God has richly blessed the Liberty Wesleyan Church and the surrounding community, not only with His presence and power but also with what the world might consider "ordinary people".  Closer examination has shown these people to be dedicated, spirit-filled examples of what God can do with a surrendered life.

The spiritual tone of the community has its roots deeply intertwined with the history of the Flat Rock Methodist Church which was begun in 1831.  Most of our "Mothers and Fathers in Israel" had their early training in that church and many of our family members are interred in their church cemetery.

The history of Liberty Wesleyan Church began with a spirit of revival which moved through our community in 1910.  Mr. and Mrs. Challey Strader were instrumental in getting Rev. W. L. Allred to conduct a tent meeting on the Sylvana School grounds, now Larry and Ramona Angel and Brenda and Doug Suggs homesites.  From this tent meeting a class was organized on the third Sunday in August, 1910.  This class held meetings in The Hall, a two-story community building located between the old Wilson Store and a blacksmith shop behind where Cleo Simpson's feed mill now stands on Highway 158 east.

The Price-Wilson store was a general store and community center. 
Folks came in to buy shoes, cloth, food, harnessware, hardware,
cheese and crackers and to sit on nail kegs to swap stories. 
Located across from the present church, the store stood next to t
he hall where the original class meetings began the Liberty Wesleyan Church.

In February of 1911, the class was officially organized as a church and twelve charter members were received into the Liberty Wesleyan Methodist Church.  They were Challey and Emma Strader and their son Paul Strader, Effie Michaux (Scoggins), J.W. Powers, Will and Pearl Angel, Cleveland Allen, Willie and Mary Daniel and Early and Ollie Simpson.  Challey Strader gave the new church an acre of land near the Price Mill Pond.  While the church was being built, meetings continued to be held in the Hall.  The original church was built on a hill.  It was necessary to set the church on pillars, making one end high enough for the young boys like Paul Strader and Early Daniel to stand under it.  Six men cut logs for the building: Challey Strader, Willie Daniel, Joe Thomas, Lee Daniel, Lonnie Daniel and Cleveland Allen.  Once, a service was being conducted during a severe storm and the church was moved an inch on its foundation.  Everyone ran out of the building except Joe Thomas and Willie Daniel.

Rev. Nora Andrews pastored the young church from 1911-1912.  A courageous woman, she drove a horse and buggy from Greensboro alone.  She had to travel a dirt road, and ford both Reedy Fork and Haw River to reach Liberty Church.  When her horse died, Challey Strader gave her another.  From 1912 - 1913, Rev. G.R. and Mary E. Mines of Colfax pastured the Liberty Church which was then part of the Shady Grove Charge.  In 1913, Mrs. Andrews returned and was joined in her pastoral duties by her husband, R.E. Andrews.  In 1914, he was listed as the pastor.

 

  

  The old Price Home, in its heyday.  It stood just across
  the road from the present church and beside the Price-Wilson store. 
  The house has been home to many of our church family across the    
   years.

From 1915 - 1928 Rev. T.J. Hill pastored.  Toward the end of his ministry the decision was made to move the church up close to highway 158 which at that time was only a dirt road.  It was originally placed a little further back from the road, then moved forward to its permanent location.  The moving was done at a cost of about one hundred dollars which was paid by Early Simpson and Willie Daniel.  It took two weeks to move the building.  Logs were cut and rollers were used under the building.  Bob Neal (Jill Strader's grandfather) loaned his stump puller for a winch rig.  The building would be pulled a short distance by two horses, a log picked up from behind and put in front, and then the steps were repeated again and again.  Demetrius Strader (Challey Strader's cousin) did most of the pulling. Newt and Will Barham helped also.  Since the move took two weeks, one service was held halfway between the two sites.  During the move, Mary Daniel was very concerned that they not tear up the building as they moved it.

  The Lanier-Price Simpson mill before the third story 
  was added to the structure in 1916.  The original mill 
  has been dated back to the late 1700’s and was operated 
  by the grandfather of the famous southern poet Sidney Lanier.
  It stood below and to the right of the original church site.

Rev. Hill lived in Colfax and every other weekend would ride the train from Colfax through Greensboro to Summerfield.  Willie Daniel would pick him up at the Summerfield station and drive him to the church for a Saturday night service.  The minister had not been there during the moving and did not know it was completed.  Mary Daniel did not tell him about the move and only said they were not going by the old road but by the store.  Little Robert and Early Daniel were in the back giggling all the way about the surprise in store for the preacher.

