West New Bern Presbyterian Church History from 1946-1973

The History of West New Bern Presbyterian Church

From 1946-1973

About the close of World War II, our Albemarle Presbytery (of which we are members) surveyed the territory in the Western Section of our town and recognized that our city was growing this way. There was not a Presbyterian church west of five-points in New Bern. A housing development, known as Colonial Heights was developing in this area, and the Presbytery became interested in land in this area and purchased several lots (starting on the Corner of Chattawka Lane and Lucerne Way – the additional lots were on Lucerne Way). On the corner stood a dwelling which was part of a farm on that corner. This was in 1946. This area was the start of the West New Bern Presbyterian Church.

A census was taken of the population in this part of New Bern and it was found that there were 5,000 people living in this area.

The Albemarle Presbytery appointed a Building Committee of three men from First Presbyterian Church, New Bern, NC; Mr. T. Z. Uzzell, Chairman, Dr. W. L. Hand, Sr., and C. S. Hollister, Jr. The home on the site of land was moved from the corner, at the intersection of Chattawka Lane and Lucerne Way, to a position about where the Auditorium is now. This was fixed up for a Manse.

Then the lot was prepared for what was hoped to be a Church Building. Mr. Uzzell, as chairman, was very active and efficient. When his work was about completed, he turned the cleaning up of the premises to me, C. S. Hollister, Jr.). He had employed a man with a wheel barrow to pick up all the brick and pile them in the corner of the lot. It was about the time that bull-dozers and heavy machinery were developing.

I consulted Mr. Don Clement of Clement and Johnson Co., and asked him if he could clean up the lot for us and at what price. He replied he could do it in one day and for $120.00. I told him to go ahead with it. His bull-dozier began at a hole about as large as the room in a house, he then started pushing all the scrap, brick, plaster, laths, etc., into the hole. When this was done, he smoothed up the ground, finished up the hole, and we had a beautiful lot. About $10.00 worth of grass seed was purchased and sown and in two weeks we had a pretty yard.

The Home Missions Committee called Rev. R.T. Baker and family from Kings Mountain Presbytery to this work. The Bakers arrived November 14, 1947, had the first Sunday School meeting in the recreation room of the near-by Dr. Pepper Bottling Plant. There were 16 present for Sunday School. Church Service followed this with an attendance of 37. The work grew and a Church was organized May 8, 1948 at 3:00 pm in the Dr. Pepper Plant. The name West New Bern Presbyterian Church was chosen. There were 28 charter members.

A list of the names of the original charter members, as far as could be recollected, is as follows:

Mr. and Mrs. John D. Senn
Mr. and Mrs. L. John Moore
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Mayo, Jr.
Miss Janice Boykin Arthur (Unmarried at the time)
Mr. and Mrs. Culpepper
Mrs. Rebecca Pritchard
Miss Ruth Atkinson (Now Mrs. Wm. Waters of Neuse Forest Church)
Mrs. Gilley
Rayfield Ormond
Mr. and Mrs. Junius P. Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. Baker (Lewis and Dorthy)
Mrs. Talbot
Miss Barbara Moore (Now Mrs. James Melton)
Mrs. Ruth Pritchard Fife
Miss Edna Pritchard
Mrs. Lucy Moore Grady
Mrs. Carrie Hickman, mother of Mrs. Baker
Randolph Ormond

Others, who were early members, if not Charter members, were:

Mr. and Mrs. Hallard Ricks
Mr. and Mrs. Cyrus Gaskins
Sammy Lewis
Mr. Roy Haldeman
The Gene Browns

There may be others. This list was made from memory as we could not find a written list.

It was the desire of everyone to have a Church building as soon as possible. Church buildings cost money, and there was not much of that around. The Home Missions Committee was furnishing most of the money being spent. There was a chance of securing a Chapel form the Marine Corp. Base as Cherry Point. They were liquidating some of their out-post groups. This fell through, however, our leader and Executive Secretary of the Presbytery, was in Atlanta on Home Mission business at Home Mission Headquarters for the whole Church. Someone asked him “Dr. Hassell, when are you folks going to take the $5,000.00 we have ear-marked for Colonial Heights?” Dr. Hassell replied that he knew nothing about it; but would take it right then. He brought the check back to New Bern. That was a lucky break and a start toward a building. We secured help from North Carolina Synod, local citizens in First Church here and at Neuse Forest, Albemarle Presbytery and the Belk Stores Fund. This got us off to a good start. It is interesting to note that soon after we had gotten under way and had spent the $5,000.00 labeled “Colonial Heights” that Colonial Heights, Virginia wrote to Atlanta and asked for the $5,000.00 that had been ear-marked for their work. We were sorry to tell them; but it was “just too bad” – we had spent it in New Bern.

The building committee for the building was composed of: Junius P. Johnson, John D. Senn, Roy Haldeman and Roy Mayo, Jr. The cost of this building was about $15,000.00. Later The Belk Stores Fund gave us more money to complete the upstairs of this building. (When I go down town to buy a shirt of clothes – I try to remember The Belk Fund and what a wonderful contribution they have made to Presbyterian Work in North Carolina.

