1837 - 1987
Plans for the organization of St. Matthew's began on May 23, 1836, when the German Reformed citizens living in the neighborhood-north of Lincolnton met at the home of Mr. Michael Finger to consider the building of a meeting house. The group unanimously agreed to build on the road from Lincolnton to Island Ford (now Maiden) on land donated by John Ramsour. On June 3, 1836, John Ramsour, for a nominal consideration of fifty cents, deeded five acres of land to the church. This land, given for the purpose of erecting a building for the worship of Almighty God, was near "Hallman School House" built in 1822, on land donated by Daniel Hallman. The log schoolhouse stood approximately 200 yards south of the present church building. John Ramsour also leased the spring to the church for 199 years. Later Daniel Finger purchased the spring and deeded it to the congregation.
Again on June 4, 1836, the citizens met and contributed money for the erection of the building to be known as Saint Matthew's German Reformed Church. The building committee met on July 23, 1836, at the home of Joseph Finger and drafted the dimensions of the building which were to be forty feet long, thirty feet wide, and one-story high. Construction of the building was advertised; and the contract was awarded to Mr. Joseph Finger, the lowest bidder, for the sum of $265.00 on August 13, 1836. The frame construction was painted white in 1837.
The cash and pledges received for the building fund totaled $232.00. Pledges ranged from fifty cents to ten dollars. Gifts received later covered the entire expense of the building.
Before the building was completed, the infant daughter of John and Mary Carpenter died. Her funeral on February 13, 1837, was the first funeral conducted at the church.
St. Matthew's was organized on May 3, 1837, following a sermon by the Reverend John Fritchey, pastor of the Lincoln Charge. At that time fifty people expressed wishes to become members. John Carpenter, Jacob Ramsour, John Ramsour, and Daniel Finger were elected the first elders; David Bennick was elected clerk or secretary; and the Reverend John G. Fritchey became the first pastor of the church. The church was enrolled in the Classis of North Carolina on May 10, 1837, with a charter membership of forty-nine.
On May 19, 1837, a three-day meeting commenced for the purpose of dedicating the church and ordaining the elders. The church was dedicated on May 21, 1837, the last day of the meeting, with the Reverend J. H. Crawford preaching the dedicatory sermon. His text was I Kings 8:63, "So the King and all the children of Israel dedicated house of the Lord.” The Reverends John G. Fritchey and W. C. Rankin were also present for the service.
The following family names are shown on the early church records; Bolick, Bennick, Boyd, Carpenter, Crooks, Finger, Goodson, Hallman, Icherd, Murphy, Ramsaur, Ramsour, Rudisill, Saunders, Shrum, and Summerow.
According to a resolution from an old minutes book dated June 24, 1837, St. Matthew’s made provisions for the colored people. The resolution is as follows: "Resolved that the colored people occupy the two back seats at the end of the house, one on each side of the entrance, as often and as long as the Consistory may think proper." Provisions were made for them in the sanctuary and for camp meetings. They were admitted to membership; however, the number of those who joined is unknown.
The first class of catechumens were confirmed on June 3, 1838. firmed were Levi Shrum, John Shrum, Levi Carpenter, and William P. Reinhardt.
On September 9, 1838, John Ramsaur conveyed twenty-five acres of land to the trustees of the church for a graveyard and a camp meeting ground. The camp meeting which began on August 15, 1839, and was held annually for about thirty-five years was an institution of great interest and benefit for the community. In 1840, the Classics of North Carolina passed the following resolution: "That a camp meeting shall be held at St. Matthew's Church, commencing on Friday previous to the third Sabbath in August next, and it shall the duty of all ministerial brethren to attend said meetings." The churches in this section closed their doors on this Sunday and the members attended the camp meeting services. Services were held under a brush arbor until 1845, when a more substantial arbor of wood was constructed. The architects of this magnificent arbor were Henry Whitener, James Summerow, and Joseph Finger. Joseph Finger did the construction. Since its construction, this structure has been used on a continuous basis for special services and Homecoming services. The present roof was placed on the arbor in 1921.
