OUR LEGACY FROM THE PAST - NCCUMC

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After reading all available records, it seems that a spirit of unity
prevailed in the church under his leadership. He said in his
pastor's notes, "We are finding God's redeeming work being
wrought in and through the Williamston Methodist Church. One of
the things for which we are most grateful is the spirit of unity
which we feel is by the grace of God."
The Reverend J. C. P. Brown came to the Williamston church
in 1966.While he was here, the church again was repaired and repainted.
New front doors were installed, new carpeting was installed
in the sanctuary by the women of the church, and new
hymnals were purchased. The total cost for these improvements
that were made to the Educational Building, the Youth Building,
and the Parsonage was $3,387.In 1967,the old organ was beyond
repair, so a new Allen organ was purchased with money bequeathed
to the church by J. S. Whitley. It was dedicated on October
14, 1967.Reverend Brown did a great deal to help unify the
churches in town by promoting union services with the Baptist,
Presbyterian, and Christian Churches. It was during his pastorate
that the Men's Prayer Breakfast was begun. It first began as a
Lenten project, but was so successful that it is still being practiced
even today in 1988. Reverend Brown was at the Williamston
church for the 140th anniversary of its founding. Special services
were held to commemorate that event with Bishop W. R. Cannon
delivering the sermon. Reverend Brown and his family were
greatly loved by the congregation and it was with great reluctance
that they were allowed to leave. They went to Kinston after leaving
Williamston and Reverend Brown is currently serving as
District Superintendent for the Sanford District.
Wallace M. Ellis arrived in 1971 and spent the next seven
years in the Williamston church. Many improvements were made
to the church during that time, including the installation of vinyl
siding on the outside of the church and the installation of stained
glass memorial windows in the sanctuary. (These windows were
purchased by various members of the church. A complete list of
the memorials may be found in the Appendix.) Handsome brass
chandeliers, given by Fisher and Pearl Harris, were hung in the
sanctuary. The brass sconces on the side walls were given in