Mebane Presbyterian Church:
Organized September 17, 1868
THE HISTORY OF OUR CHURCH may be compared to the monument of twelve stones erected by the selected Children of Israel, as directed through Joshua by the Lord when they passed over the Jordan River. These stones were “a memorial unto the Children of Israel forever.” Similarly, the twelve charter members of our church left a divine heritage. Today, we dedicate ourselves to preserving this heritage and passing it on to the posterity of the Mebane Presbyterian Church.
THE MEBANE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, one of 153 churches in Salem Presbytery, was organized on September 17, 1868. The organization was urged for two reasons: First, there was no church in the immediate area to bring religious services and training to the residents. Second, the boys of nearby Bingham School had to walk over four miles to either Hawfields Presbyterian Church or Crossroads Presbyterian Church to worship.
The church’s twelve charter members were:
| Maj. Robert Bingham | Mrs. Bettie Ann Mebane Holt | Dr. Benjamin Franklin Mebane |
| Mrs. Della Worth Bingham | Maj. William B. Lynch | Mrs. Fannie Kerr Mebane |
| Col. William Bingham | Mrs. Rebecca M. Lynch | Miss Martha Mebane |
| Mrs. Owen White Bingham | Mrs. Attelia Yancey Mebane | Miss Alice White |
The first small building was located about half a mile east of town, at the corner of East Washington and South Tenth streets, on the edge of Oakwood Cemetery. It served the community for over forty years.
In 1872, Mrs. Peter T. Penick, the wife of our second pastor, organized the Women’s Society (later the Women of the Church). This group helped build the first manse on the north side of the railroad tracks. One woman donated the land, and the Society paid for the well. Also that year, the Women’s Society purchased a Bible for the church with “Mebaneville Presbyterian Church, 1872” engraved on its cover.
Church membership increased steadily, and eventually the need for a larger building was recognized. The Rev. Robert W. Hines urged the church to move into town, and a committee was appointed April 22, 1906, to consider a site. In 1914, a building was erected at the corner of Lee and Fifth streets, with a new manse adjacent to it. This building, dedicated in 1917, served as sanctuary and educational building for 44 years. An addition was built in 1926. Also that year, the Women of the Church raised $1,781 for the installation of a six-rank organ built by Henry Pilcher’s Sons of Louisville, Kentucky.
The building was renovated in 1977 and renamed Baker Building, in honor of Dr. William M. Baker, pastor from 1930 to 1955. The sanctuary was converted into McSween Hall, a fellowship hall named in honor of the Rev. Allen C. McSween, pastor at that time. The building also houses a parlor, youth room, historical room, Boy Scouts meeting areas, and other facilities.
During World War II and for several years thereafter, our church supported the Mebane Presbyterian Chapel, just east of town. This temporary chapel was established when people in the area were unable to attend services in town due to gas rationing.
The present sanctuary, located on the site of the former manse, was dedicated in 1958. The Women of the Church donated the nave chandeliers. The present manse, completed in 1957, is half a mile south of the church on Fifth Street.
A breezeway was built to connect Baker Building to the sanctuary building, and was dedicated May 17, 1981.
The new 35-rank organ, built by Casavant Frères Limitée of Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, was dedicated with a full sanctuary on August 12, 1990. A generous challenge gift by Col. Van White made this dream a reality. This magnificent instrument which will enhance our worship for generations, was completed, except for planned percussion stops, with a three-rank pedal mixture in 1993, bringing it to 38 ranks (2,204 pipes).
Other recent improvements include paving the parking lot (August 1995), new chancel flooring to improve the sanctuary’s acoustics (fall of 1999) and a new copper roof installed on the Baker Building in 2003. Further renovations of the Baker Building are being planned.
OUR CHURCH HAS HAD NINETEEN PASTORS whose loving leadership has brought spiritual inspiration into the lives of our members. The wives of these pastors rendered their time and effort as they served in many church and community affairs.
