Church History

South Point United Methodist Church located two and a half miles south of Belmont, North Carolina was organized in the summer of 1877 as a Sunday school in Gaither's Factory, a cotton warehouse, formerly called Stowesville Mill. This is only a short distance from the present location of the church.

Interest in a church for the South Point Community grew; therefore, a building committee was selected. The committee selected was Rufus Rankin, Artie Armstrong, and Thomas Williams.

On March 2, 1878, Thomas Williams and wife, Martha A. Williams, deeded to the trustees of South Point Methodist Episcopal Church South three and one-fourth acres more or less. Trustees at this time were W. R. Rankin, L. A. Ford, and John Carr. Mr. and Mrs. Williams deeded another one-half acre more or less on September 28, 1891 to the trustees. Serving at this time were W. G. McKee, W. A. Armstrong, R. A. Stowe, G. L. McKee, and Thomas Williams.

The late John L. Loftin and Jesse Houston cut the first tree for the church and others from the community also cut timber for the building. The framing of the church was hewn out by hand. Several hundred dollars were borrowed from the late John Price Neagle to help pay for the materials for the church. This was paid back to Mr. Neagle after the church was organized.

In 1878 when the building was completed, all the interested families joined together and formed the South Point Methodist Episcopal Church South. A complete list of the charter members is not available, but there were approximately twenty-nine. The following are some of the charter members: Artie Armstrong, Allen Armstrong, Mrs. Ellie Beaty Armstrong, John A. Armstrong, Robert Armstrong, Andrew Beaty, Robert Beaty, Mose Blackwelder, Mr. and Mrs. John Carr, Mrs. Julie Beaty McCarver, Mrs. Isabella Armstrong Leeper, George L. McKee, Mrs. Addie Beaty McKee, Wiley G. McKee, Laura McKee, Mrs. Emily McKee Fite, Mrs. Minerva McKee, Rufus Rankin, Mrs. W. R. Rankin, Mrs. A. J. Rankin, Mrs. Nannie Beaty Robinson, Mrs. Laura E. Stowe, Miss Margaret Smith, John Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Williams.

Serving as the first minister was the Rev. Julius Harris.

The first wedding in the church was May 20, 1879. when Rev. Julius Harris married John Franklin Leeper and Mary Isabella Armstrong. Mary Isabella was the daughter of Artie Armstrong, one of the members of the building committee.

To our knowledge we have no written records until January, 1892 when Rev. L. A. Falls was the minister and W. A. Armstrong was the secretary. It was reported at this First Quarterly Conference of South Point Methodist Episcopal Church South, Stanley Creek Charge, Shelby District that there were fifty enrolled in Sunday School with an average attendance of thirty-five.

At the Second Quarterly Conference in October, 1892 it was reported by Rev. L. A. Falls, minister and W. A. Armstrong, secretary that the minister did not have an alphabetical roll of the church and that the baptisms and marriages had not been recorded.

In 1924 the church building was moved a short distance from where it first stood and five Sunday school rooms were added to the front of the one room building.

In February 1937 plans were made to build an educational building. The following were on the building committee: Rev. C. 0. Kennerly, John F. Ellington, F. E. Ellington, Sr.. Mrs. F. D. Smith, and Mrs. W. G. Drennan, Sr. The Duke Endowment Fund furnished four hundred dollars on the project and the men of the church donated their time to build this new addition. The building consisted of one large room with a fireplace and a kitchen to be used for recreation and church activities. This unit was dedicated in 1939.

As membership of South Point grew, the members soon realized a larger church was needed. On February 12, 1950, the last service was held in the little white frame church. The structure was removed immediately and ground was broken for a new brick building which stands today on the site occupied by the old church. Services were held in the educational building until the new church was completed.

Rev. M. B. Shives was the minister at the beginning and helped in planning the new church. Members of the building committee were: J. L. Armstrong, Chairman, F. E. Ellington, Sr., W. G. Drennan, Dr., J. R. Ludlum, Warren L. Smith, Mrs. Lester 1. Carpenter, Miss Melva Leeper, Rev. Ralph Blanchard, Marvin Helms, Architect, and W. H. Hand and Son, Contractors.

The new church of modern colonial design, brick veneer and concrete construction contains nine classrooms, pastor's study, kitchen, assembly room, two rest rooms and is heated with an oil furnace. The steeple of the church is designed of steel and masonry.

On Sunday, March 4, 1951 the first service was held in the new sanctuary. Rev. R. W. Blanchard, minister, presided at the eleven o'clock service and Dr. W. A. Stanbury, Supt. of the Gastonia District delivered the sermon.

All indebtedness was paid and the church was dedicated Sunday, May 16, 1954 at 10:30 a.m. Rev. C. W. Kirby, Supt. of the Gastonia District delivered the sermon of dedication. Rev. Bayne W. Lefler presided at the impressive service.

Soon after the new church was dedicated, the members of South Point Methodist Church began thinking of becoming a station rather than a two-point charge. On November 4, 1954 property was purchased to build a parsonage. The land consisted of 1.815 acres purchased from Mrs. Johnsie Leeper Gaston. Mrs. Gaston is the daughter of the first couple to be married in the original one room church.

South Point was first a six-point charge, later a four-point charge, a three-point charge, a two-point charge, and then in 1955 a station. Early in 1955, a parsonage committee composed of John W. Bowen, E. L. Murphy, and F. E. Ellington, Sr. was formed. A brick veneer building was constructed. The parsonage contains a full size basement, three bedrooms, study, living room, dining room, one full bath, one half-bath, and is heated with an oil furnace.

In the fall of 1955 the first full-time minister and family moved into the parsonage: Rev. C. C. Phillips, Mrs. Phillips, Angelyn, Joseph, and Bobbie. Open house was held November 11, 1955. The parsonage was dedicated May 1962. Rev. W. A. Kerr was the minister and Rev. B. W. Lefler delivered the message of dedication.

Since the first church was built, South Point has had its own cemetery. It was enlarged in 1963, at which time a set of rules was drawn up by members of the cemetery committee: Frank E. Ellington, Jr., W. A. Neagle, and Willard Joye.

In 1968, we became South Point United Methodist Church, when the Methodist Church joined with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church.

On March 9, 1986, a vote was taken to accept a proposal for a new building. In 1986, the building was completed and paid for. On October 4, 1987, a Consecration Service and Open House was held for the new building.

In 1996 a Prayer Garden was erected in front of the fellowship building by Eric "Rocky" Tidd who was earning his Eagle Scout Award.

Four young men from South Point have gone into the ministry. They are as follows: Rev. George Smith, Rev. E. L. Murphy, Rev. E. 0. Queen, and Rev. Elton Strickland. Also Mrs. J. D. Rayne, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Warren L. Smith, became a Rural Worker for the Methodist Church.

South Point United Methodist Church is a connectional church. We belong to the Gastonia District, the Western North Carolina Conference, and the South Eastern Jurisdiction of the General Conference of United Methodist Churches. Pastors are appointed annually at the Western North Carolina Conference held at Lake Junaluska, NC. We presently have 229 members on roll. In the years to come, we hope South Point United Methodist Church will be a shining light in this community.

Church Historians past and present: Ethel Armstrong, Melva Leeper, and Helen Neagle.

Enter a City or US Zip:

Top of Page

Last updated: December 16, 2001