Twenty-two families had tents near the arbor. During the meeting of 1849, the Loretz Beneficiary Society which assisted in the education of young men for the ministry was meeting at the tent owned by John Coulter. Mr. W. L. McCorkle, later known as the Honorable Judge McCorkle, proposed that steps be taken to establish an institute of higher learning in our midst. Shortly after this meeting, this institution known as Catawba College opened at Newton, North Carolina. Catawba College was chartered by the state legislature in 1852. The college operated in Newton until the early 1920's, when it closed. In 1925, it reopened in Salisbury, North Carolina.
During the year 1906, the congregation thought the first church was inadequate. The committee organized to make arrangements for constructing a new church met at the home of Elder Thomas L. Finger. An interesting point is the committee met at the same house, around the same huge fireplace where the first church had been planned. Elected to the building committee were Thomas L. Finger, Julius L. Shrum, and Daniel F. Campbell. H. Jacob Crooks was chosen treasurer of the building fund. Thomas Finger was responsible for securing plans and Julius Shrum was selected to supervise the construction of the building.
A spirit of unity was manifested by the members and friends of the congregation as work began on the new brick church in early 1908. The bricks for the new church were made on the Levi Shrum farm located a few hundred yards southeast of the church. (A senior member of our church recalled his helping make the brick. He was age twelve or thirteen when the present sanctuary was being built.) Lumber for the church was cut and sawed on the church ground. On Ascension's Day of that year, the cornerstone for the building was laid by the Reverend J. L. Yearick, pastor.
The church was furnished by gifts from members and organizations of the church. New pews were purchased in 1911, by individuals and families. The Ladies Aid, later known as the Women's Guild and now as the Women's Fellowship, donated the pulpit chairs a two gasoline lamps. Another lamp and an organ were purchased by the congregation. Other gifts included a hanging lamp, the church hymnals, a communion table, and the pulpit.
By the time the church was completed, the congregation had contributed money, materials, furnishings, and services in the following amounts: contributions, $1,800.90 plastering, $55.00; windows, $91.45; pews, $163.25; painting, $110.00; organ, $75.00 pulpit, $50.00; chairs, $40.00; lamps, $30.00; and books, $12.00. According to records St. Matthew's, one of the finest rural churches in the county, was built and furnished at a cost of $2,427.64.
While the church was being built, the spring and the surrounding area were cleaned. Cement was placed around the spring on August 6, 1909.
The church was dedicated on September 3, 1921. The following order of service was used for the dedication:
HYMN | “Great God now Condescend” | No. 497 |
INVOCATION |
| Rev. John A. Koons |
HYMN | “Glorious Things of Thee are Spoken | No. 443 |
SCRIPTURE LESSON |
| Rev. Shuford Peeler of Charlotte |
PRAYER |
| Rev. W. H. McNairy of Lincolnton |
HYMN | “The Church’s One Foundation” | No. 441 |
SERMON | Text: I Kings 8:63 | Rev. A. D. Wolfinger, D.D. |
TRIO |
| Misses Martha Bumgarner, Irene Shrum and Etta Bumgarner |
REMARKS |
| Rev. John A. Koons, Pastor |
APOSTLES’ CREED |
| Led by Rev. C. H. Sensening |
DEDICATION |
| Pastor |
PRAYER |
| Rev. Shuford Peeler |
BENEDICATION |
| Rev. Dr. Wolfinger |
Coincidentally, Dr. Wolfinger's text, I Kings 8:63, "So the King and all the children of Israel dedicated the house of the Lord," was the same text that the Reverend J. H. Crawford used when the first church building was dedicated in 1837.
In 1926, a bell was installed in the belfry. During the same year, the church was covered with shingles. The cemetery was enlarged and the new part divided into plots during 1925 or 1926.
