Concord UMC

According to a letter written by Brother A. N. Roberson, who was the Sunday School Superintendent at Concord around the turn of the 20th century, the history of Concord UMC began in 1832 or 1833, when Reverend Brothers Gray and Christie commenced preaching in the home of Brother Daniel Foust, and kept it up for a year or more.  During this time some “friends of Christianity” decided to organize a class and build a house to worship in that would be more suitable than in the house of Brother Foust.  They procured a site from Robert Cheek and Bartley Walden, got a deed bearing the date of 1835 and went to work to build a church, using logs furnished by Daniel Foust, Thomas Thompson, Samuel Stockard and Merriet Roberson.  When the log house of worship was completed they named it Concord, which means unity, peace and accord.  As for the denomination, it was Methodist because that was the dominant belief of the founders, and Protestant, because the group agreed with the protesting group within the Methodist Episcopal Church.  This group had broken away from the parent church because they wanted more local voice in church government and greater freedom from Conference control.

The log house was used for the worship of God until the year 1890 (55 years), when they decided to build a neater and larger one.  Brother Roberson’s letter states, “We were weak both numerically and financially.   Some thought we were not able to build, but we made the effort and help came from all sides.”  There were too many names for Brother Roberson to mention.  The pastor at the time was W.W. Amick.  He gave his first year’s salary for the new church.  Brother R. H. Wills, who Roberson called “our beloved President,” also gave his year’s salary at Concord for the new church.  Contributions also came from the Baptists, Presbyterians, Methodist Episcopals and Quakers.  Even some who did not profess the Christian faith gave of their means to help build the new church.   Roberson wrote, “We now have a neat little church, painted inside and outside with recess pulpit.  May it still stand as a shining light to the young in after years.”

Another addition was made to the old church after the turn of the century.  The frame structure was used until a brick education wing was added in 1951.  The present brick church building was completed in 1961.  The indebtedness on that building was retired in November of 1971.

In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s Concord was a part of the Saxapahaw charge, which was made up of Salem, Saxapahaw, Concord and Orange Chapel.   By sometime around the middle of the 20th century, Concord was on the Whitney Cross Charge with Clover Garden and Orange Chapel.  When the Protestant and Episcopal branches of the Methodist Church became unified in 1939, the name of the church became simply Concord Methodist Church.  In the late 1960’s the name became Concord United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Revere Mogle, our former church historian wrote, “From log to frame to brick have our buildings grown.  From Methodist Protestant to Methodist to United Methodist has our denomination been identified.  Physical and organizational milestones remind us of our past.  The real milestones have been social and spiritual: Preaching services for almost a century and a half (now a century and three quarters); Sunday School for a century; revivals, Bible Schools, “Children’s Days,” Christmas pageants, Sunrise Services, Harvest Festivals; proud christenings and joyous weddings; heart-rending funerals and poignant homecomings.  These make up the Church.  Concord is more than a building; it is the heart of our community.”

Someone added the following words to the end of the letter written by A. N. Roberson: “We thank Almighty God for his blessing to this congregation and pray that the spirit of our forefathers may always burn brightly as a beacon in this tumultuous world.”