Will Angel had been the only member buried at the old church site.  When Challey Strader later gave an acre of land across the highway from the church for a cemetery, Mr. Angel's coffin was moved to the new cemetery and was the first interred there.  This cemetery continues to be a lovely place for our church family and friends and is cared for by a faithful cemetery committee.

In 1928 the Conference separated Liberty Church from the Shady Grove Charge and established a new charge with Hopewell Church in Summerfield.  A full-time pastor, Rev. P.J. Parker was appointed and served for two years.  As there was no parsonage at this time, Rev. Parker lived one year on Hyw.150 beyond the dry bridge and the second year in Monroe Winfree's house on shady Lawn Drive, now behind Rose's Day Care in Summerfield.

The church was growing and attendance was about as high as it is today.  There was room for so many people because the original sanctuary was much larger than when the church was later remodeled.  However, finances were very low because of the economic crash of 1929.  Nearly everyone was farming and only had what they could raise.  At that time the church had no utilities to pay as it had no electric lights and no parsonage, therefore they were able to manage in spite of the money shortage.

In 1930 the church was talking to Rev. G.F. Settlemeyer who wanted to come but needed $300 to pay off a debt and provide moving expenses.  The church did not have the money and everyone was afraid of dealing with banks since so many of them had failed and other banks were so quick to foreclose on mortgaged land.  Mary Daniel felt very strongly that Rev. Settlemeyer should come.  She fasted and prayed for several days and her husband told her to go ahead with her plan.  She went to a Greensboro bank and talked to the president.  He walked to the counter; got the money the church needed and handed it to her, allowing her to sign a note in her name.  She was making 25 cents an hour at Blue Bell, Inc. and paid the entire loan back over the next few years.  The way was opened for Rev. Settlemeyer to begin his eight year ministry.  He had seven children and helped support his family by running a barber shop.  Also, two of his children worked at a hosiery mill.  This took a burden off of the church since there were many Sundays when no money came in at all.  Rev. Settlemeyer pastored both the Liberty and Hopewell churches until 1936.  Then the charge was divided and Hopewell was pastored by Rev. Rambo.  Rev. Settlemeyer continued at Liberty until 1939.  During his ministry, an eight room parsonage was built on a plot of ground given by Mrs. Emma Strader Parrish and her son, Paul Strader.

  A picture of the original church after moving to Hwy. 158. 
  Entry was in the side of the bell tower through double paneled doors. 

The construction was supervised by Bill Parrish and A.H. Price. The trees for the framework were cut from nearby farms and sawed at Strader sawmill, then operated by Madison C. Parrish.  Again, the men of the church worked together to get the job done.

Rev. Frank Dennard followed Rev. Settlemeyer and served the church for two years. During this time, the old church was remodeled: the bell tower was removed, four Sunday School rooms were added across the back (this shortened the size of the original sanctuary), and the building was brick veneered.  Roy Walker was secretary of Sunday School at the time and loaned the church $700 to pay for the remodeling.  Later he refused to accept repayment and burned the note.

Rev. Boyd Kistler was the next pastor and served for two years.  He was followed by Rev. Oscar A. Keiger who resigned during the second year of his ministry to work in Georgia.  While there he served four years as conference vice-president.  Rev. W.R. Medley supplied the unexpired term of Rev. Keiger and served the church for an additional year.

Across the years the church family has shared the work of taking care of the church grounds and buildings even as they do today.  For example, for many years, Cleo Angel used a hay mower behind his grey team, Nell and Frank, to mow the grass on the very large front lawn of the church and in the cemetery.  The church was heated in the winter by a pot-bellied wood stove set in the front center aisle.  The men and boys of the church shared the responsibility of firing the stove and having the church warm for services.

In August of 1946, Rev. Charles K. Gentry was called and served the church for one year.  He then retired from the pastorate because of ill health.  During his service, the wood-burning stove was replaced by a coal furnace.  Also during his ministry the first church wedding at Liberty was performed.  Kathleen Simpson married Rev. Gentry's youngest son Melvin.

In 1947, Rev. Paul Whiteside came to the church and served four years.  During this time the first bathroom and a water heater were installed in the parsonage.

