A Brief History
Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church has been in existence for
115 years. It was formerly Mount Pleasant ME Church. The church was located on
Old Highway 27 in Stanley, NC. The frame built church was constructed in 1898
under the leadership of Reverend B. Smith. Services were held on the second and
fourth Sunday. Over the years there were seven ministers that served at this location.
In 1948, a new white frame church was constructed on Hickory Grove Rd., Rev. W.
Cook was the pastor. Two other pastors served at this location; in 1954 Rev.
Robert McDowell at age 24 served for three years and in 1958 Rev. B. J. Dula.
Under Rev. Dula, Rock Grove UMC now known as Burge Memorial UMC joined our local
charge. On June 14, 1960 our church was moved to it present site on
Dallas/Stanley Hwy consisting of two acres.
In 1968 we became Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church. In 1971 under the leadership of
Rev. Marion Walton, steps were taken to remodel the church. We began having
serves every Sunday. Ground breaking for the new church was September 5, 1971.
The first service in the new church was August 27, 1972. The cornerstone was
placed on the church on November 12, 1972. Rev. Linton Johnson served as our pastor for eight years.
During his leadership a Young Adult Choir was formed. In 1982 Rev. Robert Crutchfield was
appointed our pastor and served for two years. Under Rev. Crutchfield’s
leadership the youth became very active in the church service by leading the
worship service every fifth Sunday. The youth counselor gave the children’s
sermon before the morning message. We were moved from the local charge with
Burge Memorial to join with Epworth UMC.
In 1984 Rev. Robert McDowell was appointed our pastor for the second time. Under
his leadership a new sanctuary was constructed. Consecration service was held on
May 27, 1990. In 1992 our church was appointed our first female minister Rev. Sharon
Adams. Under Rev. Adams leadership a monthly newsletter was started, Children’s
Choir formed and the Youth Choir and Young Adult Choir were combined to form the
Mass Choir.
In February 1999, Rev. Kent Tilley was appointed as our interim local
pastor. In June, 1999, Rev. Tilley was appointed as our local pastor. He was the
first Caucasian pastor to be appointed to serve Mt. Pleasant. We had new members
to join under his leadership. We had seven youth to go through Confirmation
classes.
In June, 2003 Rev. Frederick Barnes was appointed as our pastor. In
March, 2004, Rev. Sherman Shelton was appointed as our interim pastor. In June
2004, until the present, Rev. Albert Mills has been appointed as our pastor.
Through his leadership and guidance we added several new members, we had six
youth to go through Confirmation classes 2011, a men’s bible study, children choir,
spirit felt Wednesday night bible study, audio visual during morning service,
Annual Valentine and Jazz Dinners, we have come together with the community
churches to have community Lent and community Revival services. Under the
guidance of our first lady Mrs. Marion Mills, Sisters in the Spirit was
organized in 2009.
We have been blessed to have several musicians. In earlier years we were blessed to
have had the services of Mrs. Tryfena Brown Bratton, and Virginia Froneberger.
Following their good services were Mrs. Betty S. Luckey, Mr. Max McLean, Mr.
William Burris, Mr. Anthony McGill, Andrew Culbertson, Ms. Myra Thornton and
Fred Alexander and his wife Belinda director. Our present pianists are Mrs.
Frances Marshall, Mr. Max McLean, and Mrs. Betty Luckey.
We have also had two members to enter to ministry Ralph Froneberger and
Rev. Danny K. Alexander.
Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church has been in existence for
115 years. It was formerly Mount Pleasant ME Church. The church was located on
Old Highway 27 in Stanley, NC. The frame built church was constructed in 1898
under the leadership of Reverend B. Smith. Services were held on the second and
fourth Sunday. Over the years there were seven ministers that served at this location.
In 1948, a new white frame church was constructed on Hickory Grove Rd., Rev. W.
Cook was the pastor. Two other pastors served at this location; in 1954 Rev.
Robert McDowell at age 24 served for three years and in 1958 Rev. B. J. Dula.
Under Rev. Dula, Rock Grove UMC now known as Burge Memorial UMC joined our local
charge. On June 14, 1960 our church was moved to it present site on
Dallas/Stanley Hwy consisting of two acres.
In 1968 we became Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church. In 1971 under the leadership of
Rev. Marion Walton, steps were taken to remodel the church. We began having
serves every Sunday. Ground breaking for the new church was September 5, 1971.
The first service in the new church was August 27, 1972. The cornerstone was
placed on the church on November 12, 1972. Rev. Linton Johnson served as our pastor for eight years.
During his leadership a Young Adult Choir was formed. In 1982 Rev. Robert Crutchfield was
appointed our pastor and served for two years. Under Rev. Crutchfield’s
leadership the youth became very active in the church service by leading the
worship service every fifth Sunday. The youth counselor gave the children’s
sermon before the morning message. We were moved from the local charge with
Burge Memorial to join with Epworth UMC.
In 1984 Rev. Robert McDowell was appointed our pastor for the second time. Under
his leadership a new sanctuary was constructed. Consecration service was held on
May 27, 1990. In 1992 our church was appointed our first female minister Rev. Sharon
Adams. Under Rev. Adams leadership a monthly newsletter was started, Children’s
Choir formed and the Youth Choir and Young Adult Choir were combined to form the
Mass Choir.
In February 1999, Rev. Kent Tilley was appointed as our interim local
pastor. In June, 1999, Rev. Tilley was appointed as our local pastor. He was the
first Caucasian pastor to be appointed to serve Mt. Pleasant. We had new members
to join under his leadership. We had seven youth to go through Confirmation
classes.
In June, 2003 Rev. Frederick Barnes was appointed as our pastor. In
March, 2004, Rev. Sherman Shelton was appointed as our interim pastor. In June
2004, until the present, Rev. Albert Mills has been appointed as our pastor.
Through his leadership and guidance we added several new members, we had six
youth to go through Confirmation classes 2011, a men’s bible study, children choir,
spirit felt Wednesday night bible study, audio visual during morning service,
Annual Valentine and Jazz Dinners, we have come together with the community
churches to have community Lent and community Revival services. Under the
guidance of our first lady Mrs. Marion Mills, Sisters in the Spirit was
organized in 2009.
We have been blessed to have several musicians. In earlier years we were blessed to
have had the services of Mrs. Tryfena Brown Bratton, and Virginia Froneberger.
Following their good services were Mrs. Betty S. Luckey, Mr. Max McLean, Mr.
William Burris, Mr. Anthony McGill, Andrew Culbertson, Ms. Myra Thornton and
Fred Alexander and his wife Belinda director. Our present pianists are Mrs.
Frances Marshall, Mr. Max McLean, and Mrs. Betty Luckey.
We have also had two members to enter to ministry Ralph Froneberger and
Rev. Danny K. Alexander.
