First Methodist Church
According to a history written by Rachel Thomas, on December 24, 1821, Thomas B. Littlejohn gave the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Oxford a lot of land on the southwest side of Raleigh (now Main St.). There was erected Oxford’s first Methodist Church. This was the first church building of any kind to be erected in Oxford -- the year, 1822.
This building was used until 1836 when the trustees deposed of it (Joan Roberson found a reference to a blacksmith setting up shop in the building) and purchased a lot on the corner of Spring and Harrisburg (now Gilliam St.) for $50 to erect a new church building. Mrs. Peace writes that it was of rather humble dimensions for this day, but still a very decided improvement over the old one. She said the building was unpainted, had no vestibule, and only one aisle. The women sat on the right side and the men on the left. The pews were straight backed, innocent of paint and uncomfortable. The pulpit was reached by 2 or 3 steps to a door which the preacher closed after him. When he sat down, the congregation lost sight of him.
Although there was a stove in the church, Sunday school was discontinued in winter because of the cold. There was no organ and no choir. The minister read the hymns two lines at a time and the congregation sang them two lines at a time. Members joined the church under a probation of six months, after which they were taken in full connection, if their conduct had been satisfactory. “Conviction came before conversion, repentance before faith.” A mourners’ bench was a usual accompaniment to a revival meeting and hymns such as “Tis Religion that Can Give Sweetest Pleasure While We Live” and “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy” were very popular.
In 1866, this church, having been used for thirty years, was sold and converted into a dwelling.
This building was used until 1836 when the trustees deposed of it (Joan Roberson found a reference to a blacksmith setting up shop in the building) and purchased a lot on the corner of Spring and Harrisburg (now Gilliam St.) for $50 to erect a new church building. Mrs. Peace writes that it was of rather humble dimensions for this day, but still a very decided improvement over the old one. She said the building was unpainted, had no vestibule, and only one aisle. The women sat on the right side and the men on the left. The pews were straight backed, innocent of paint and uncomfortable. The pulpit was reached by 2 or 3 steps to a door which the preacher closed after him. When he sat down, the congregation lost sight of him.
Although there was a stove in the church, Sunday school was discontinued in winter because of the cold. There was no organ and no choir. The minister read the hymns two lines at a time and the congregation sang them two lines at a time. Members joined the church under a probation of six months, after which they were taken in full connection, if their conduct had been satisfactory. “Conviction came before conversion, repentance before faith.” A mourners’ bench was a usual accompaniment to a revival meeting and hymns such as “Tis Religion that Can Give Sweetest Pleasure While We Live” and “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy” were very popular.
In 1866, this church, having been used for thirty years, was sold and converted into a dwelling.
Then the trustees purchased a lot on the corner of Main and Sycamore Streets. This was part of the same lot the church had sold earlier. The price was twenty dollars for a 50’ by 70’ lot. A church of frame construction was built in 1867 at a cost of $3,211.96. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Dr. R.S. M______ from the text ‘Temple of’ the Lord.’ The creating of this church was due in a great measure to the untiring efforts of Rev. L.L. Hendren, the presiding elder at this time. From the minutes recorded “the clergy with a number of lay members -- male and female -- devoted themselves with great energy and zeal to the building of this church.”
In the building the men still sat on one side, the women on the other, but with two aisles there was a middle section where they both sat. At that time the enrollment was around seventy. A few years later, when a steeple and a vestibule were added, this church was regarded as a masterpiece. It was in this church that an organ was installed, the first for the congregation. That church also had a pulpit and an altar rail that were both well proportioned. This third church building is now the former Knott’s Grove Church off Hwy. 96 south. |
Third Oxford Methodist Church Building
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