Rev. Harold Rickman was appointed to serve in 1951 and began the most dynamic growth period yet experienced in the church.  During this time the church furnace was converted from coal to oil and several rooms of the parsonage were remodeled.

In 1955, Rev. Sidney A. Loggins began what was to become the longest ministry at Liberty and which would encompass the largest building program.  He first served four years and later returned for 16 more years.  During the first four years a youth-education building was begun.  The basement and outside were completed so that much-needed Sunday School rooms could be used.  The first Vacation Bible School was held in June, 1956.

   The church as it appeared after the remodeling
   was done during the ministry of Rev. Frank
   Dennard and as it remained for many years. 
   This picture was taken in 1963.

In 1959, Rev. O.A. Keiger returned to serve Liberty church for four years.  The parsonage and church were repainted an a new roof was put on the parsonage.

In 1963, Rev. Sidney and Janice Loggins returned.  During the following years, a building spirit moved everyone to work together to see the church advance Christ's Kingdom.  A building fund was established and many projects were put into action to raise needed money.  The youth-education building was completed; the church was remodeled inside, the brick sandblasted and a cross was added to the front of the church.  Cleo Angel remodeled the parsonage downstairs and added a new bath upstairs.

  Liberty Wesleyan Methodist Church
  as is appeared after its final renovation
  work was completed





Also in 1963 a chapter of the Christians Youth Crusaders was organized at the church.  In 1967 Junior church was begun to serve the children.  In 1968 the Sanctuary Choir was organized under the direction of Janice Loggins.

Year 1968 saw another dramatic change for Liberty.  The Wesleyan Methodist denomination and the Pilgrim Holiness denomination merged into one body and became the Wesleyan Church of today.

As the church continued to increase in membership, it was felt that we needed a newer and larger building.  The first meeting to plan a new church was November 12, 1972.  For the next four years the church family worked hard to raise the necessary money.  Gene Barr built the cross of lights to use for raising money for the building fund.  One of the 182 bulbs was lighted for each $30 donation.  There were rags-to-riches sales, auctions conducted by Glenn Hudson, ice cream sales (Janice Loggins made 19 freezers of ice cream in one day) and Bobby Simpson cooked untold gallons of stew using Cleo Simpson's recipe.  Bobby and Virginia Simpson also spent much time cooking chicken suppers to raise money for the building fund.  By the end of four years over $38,000 had been raised for a new church.

In 1976 Mr. and Mrs. P.H. Strader, Jr. gave land adjoining the church property to provide adequate space for the planned structure.  Also occurring in 1976, several member appreciation days were held honoring some of the older members.

January 18, 1976 was Paul Strader Day.  He was born in 1902, saved at nine and was a charter member.  Through the years he has served in many positions and is especially remembered for his 20 years as a dedicated Sunday School Superintendent.

In February, 1976 we had Mary Paschal Daniel Day.  Born in 1886 and saved at twelve, she also became a charter member.  Serving in many offices in the church, she was noted as a class leader and Sunday School teacher.  Her prayer life reached out to everyone in the community, especially the young people.  The callouses on her knees were visible witness of her deep prayer life.

March 15, 1976 was Mattie Pearl Allen Angel Williams Day.  Born in 1889 and saved in her early teens, she too was a charter member who served faithfully for many years. She was the Sunday School teacher for the young adults for 35 years.  She often carried an old lantern and walked to visit her class members.  She also used the lantern to walk to church at night.

On September 22, 1977, Strader & Sons Construction Company broke ground for the new church.  It was a happy day for everone present.  As the digging began in earnest, Mary Daniel remarked, "Doesn't the dirt smell good".  Five days later the footings were poured and everything began to take shape.  As the brickwork went up, our hearts greatly rejoiced.  The ladies of the church often prepared refreshments for the crews as the work progressed.

The last funeral in the old church was Mrs. Alice Jewel Parrish Daniel and the first one in the new church was Cleveland Allen, another charter member of Liberty Wesleyan Church.

Dedication was held November 5, 1978. We met in the old church for service.  The last song sung was "In The Sweet By and By".  We then marched to the new church and P.H. Strader unlocked the door.  Rev. Sidney Loggins and Rev. Watson Black, district superintendent, led us into the new sanctuary.  The first song was "Let's Just Praise The Lord".  It was a time of sadness at leaving the old church and great joy at entering into the Lord's blessings in a new church.  The old church was later torn down and the space used for much needed parking.