Sunday, May 30, 1937, was a full but inspiring day for members and friends as they observed the centennial of the church's organization. In conjunction with the centennial celebration, they honored the Reverend John A. Koons, Pastor of St. Matthew's, on the twenty-fifth anniversary of his ordination into the ministry. Speakers for this memorable occasion were the following: the Reverend Charles W. Warlick, Dr. James D. Andrew, the Reverend C. Columbus Wagoner, the Reverend Carl H. Clapp, the Reverend Harvey G. Kopenhaver, the Reverend 0. Bain Michael, the Reverend Harry D. Althouse, the Honorable Loomis F. Klutz, Dr. Walter W. Rowe, and Elder John F. Carpenter.
On June 26, 1934, the Reformed Church in the United States and the Evangelical Synod of North America united to form the Evangelical and Reformed church. St. Matthew's changed from the German Reformed to Evangelical and Reformed.
Electricity was installed in the church during the summer of 1939. It was used for the first time on Sunday night, August 13, 1939, at a service following the catechism and Bible School.
The congregation felt the necessity for more adequate Sunday School facilities. In 1944, these desires approached reality. Adrian L. Shuford, Sr., a member of Trinity Church, Conover, contributed a considerable amount to the building fund. From that year the congregation had accumulated funds for a building project. One Sunday each month the Sunday School offering was placed in this fund. Paul J. McRee was instructed by the congregation at a meeting held in January 1950, to design an educational annex. On February 5, 1950, the plans were presented to the congregation and were approved.
Two days after the congregational meeting, the building and finance committees met. The following persons were members of these committees:
BUILDING: Paul J. McRee, Chairman, H. Albert Shrum, Aubrey H. Campbell, Paul M. Hartzoge
FINANCE: Lester Keever, Chairman, T. B. Parker, Theodore Campbell, Frank Bumgarner, J. 0. Carpenter, Woodrow Shrum, R. Glenn McRee, Everett Campbell, and Miles Shrum
Work began immediately. Timber was cut on the church grounds. A groundbreaking ceremony was conducted on March 5, 1950. The cornerstone, laid on August 20, was a gift of The Marble and Granite Company of Salisbury, North Carolina. On October 1, 1950, Sunday School classes began using the educational wing. The facility was dedicated on June 29, 1952.
Carpet was placed in the church in January 1949, and dedicated on March 6, 1945. The first service to be conducted in the church following the installation was the funeral service of one of the donors.
On October 17, 1954, a proposal to build a parsonage was presented to St. Matthew's Consistory. A motion was made to combine the educational building fund and the parsonage building fund into one fund known as St. Matthew's building fund. These proposals were approved. The recommendation to build a parsonage was presented to the Joint Consistory of the Lincoln Charge on Sunday, October 24, 1954. The Joint Consistory then introduced the following to the congregations of St. Matthew's, Memorial, and Salem:
1. That St. Matthew's congregation build the proposed parsonage.
2. That St. Matthew's congregation build the parsonage at St. Matthew's.
3. That St. Matthew's percentage of the pastor's salary remain the same even though they build the
parsonage.
4. That St. Matthew's build a parsonage that will be a credit to the charge.
All three congregations voted in favor of the proposal. St. Matthew's congregational meeting was on November 7, 1954.
At a congregational meeting on Sunday night, November 27, 1955, the congregation voted in favor of the proposed parsonage plans. The congregation also decided that the building should be of solid red brick and the den and study should be pine paneled. estimated cost of the parsonage was $15,000 with St. Matthew's share being one-half or $7,500.00. Because Salem and Memorial chose to pay twenty percent each, St. Matthew's share of the cost was later changed to sixty percent. St. Matthew's was to receive one-third of the sale price of the old parsonage located next to Memorial in Maiden.
On July 29, 1956, at 11:00 a.m., the Reverend Frank Snider, pastor, presided at the groundbreaking ceremony for the congregations of all three churches in the charge. In early 1957, the parsonage had been constructed on land northeast of the church. The first occupant of the parsonage was the Reverend James D. Rumley, Jr. Following his installation service on July 27, 1958, Pastor Rumley conducted the dedication service of the parsonage.
