Church History

After Mr. and Mrs. William Coble, Esq. professed their religious faith at a Tabernacle Camp Meeting in 1828, they arranged for  the Rev. Alson Gray to begin preaching in the Kimesville Community. He preached in private  homes and later in McMaster’s School, which became the old part of Mt. Pleasant  Academy,  when it was built, near the present location of Mt. Pleasant Church. About two  years later 1830, Rev. Gray organized a society of about sixteen persons who became part  of  the Randolph Circuit.

  In 1852 Rev. G.W. Bowman and Mr. Calvin Johnson were talking and when Mr. Johnson said to Rev. Bowman “Everything must have a beginning, so let us start the house today. I will give $50 dollars; how much will you give? Rev. Bowman said I will give $25 dollars”. A subscription list was started, and a committee appointed at a meeting at the schoolhouse.

In the years of 1854 and 1855 the building was built costing around $500 dollars, on a tract of land bought from Calvin Johnson and Issac May. The society grows to 39 members, and becomes known as Mt. Pleasant Church. (The name had been given earlier, but had not before come into use.) Rev. J. L. Michaux preached the first sermon in the new building.

Mt. Pleasant becomes part of the Greensboro circuit in 1863-1867, along with seven other societies: Moriah, Tabernacle, Bethel, Liberty Grove, Shiloh, Pleasant Union and Zion’s Hill.

During 1872 an Arbor was built near the School, under which many great revivals were held.

On August 20th, 1892, the original circuit of eight churches divided, with Mt. Pleasant, Liberty Grove, Pleasant Union, and Liberty forming one group. The church and arbor were insured in 1897 for $480.

A parsonage was built in 1900 along with a barn and buggy Shed. These buildings were completed at a cost of approximately $550, and the Rev. G. F. and Mrs. Millaway were the first occupants.

 The next March, log cutting began for the construction of a new sanctuary, which was completed in November 1901. The old  arbor was sold, and the old church building was purchased by Guilford County for use as a school. It  was later sold to Mr. L.L. Bowman for use as a barn.

 The new church had high, pointed, and frosted windows; two “Amen corners”; a recessed pulpit with  two windows; three upholstered chairs; and a new desk. The first Christian Endeavor Society was  organized the next year.

 During the ministry of the Rev. R.S. Troxler, 1912-1916, the first Sunday school rooms were built.
In 1919 the old parsonage was sold to S.R. Shepard for $525, and the church bought nearly five acres of land on which to build a new one. The trustees collected $699 and borrowed $1200 to build a new parsonage. In 1928 more cemetery  space was purchased.

New Sunday school rooms were added during the ministry of the Rev. J.W. Braxton, 1934-1939. A retaining wall was constructed and the church and parsonage were wired for electricity.

In August 1942, during the ministry of the Rev. Rollin Gibbs, the first circle of the Women’s Society of Christian Service was formed and named in honor of the Rev. G.F. Millaway’s wife, Mary. A major building plan, composed of four stages, was devised in 1946. The first phase was the replacement of the old wooden church structure by a brick one. A copper roof was applied, and a heating system, steeple cross, and a brick walkway were added. Phase two, the renovation of the old sanctuary, was completed in 1953. A memorial was installed behind the pulpit, and carpeting and an organ were purchased.

In 1958 the third phase was completed. The educational building was renovated to make space for an assembly hall, a kitchen, and a dinning area. This same year the first Golden Age Supper for senior citizens was held, as was the first Harvest Festival. The Rev. J.A. Burgess donated his library to the church.

In 1959, during the ministry of Rev. Albert Wellons, the first Methodist Men’s organization was formed.

In 1960 Mount Pleasant purchased from Pleasant Union its share (1/4) of the parsonage property. Two years later land was bought to provide parking space and a recreation area across the road from the church. Phase four of the building program, a new parsonage located just west of the old one, was completed in February 1966. The Rev. Emmett Hiatt and his family were its first occupants. In 1968 the Youth Fellowship built tennis and basketball courts on the recreation area as a memorial to their deceased members. In 1971 a group of senior citizens organized what soon became known as the Faulkner Fellowship, named for the pastor, the Rev. Clyde Faulkner, who had been instrumental in its formation. In 1972 air conditioning and a new heating system were installed in the sanctuary.

Plans were begun in the late 1970’s for a recreation center. A brick-veneered fellowship hall was built across the road from the church, at a cost of $140,000, and was named in honor of the Rev. Clyde Faulkner, who retired after having served as pastor of Mount Pleasant for 13 years. The building was dedicated on April 27, 1980, the year of his retirement.

 When, in 1981, serious termite damage to the sanctuary was discovered, it became necessary to  make extensive renovations to the structure. During the pastorate of the Rev. Clay Manning,  Consecration services for the newly-renovated building were held on April 1, 1984. One of the most  beautiful features is the stained glass windows which are set in the original frames retained from the  old  sanctuary.

In June 1985 the Rev. Shirley Jones became the pastor. He helped to reorganize an active Youth Fellowship, and a Sunday school class for the young people was formed in his honor. A student intern from Duke University, Luke Conway, worked with the young people. Church enrollment reached 500. In 1990 the Rev. Jones left to serve another church.

The Rev. Lee Ellis served as the pastor until 1994. During his ministry a new organ with 31 speaking stops and a double keyboard, a new Yamaha piano, and new choir robes were purchased. The recreation area was improved to include a walking track, new basketball court, resurfaced tennis courts, and a jungle gym.

In 1994 Doctor Charles L. Adams was appointed Minister. During Dr. Adams’ tenure many administrative and programmatic improvements were made. Plans were made for remodeling the church fellowship hall and work was begun in April 2003. Several Duke Interns served at Mount Pleasant. In 1998 the Reverend Lynn Cash was appointed to the position of assistant minister. Rev. Cash left to serve other churches. Doctor Adams retired in 2003.

In 2003 Rev. Steve Joyce came to serve at Mount Pleasant. Rev. Joyce ministers to the congregation in many ways, including sharing his musical gifts. During Rev. Joyce’s tenure a campaign was successfully organized to increase interest and attendance in the Sunday school program. Under Rev. Joyce’s guidance many committees and leadership roles were vastly improved. With these improvements, attendance at Mount Pleasant increased. The renovation of the fellowship hall was begun under Dr. Adam’s tenure and completed in February 2004 during Rev. Joyce’s ministry.

The church is growing in its outreach ministry, serving as a caring community church, and continues to be a nurturing and productive ministry representing our Lord.

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