeal and liberality of Christianity. In 1947
an educational unit was built which consisted of several Sunday School rooms,
which doors can be folded back and made into a Fellowship Hall, Kitchen,
Church office, Baptistry. Up until this time Baptismal Services were held at
Gray's Mill Pond. Centralized heat was installed. The Pews, flooring,
ceiling remain the same. In 1947 stained glass windows were given as
memorials to take the place of plain panes of glass. This building committee
was headed by Floyd Gray, Sr., Troy J. Rouse, and John L. Sutton. In 1965, a
six room brick veneer Parsonage was erected a short distance from the Church.
Mr. Pelt Worthington, building Chairman, Mr. Hugh Hardy, Treasurer.
In 1958 an organ was purchased and installed to take place of the Piano.
The Membership in 1958 now stands at 268.
Records of known clerks since 1860: Rubin Barrow 1870, Ed. L. Sutton till
1897, Franklin Dail clerk till 1900, Paul A. Hodges till 1915, J.M. Creech
till 1920, J. Paul Hill till 1949, Mrs. Roscoe Herring, Mrs. Merle Edwards,
Mr. William Jones, Mr. Earl Barfield.
Elders in 1900 were George B. Rouse (and) J.M. Mewborn.
Deacons in 1900: J.T. Kennedy (and) T. R. Hodges
Trustees: E.T. Mosley, A.C. White, P.A. Hodges
Elders in 1920 were Albert C. White, George A. Rouse, Hugh Hardy, Troy J.
Rouse, (and) Roscoe Herring
Deacons in 1920 were George M. Rouse, Ray Jones, Harvey Rouse, Harvey
Hill, R.B. Rouse, John D. Hodges, (and) A.L. Gray
Trustees in 1920 were Mr. Henry W. Brothers (and) Albert C. White
Organist and Pianist since 1900 were Mrs. Julia Hodges, Mrs. Glynn
Mewborne, Miss Bertha Hill, Mrs. Brantley Perssell, Mrs. B. B. Holder, Mrs.
Rupert Rouse, Mrs. Albert Tyson, Mrs. George Byrd.
Record of Ministers since 1900:
S.W. Sumrell, D.H. Petill, C.W. Howard, 1903 was S. Lee Saddler, 1914 Joel
Vause, 1916 Perry Case, 1920 Bill Wigiman, 1924 H.G. Sullivan, 1930 Wilber
Bennett, 1946 Rabbon Rose; H.S. Garriss, William Montgomery, Dr. Miller, Glenn
Savage, Mr. W.H. Ballenger. Dr. Verle Rogers, A.C.C., Wilson, NC has been
serving the Pastorate temporarily for one year. August 1, 1958 Mr. Morgan
McKinley will fill this Pastorate. Mr. McKinley is a Native of Englehaut (?),
NC, Graduate of A.C.C., studied at College of Bible, Lexington, Ky. B.D. from
Texas Christian University in Ft. Worth, Texas. Former Pastor of LaGrange,
Cove City, Southwest Christian Church. Mr. McKinley is married to the former
Miss June Holton of Wilmington, NC. Mrs. McKinley is also a graduate of A.C.C.
1958 Elders:
Ray Jones, Paul Hill, George Rouse, John Dail, Homer Hill, Jesse E. Jones,
Lovitt White, Roscoe Hill
1958 Deacons:
M.R. Taylor, Ben Dail, Sr., Johnnie Hill, Fletcher Gray, Clifton L. Gray,
Robert Rouse, Charles Sutton, Jr., Garland Hill, Milton Hughes, Harold
Kennedy, William Jones, Edward Colie, Stewart Rouse, Roger Creech, Gordon E.
Rouse, Charles Massengill, Kornegay Hardy, Floyd Hardy, Pete Colie, Albert
Tyson, J.W. Poole, W.C. Emerson, Charlie Sutton, Jack Sutton, Marion Rouse,
Robert Hardy, W.P. Emerson, Felix Croom, B.L. Efird, C.M. Rouse, Jr.
Acting Chairman of the Board, Edward Colie, Roger Creech is the Secretary and
Earl Barfield is the Treasury[sic]
The Growth of Christian Churches among the Baptist is a long story. The
Baptist Historians claimed that their Ministries came direct from London.