According to an April 1956, newsletter for all churches of the charge, the following improvements had recently been made at St. Matthew's. Additional concrete was poured at the front of the church to make extra space for standing before, between, and after services. To aid in preventing water from seeping into the basement of the church, concrete was also poured at the back of the church.
Two closets, one for literature and the other for tools and equipment, were built in the basement of the church. Two bookcases and three small cabinets were made for use in the Sunday School department.
A higher voltage wire was connected to the church so that more electrical current might be available for cooking and lighting.
The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Church united into one body named the United Church of Christ on June 25, 1957. Since that time St. Matthew's has been known as St. Matthew's United Church of Christ.
The Sunday School enrollment had increased to the point that additional classroom space was required. In November 1963, the additional Sunday School rooms and the expansion of the Fellowship Hall were completed. Dedication services were held the following year.
St. Matthew's was a member of the Lincoln Charge which included Memorial Reformed in Maiden and Salem Reformed Church on the Startown Highway in Lincolnton. By a request of the congregation in 1965, the Southern Synod declared St. Matthew's an independent, self-supporting entity.
On September 1, 1965, St. Matthew's purchased from Salem and Memorial their shares in the parsonage. This sum increased the building debt to $7,000.00 on that date. As of January 2, 1968, the debt for the Sunday School additions and the parsonage was paid in full. Shortly thereafter, the congregation celebrated the paying of the note by a service of "burning the mortgage."
Another happy occasion for the congregation during 1968 was the sharing in the ordination service of one of its members. On Sunday, June 16, 1968, the congregation participated in the ordination service of William (Bill) John Campbell, the only known member to be ordained into the ministry of the United Church of Christ. The ministers taking part in the service were the Reverends Edwin M. Alcorn, James D. Rumley, Martin L. Parker, Jr., and Frank W. Snider. During the service, the congregation gave him a pastor's robe.
William is the son of Maude Campbell and the late W. Theodore Campbell. He graduated from Lincolnton High School in Lincolnton, Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina, and Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. His first pastorate was Hedrick's Grove United Church of Christ, Lexington, North Carolina. He is now serving as pastor of First Reformed United Church of Christ in High Point, North Carolina.
During the 1970's, the congregation of St. Matthew's accomplished several major projects. Renovation of the sanctuary was concluded in 1973. This major project consisted of new windows, light fixtures, a choir loft, carpet, padded pews, and air conditioning. The Reverend Linn Finger, Pastor, conducted a Service of Thanksgiving and Rededication on May 13, 1973.
A large portion of the parking lot was paved in 1975. Three years later this portion was insufficient and the members agreed to pave the remaining parking area and the cemetery road. This was completed in August 1978.
In 1970, a baptismal fount was contributed to the church. A vigil light or an eternal flame was given during 1971.
On September 1, 1974, the congregation dedicated a church sign located at the front of the church property. Two huge millstones with a combined weight of more than 7,000 pounds embrace the sign. These stones were found at the site of an old mill in Lockhardt's Creek about three miles from the church. It is believed that the mill was built sometime between 1800 and the outbreak of the Civil War. The mill was last operated by Mr. Michael Finger at whose home St. Matthew's was organized in 1836.
Carillon chimes were donated and installed in the belfry of the church in December 1975. These were dedicated on the third Sunday of May 1977.
In August 1976, the church purchased a new Conn organ with a matched set of pipes and two remote sound cabinets. On October 10, 1976, the Reverend Lynwood Hubbard conducted the dedication service for the organ.
A much-needed church bus was purchased in April 1977. The bus is to be used by various organizations within the church for their activities.