We honor our pastors for their faithful ministries to their congregations:
| Rev. Calvin N. Morrow | 1868-1870 | Dr. Ephraim C. Murray (2nd term) | 1897-1901 | Dr. William M. Baker | 1930-1955 |
| Rev. Peter T. Penick | 1871-1876 | Rev. Robert W. Hines | 1902-1906 | Rev. Samuel S. Cappel | 1955-1964 |
| Rev. John M. Anderson | 1876-1878 | Rev. Robert T. Liston | 1907-1910 | Dr. Ben F. Brown | 1964-1968 |
| Rev. Thomas J. Allison | 1879-1887 | Dr. Frank M. Hawley | 1910-1917 | Rev. Allen C. McSween | 1970-1977 |
| Rev. J. Horace Lacy | 1888-1890 | Rev. A. Worth Shaw | 1918-1923 | Rev. Wyatt Aiken, Jr. | 1979-1998 |
| Dr. Ephraim C. Murray | 1893-1894 | Dr. James S. Garner | 1925-1927 | Dr. Jeffrey D. Smith | 1998-present |
| Rev. Henry C. Kegley | 1894-1897 | Rev. Daniel B. Green | 1927-1929 |
The Rev. Jeffrey D. Smith was officially installed on November 14, 1999 as our 20th pastor. Rev. Smith, his wife, Cyndie and their four daughters moved into Mebane in October, 1999, from Wabash, Indiana. He received his doctorate while serving as our pastor.
Over the years a number of Directors of Christian Education have served our church faithfully. Presently, Brenda Milton is DCE.
Jeff Overstreet, is our Organist/Choir Director, and has served enthusiastically for many years.
Elizabeth Duckworth became our secretary in September 1984. Her position became full time on October 1, 1999 and she retired on April 18, 2006. At that time the secretary position was divided into two positions. Rosemary Clarke is our current Administrative Assistant. Cindy Sykes currently holds the position of Financial Secretary.
OUR CHURCH HAS SHOWN GREAT INTEREST in evangelism and world and local missions. Many evangelistic endeavors have been carried out through outreach and visitation efforts, revivals and lay renewals, and other programs to practice and promote this great purpose of the church. Over the years, we have supported many missionaries.
Several women from the church have gone to the mission field and been supported by the women of our church. Margaret Liston, daughter of the Rev. Robert T. Liston, served as an evangelist and nurse in the African Congo for several years. Ruby Satterfield volunteered for foreign missions in 1920 and served in both China and Korea. Dr. Sherron George served in Brazil for 23 years.
Our first missionary was Dr. Marion Cheek, who went as a medical missionary to Siam in 1873. In the 1960s, Mr. and Mrs. Dan Moore (Betsy Workman) served for a time as missionaries in Japan. In 1969, we became a supporting church for Rev. and Mrs. Don Williams in Brazil until their retirement in 1984. Then we supported Dr. and Mrs. Paul Alexander of Taiwan until their retirement in 1996. In 1997, we began supporting Dr. and Mrs. Louis Sutton (Susan Scott), who minister in Chad with WEC International. Assistance is also given to Susan (Harris) and Chuck Weatherstone who are presently serving in Africa.
Because of the devastation of homes and other property in Eastern North Carolina caused by Hurricane Floyd in the fall of 1999, our church was actively involved in helping these people by supplying food, clothing, and building supplies, as well as helping rebuild Gateway Church in Princeville. Approximately 40 youth and adults went to workcamp to continue in helping to restore the Princeville Community.
Our church has entertained Presbytery a number of times, most recently in April 1987.
A plaque given by the Woman’s Auxiliary in 1928, now hanging in the narthex, honors church members who served in World War I.
Over the years, the Women of the Church, renamed Presbyterian Women in 1988, have been dedicated in their work. They have supported Christian community action, ecumenical missions, our young people and each other. In 1973, the Women of the Church, along women of other community churches, undertook the responsibility for “Meals on Wheels” to be delivered to shut-ins in the area.
Our church banner represents the work of our church over its many years of worship and service. It was given in honor of the Presbyterian Women. Its illustrations are depicted on the cover of this history.