There were Baptist families here as early as 1695. In 1752, there were 16
Baptist Churches in N.C. Wheat Swamp was one of the 16. Some Practices among
N.C. Disciples have descended as an inheritance from the Baptist. One of
these are [sic] the Union Meetings which consist of a few Churches that meet
together at stated times to confer in Love about matters relating to Peace,
brotherly union, (and) fellowship. These sessions lasted about three days and
every fifth Sunday was a favorite time for these to be held. A quarterly
business meeting of each Church was a Baptist practice. Some Disciple
Churches were slow in discontinuing Free Will Baptist practice such as
Ceremonial washing of Saints Feet, Quarterly Communion, anointing the sick
with oil, the mourners bench. Most Colored Churches in eastern N.C. who
received their training from anti-bellum Slave Masters continue to this day
many of these primitive customs. This marks them as a peculiar group among
American Disciples.
Often the Disciples were called Christian Baptist by the Baptist Church
Group.
Dr. John T. Walsh of Richmond, Va., a Physician who later became a
Preacher was among first known Evangelists of the State. He served in this
capacity for 33 years. Some of his important Pastorates were Wheat Swamp, Oak
Grove, Hookerton, Kinston. Salary ranged from free room and board to 12.00
dollars for travel expenses to $300.00 a year later on.
John Patrick Dunn, Native of Lenoir Co. had 2 handsome country homes in
the vicinity of the present Airy Grove Church in Lenoir Co. He and one other
man were only ones in the County employing a butler and driving a coach to
Church. He began his Ministry when there were only 4 Disciples Ministries in
N.C. He Preached his first Sermon in Greenville, N.C. He was also one of the
first Ministries [sic] of Gordon St.
Mr. J.L. Sutton is the oldest living Member of the present Congregation.
Mr. Sutton will be 85 on June 11. He was Baptized by Mr. Johnson in 1899.
Mr. Sutton married to the past Miss Bela Suggs, who Died in 1939. They have
eight children who are all members of the Wheat Swamp Church. They are as
follows: Mrs. Floyd Gray, Sr., Mr. Jack Sutton, Mrs. Fred Everett, Mr.
Charlie Sutton, Mr. J. Dan Sutton, Mrs. Robert Edwards, Mr. J. Buck Sutton,
Mrs. Robert Rouse. Mr. Sutton also is a descendant of Mr. Benjamin Parrott.
Mrs. Mollie Hardy Hill is the oldest living previous Member (and) was
Baptized in Oct. 1887. Mrs. Hill now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Charlie
Johnson of Kinston.
Committies are as follows:
Planning Committee Mrs. E.C. Worthington, Mrs. Roscoe Herring, Mrs. R.B.
Rouse, Mr. George Rouse, Mr. Paul Hill.
Overall Chairman Mr. Albert Tyson.
Building Committee Edward Jackson Colie (Ch).
Grounds Mrs. Floyd Hardy (Ch).
Food and Drink Mr. Clifton Gray (Ch), Mrs. Charlie Sutton, Mrs. Robert
Rouse. Invitations Mrs. Rupert Rouse (Ch), Mrs. Albert Tyson.
Hospitality Mr. John Dail (Ch).
Bulletins Barbara Jean Creech (Ch), Miss Murphrey.
Program Mrs. John Dail (C.W.F. Sr. ch), Mrs. Lovitt White (C.W.F. Jr.), Mr.
Alton Phillips (Sunday School)
Music Mrs. George Byrd (ch), Mrs. Albert Tyson, Mrs. Charles Sutton
Publicity Mrs. Floyd Gray (ch), Mrs. Felix Croom
We are grateful to Billy Ray Smith who was at home on a short leave from
his U.S.A.F. Base in Charleston, S.C. for cutting stencils and memographing
this History. There have been very few records kept on the History of this
church. Therefore a lot of the information in this bulletin was secured by
conversing with Members of people [sic]. In case of any known inaccuracy in
this report, or in the event that anyone has or knows of the whereabouts of
old Hymnals, family Bibles with records, will they please contact Mrs. Floyd
Gray Sr. who is making plans to get an accurate History, and state marker for
our Church.
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