In 1978, an extensive renovation of the interior of the Educational Department began. Volunteer labor, using funds from memorial gifts and the Sunday School, painted, wallpapered, refinished furniture, put down carpet, and made new draperies. During the remodeling, the Consistory accepted the plans to convert the Senior High Sunday School room into a History-Conference room in memory of Charles Arnold McRee who had suggested the conversion. On August 3, 1980, the History-Conference room was dedicated. Some of the historical items include:
1. Pictures of the Michael Finger home
2. The mantel, from the Michael Finger home, around which the organization of St. Matthew's was discussed
3. Old Sunday School books and records dating back to 1835
4. Hymn books that were used in the first church
5. Communion Set and Baptismal Bowl which were used in the first church
6. Picture of the laying of the cornerstone of the church
7. Personal Bible of Arnold McRee
An old pump organ purchased by the congregation in 1902, was restored during late 1979. The organ which was last played in 1943, before its restoration, is a handsome piece of furniture for our sanctuary. Since the organ has been restored, it has been played for special occasions. During 1979, the congregation also purchased a Kohlerand Campbell Studio Juliette piano for use in the Fellowship Hall.
A memorial garden in the grove of trees in front of the church was completed in August 1979, and was dedicated on September 9, 1979. Collection plates, a brass communion set, and religious research material were donated during 1979.
The congregation has continued progressing during the 1980's. Many members or families of members have contributed numerous gifts such as:
1. Choir robes for the adult choir in March 1980
2. A reredos (the paneled wall behind the altar) in April 1980
3. Leaded stained glass windows for the sanctuary installed in 1984
4. A Baldwin piano for use in the sanctuary donated in 1985
5. Hymnals for use during the worship service donated in 1986
A Panasonic copier with an electronic editing system was purchased in June 1985. only has the copier aided the church secretary in her work but also has been a useful tool for all the organizations.
The garage at the parsonage was converted into a laundry and utility room and a two-car garage was added to the parsonage during 1985. This renovation was done in concurrence with measures to prevent water from entering the basement.
In 1986, the congregation agreed to pursue plans for a multi-purpose building to be built adjacent to the Educational Department. The building is to be used by all organizations from the young to the elderly.
In June 1986, a committee formed to commence plans for the one hundred fiftieth anniversary of the church. From this committee, members were appointed chairpersons of sub-committees to plan and carry out different aspects of the celebrations during the anniversary year.
On Thursday, August gathered to watch Paul remove the cornerstone of papers were yellowed and an almanac reminded us that 1908 was a leap year. The paper called the Reformed Church Record dated April 2, 1908, were also in the cornerstone.
Historical information was in the cornerstone of the Educational Department. This information about all three churches of the charge included old bulletins, a Bible, and papers pertaining to planning and building the educational department.
Being in Lincoln County and bordering the Catawba County line, St. Matthew's participates in projects or activities of both counties. Members of the congregation contribute food and household items to be distributed to needy persons by the Lincoln County Christian Ministry. Volunteers also give of their time to work at the office of the Christian Ministry.
St. Matthew's joins with churches in the Maiden area for joint Thanksgiving services on the Sunday night prior to Thanksgiving. A different church is host each year. Ministers from each church participate in the services.
During Lent, ministers from churches in the Maiden area portray different Biblical characters who were a part of Jesus' ministry or crucifixion. Each Sunday night during Lent, the ministers rotate pulpits for these special services.
Presently St. Matthew's has an enrollment of 298 members. Approximately 130 members are enrolled for Sunday School which offers classes for all ages. Active organizations include the Choir, Women's Fellowship, Men's Fellowship, Junior Youth Fellowship, Middle Youth Fellowship, Senior High Fellowship, Young People's Fellowship, Young at Heart Club, and the Girl Scouts. These groups have been instrumental in filling the needs of the church.
During 1987, St. Matthew's will celebrate its one hundred fiftieth anniversary with special services to be held from May through October. As we celebrate this occasion, we thank God for all his blessings and remember with gratitude all the persons who have been a part of this congregation.
A spirit of unity has resulted from our love, concern, and dedication. The name and works of the Almighty God have been made known and reflected through our worship, learning, witness, service, and support. As we move into the future, may we continue to experience this spirit of unity and be open to God's presence, guidance, and blessings.