On May 31, 1951, the Baker family left New Bern and moved to Davidson, NC to RFD Unity Church. We were without a pastor for ten months. Mr. George W. Daugherty from New York State arrived and took the pastorate. He soon left and Mr. John Murray was the next pastor. Mr. Murray came in May 1953. He remained until July 1958. Mr. Scott Poole and family arrived February 15, 1959. In this year two big things happened at the West New Bern Presbyterian Church. Either one would have been a big move – but two at a time was unusual. The Church left the Home Mission support and became self-supporting, for one thing – and then the new building was started. Two bit things at one time. The building, now called the Educational Building cost about $50,000.00. Was a fine up-to-date building and is being used very effectively now.

The Church kept growing in every way. In December 1956 the membership was 136. December 1957, it was 145. In June 1960, the new Educational Building was used for the first time. There were then 178 members. In 1961, membership reported a total of 181. In 1962, The Boykin Property, on the corner of Tryon Road and Chattawka Lane, was purchased. After repairs, etc., the Pool’s moved in as a manse. In December 1962, membership was 199. Sunday, May 5, 1963, the Fifteenth Anniversary was celebrated. In December that year – membership was 213.

There was quite a Building Program going on in 1966. The present Sanctuary was constructed and tied into the other buildings. This made a very attractive set-up for the organization at a cost of $65,000.00.

The Poole’s left in July 1968 to take work in Brunswick, Georgia. Mr. George David Alexander was the next minister. He arrived in October 1968. His stay was short here, and he left in March of 1971. He went to Raleigh and started doing Chaplain Work in the Penitentiary. Mr. Charlie Moore came in February 1972. The church is reported to be doing well under his leadership and membership recently reported was 259.

The church has been aggressive in many fields and has always had a complete program – consisting of regular Sunday morning service, prayer meeting, young people’s work, women’s work, scout troops, visitation evangelism and, of course, Sunday school. At one time, the Boy Scout Troop here numbered 60 boys. The Men have always had a strong program here. I think it has been because of their interest in all phases of the work.

At one time we purchased a bus to go down the highway and bring folks to services. It operated mostly on U.S. Hwy. 70 west.

At one time, when money was so short, we had an agreement with a Florist shop here, that we could have a real pretty bouquet of flowers for Sunday morning service and then we would return them after Sunday service. The rent was $1.00. (Necessity is the mother of invention.)

I would like to mention one thing here about the Baker Family. (The first minister here) They were wonderful Christian people. Mr. Baker taught us that the only “scriptural” way to raise money was to put your hand down in your pocket, catch hold of it and raise it up and put it on the Lord’s Table. In speaking of cake sales and suppers, etc., to raise money, he remarked – “I hope we don’t have to resort to that.” I thought that was a fine way to express it. He also told me that the two churches in New Bern, at the time he was here, as far as he could understand, that served suppers to make money and sold the most cakes, etc., were churches that had the hardest time meeting their budget. He remarked, on one occasion, in speaking of Sabbath Keeping – He told a lady of this church that he had been married twenty-years , at that time, and they had never spent the first $.05 on Sunday yet. I told that to a member here once, and he said Mr. Baker was mighty glad to see me spend some on Sunday when our gas ran out on a trip we were taking.

To the average one of us who visits in a strange church, I doubt, as we sit down to worship, if we wonder what might have been the beginning of the organization. No doubt every church has a history of self-sacrifice, hard work and self-denial, and faith, in it’s history. This West New Bern Church has had it’s share of all these things, as I can certify.

To use Sir Winston Churchill’s words – there has been “blood, sweat, and tears” in the early days of this organization. The list of names would be too long to call – of those who have given sacrificially, worked diligently, and given generously. There was a time when there was no minister and the substitute preacher raised his Sunday fee from $10.00 to $15.00. We wondered where the extra $5.00 was coming from. There was nucleus, however, that stood by and stuck together and were determined, with God’s help, to have a church here. There were strong friendships that built up at that time. There was a fellowship and brotherhood welded that was to be lasting. It was not a question of “how little can I get by with”; but it was “What can I possibly afford” for this organization. I am sure that had we not had faith in God, we would have given up in those discouraging times – for there were truly dark days along with the bright ones.

We cannot close without mentioning the fine help, leadership and spirit of our wonderful leader Dr. J.W. Hassell, Executive Secretary of Home Missions, based in Greenville, NC. He was always a bright spot for us and a cheerful leader in all we did. We pray that God will wonderfully bless him now in his declining years. He is now living in Statesville, NC –retired- with his wonderful wife.

Let’s thank God for the past and look forward to the future for growth and big things for God’s Kingdom here in West New Bern.

By:
C.S. Hollister, Jr.
January 9, 1973

Edited:
Kimberly J. Daigle
May 8, 2006