History of Hebron United Methodist Church

The following information contains excerpts taken from a history booklet entitled “Celebrating One Hundred and Fifty Years – A History of Hebron United Methodist Church,  1850 – 20000” which was produced and presented at the Sesquicentennial Celebration held at Hebron in October 2000. 

Sometime prior to 1850, Hebron United Methodist Church was organized because it was felt by some of the local people that there was a need for a church in the community.  The present location was selected from a building site and was given by Mr. Joseph H. (“Easy Joe”) Thompson.  Mr. Thompson was said to have married a girl from Salem Methodist Church and wanted to establish a church locally so as to not travel all the way to Salem every week for church services. 

The first church consisted of a preexisting building of log construction.  It contained a box pulpit and benches made of slabs.  The first minister was a circuit rider by the name of Reverend Alson Gray. 

It is believed that a few of the charter members are as follows:  J.P. Albright, Sallie Albright, Hargis Jones, Hugh Kirkpatrick, Rose Kirkpatrick, James Moore, Joseph M. Thompson, Sarah Thompson, William Thompson, Susan Thompson and Paisley Nelson.  A document supporting this belief was found in the old desk of Paisley Nelson.  The document lists the names of twenty people who promised to pay sums ranging from 25 cents to $2 for a total of $14 to Reverend Alson Gray for preaching at Hebron Church, the present year, this 1^st day of September 1850.”  The document was signed by Alson Gray under the statement that reads as follows:  “Received of P. Nelson, fourteen dollars as guarantage of Hebron Church on Orange County Circuit, NC District, this 6^th of November 1850.” 

The membership increased and because the building was so small, it became necessary to build an arbor in 1867 for camp meetings.  The arbor was built of pine poles and boards.  It had a roof of homemade shingles.  Straw was carried and placed around the altar which was used for a kneeling pad.  Candles were used for lighting.  The time for this service was announced as “early candlelight”. 

Membership grew slowly during the period of 1870 to 1895; ministries were only one to two years in length.  Under the four year pastorate of Reverend William Pike membership reached 103.  A new church was started with the members doing the work themselves. 

According to Eva Nelson McAdams, her father, Fletcher Nelson was called on in the early 1900’s to finish the inside work of the newly constructed frame church to make the pews.  The 1925 writings of Frances Nicholson Nelson reflect that Sunday School rooms and a steeple were added to the white frame church which changed the appearance of the church.  There were no more changes made after that time to the church exterior. 

During the period from 1900 to 1904, Hebron Church was part of the Orange Charge.  Other churches in the charge were Chestnut Ridge and Union Grove with Mebane and Efland churches being organized and added in 1903 and 1904.  At 1905 annual conference, Hebron and Mebane churches formed into a new charge known as the Mebane Charge.  In 1919, Hebron became a station.  In 1920, Hebron was attached back to Orange Charge.  The charge slowly divided and the last church with Hebron on the Orange Charge was Chestnut Ridge.  In 1939 the union of the three branches of Methodism was consummated into the Methodist Church.  Hebron was under the jurisdiction of Durham District where it remained until 1962 at which time it became a station and was made a part of the Burlington District.  In 1960 it was decided to have a full time student pastor.  Many changes continued to be ahead including the building of a new church and parsonage, as well as a growing congregation, and with this growth, new programs.   

Plans for the current fellowship building (referred to by church members as the “hut”) were created in 1950, and soon afterwards the building was constructed close to the old church at a cost of around $14,000.   

In 1960, a building committee was elected by the congregation to address the need for building a new church.  In 1965, the congregation voted 53 to 17 to approve building a church at a cost of $93,000 and an education wing for $63,000.   A building fund was established and many fund raisers were held to collect funds toward the cost of the building.  Memorials and honorariums in the way of furnishings, fixtures and other items were donated by church members. 

It was decided to move the old church about 250 yards so that worship could continue while the new church was being built.  A ground breaking ceremony took place in October of 1966.  The last service in the old church was held on July 23, 1967.  The first service in the new sanctuary was held on the following Sunday.  The Reverend William Bumgardner conducted both services.  A cornerstone laying ceremony occurred on August 13, 1967.   

In 1956, Hebron and Chestnut Ridge Churches went together to form a Charge and bought a small four- room house to be used as a parsonage.  Hebron became a Station in 1962, and because the parsonage was located nearer to Hebron than Chestnut Ridge, Hebron bought Chestnut Ridge’s interest in it and continued to use it as Hebron’s parsonage.  In 1970, a building fund was started to collect funds to build a new parsonage to be located beside the new church.  The new church parsonage was completed in 1974. 

The church cemetery consists of three acres of land, and is maintained by the Hebron Memorial Association.  The Memorial Association was formed in 1941.  Its objective was to raise funds for the purpose of caring for and maintaining the cemetery at Hebron Church.  The constitution and bylaws were revised in 1994.  The Association meets the fourth Sunday in May during the 11 o’clock worship service.  At the present time, Homecoming and Memorial Services are a combined special day.