The building program did not stop with the new church.  In the summer of 1979, Rev. Loggins moved to Wesleyan Academy.  During the three weeks before the new pastor would arrive, the parsonage was remodeled.  Milton Todd did most of the carpentry work.  Many other church members worked at cleaning and repairing.  Miraculously, the work was done in time for the new pastor, Rev. Lyle Geist.

Then the youth building and parsonage received new siding.  The grounds, church, youth building and parsonage were a beautiful witness to the faithfulness and willing spirit of a hard working congregation and most of all to the never-failing presence and provision of the Lord.

Rev. Geist was a dynamic preacher and excellent in Wednesday night Bible Study.  His wife, Carolyn, continued the work Janice Loggins had begun with the Sanctuary Choir.  They worked here for two years and were followed by our present pastor, Rev. Forbis Kivett.

We are now enjoying the ministry of another dedicated and caring pastor.  He and his lovely wife, Raynita, have brought a freshness and brightness to our church family.  He is leading the Sanctuary Choir as well as bringing soul-searching messages.

A building consciousness continues in our church and a concern that all financial obligations will be met.  In September of 1981 the building fund seemed to stagnate and incoming funds were running about $2000 behind the amount needed.  Ruthie Price, a dear widow with limited means spoke of her concern to the congregation and pledged to give $100 to the fund on the following Sunday.  She challenged others to do the same.  On the next Sunday, $2410 was given and the fund began to move again.

In March of 1984 another blessing was added to the church.  U.T. Price deeded three acres of land across Price Mill Road to the church.  The land where the original class meetings were held before the first church was built has come full circle and is a part of both our history and our future.  There is now room for expansion of any type that the church feels will be needed.  There is so much more to remember for faithful workers in the church who have dedicated themselves to the Lord and to the church-body of Christ.

Early Daniel served 36 years as treasurer of our church.  J.D. Thomas followed him and served 29 years as treasurer, recently assign the office on to Larry Angel.  J.D. has also worked may years producing outstanding Christmas and Easter programs, helping to expand the music program and working behind the scenes as head of our audio department.

Ruth Parrish Lance served the church for many years as church clerk and was the senior adult Sunday School teacher for about 40 years.  Pearl Williams was the young adult teacher for 35 years.  Ollie Simpson taught for 15 years and is remembered for a radiant testimony.  Nell Simpson was the Women's Missionary Society president for may years and is also remembered for the beautiful flowers she provided for the church.  Viola Morgan was a card class teacher for many years.

Beth Hopkins has used her talents in music for the Lord and enriched us both with her piano playing an training of our young people in choir.  Lonnie Daniel creates an atmosphere of worship with his organ music.  Ramona Angel brings an accent of beauty to the music each Sunday with her vibraharp.  And who can number the lives touched by Jill Strader and other ladies of the church as they minister to the community when sickness, death, births, fires or moves change the lives of our people.

The church family is rich indeed with the blessings of God.  We have departments in our church to serve all of the church and to provide opportunities for all age levels of the church family to serve the Lord.

The Wesleyan Women International (formerly the women's Missionary Society) is presided over by Bess Epperly.  The YMWB is under the direction of Karen Hudson.  The Wesleyan Youth is guided by David and Patty McCormick.  The CYC directors are Mary Todd and Susan Long.

The Children's and Youth Choirs are directed by Beth Hopkins.  The Sanctuary Choir is led by Rev. Forbis Kivett.  Our Sunday School Superintendent is Laymon Vernon.  The head of the Wesleyan Men's organization is Milton Todd.  Children's Choir is directed by Patty McCormick.

Liberty Wesleyan Church continues a strong tradition of faith-walking people who wor together to proclaim the liberty, privilege and responsibility of serving God to all who will hear.  As in the past, so shall we serve this present age, our calling to fulfill.

Last updated November, 1985

Church History Committee

Frances Paschal, Chariperson

Mary Catherine Joiner, Editor

Early Daniel

Odessa Daniel

Doris Hudson

Viola Morgan

Ina Mae Nelson

Paul Strader, Sr.

P.H. Strader, Jr.

J.D. Thomas

Janice Loggins, Resource Person