Church History

When we speak of the history of Memorial UMC it is difficult to not mention its past, the culmination of two churches that became one.

Memorial UMC is a marriage between Brooks Memorial UMC and St. Mark UMC.

St. Mark began in 1871 in the home of Ann Alford with a small group or worshippers under the spiritual leadership of Rev. Lewis Gibson as Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1877, land was purchased to construct the first owned black church in High Point, named Smiths Chapel, which was named after the minister at that time, Rev. H. Smith.

Under leadership of Dr. J.P. Morris, a second church was built and named Morris Chapel.

In 1907 a fire destroyed Morris Chapel. A new church was being built and completed while Rev. Lovell was the minister.

In 1926, a third church was built while Rev. H.L. Ashe was the pastor and the name was changed to St. Mark.

Brooks Memorial was organized in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Gray in 1904. Rev. Daniel Brooks was the first pastor of this church. In 1907, the first building was constructed and called Brooks Memorial.

It was under the leadership of L.M. Mayfield, that a new Brooks Memorial was constructed with ground-breaking ceremonies on November 20, 1949.

On February 22, 1972, seven members from the administrative board of St. Marks and seven from Brooks Memorial met at Carl Chavis YMCA to discuss the merger of the two churches. Five of those original members are still serving here at Memorial. From Brooks Memorial, Fred Dixon and Roland Hanes and from St. Mark, Benny Mock, Robert Blair and John McClain.

In 1972, St. Marks and Brooks Memorial agreed to merge. The union of these two congregations was named Memorial United Methodist Church by vote of the membership of both churches.

Rev. Clarence Strickland was appointed pastor in 1972 and worship services were held at Brooks Memorial. During Rev. Strickland’s leadership, a church parsonage was procured on Cedrow Drive and the first church van was purchased from a contribution of $5000 from Ethel P. Wilson and from the efforts of Ms. Hattie Leach, who collected newspapers  to help fund the purchase of the van.

In June 1974, Rev. Belvin Jessup was appointed pastor of Memorial. It was during his pastorate that the present church was constructed here at 1327 Cedrow Drive.

November 12, 1989, Memorial held a mortgage burning ceremony for the church under the leadership of Andrew Brown. It was also under his leadership that the sell of the parsonage on Cedrow drive was being considered. A search for a new parsonage began.

Under various pastoral leaderships at Memorial several scholarship funds were established in the names of the following families…. Potter-Mock, Furman Clark and Curtright-Davis.

On April 22, 1992, Memorial purchased a new parsonage on New Hampshire Drive in Jamestown, NC under the leadership of Rev. John Epps.  Also, while under the leadership of Rev. John Epps, Memorial celebrated its 125 anniversary in September 1996 

In August 2005, under the leadership of Rev. Jessie C. Keaton, a ceremony to celebrate the burning of the parsonage mortgage was held at the parsonage on New Hampshire Drive in Jamestown, NC.

In closing, to Memorial, its pastors, saints, matriarchs, patriarchs, leaders and members, past and present have all made great contributions to this churches mission and we applaud these persons for their efforts and thank God for their lives, but let us, the present day Memorial United Methodist Church, go down in the history books as the greatest kingdom building in the life of Memorial by simply “Following Jesus, Making Disciples and Transforming the World”.