First Advent Christian Church Hickory, NC

	First Advent Christian Church Hickory, NC
	God is Good

Church History

Church History

First Advent Christian Church of Hickory History

In the beginning...Across the pages of the history of the Advent Christian Church lie the long shadows of a few faithful patriarchs who laid the foundation for the First Advent Christian Church.

In 1917, a small Union Sunday School was organized in West Hickory. Many of those attending felt the need for an Advent Christian Church in Hickory.

Dr. R. L. Isbell was asked to hold a series of meetings for two weeks in a YMCA building in West Hickory.

Following the two weeks of meetings, a church was organized with 17 charter members.

The infant congregation began holding services under the leadership of the Rev. Henry Lee Duncan of Longview.

Among the charter members were:Mrs. Rosa Bentley,Mr. and Mrs. Burgins , Miss Annie Burgins, Mr. Junius Clark, Mrs. Mary Clark, Rev. H.L. Duncan, Mrs. Rebecca Duncan, Mr. Thomas Duncan, Mrs. Rhetta Duncan, Mr. Ernest Duncan, Mrs. Daisy Duncan, Mrs. Hester Hart, Mrs. Isma Huffman, Mrs. Mary L. Huffman, Mr. C. J. Preslar, and Mrs. Exie Preslar

In 1924, Rev. and Rebecca Duncan and Charles and Exie Preslar in consideration of $1.00, deeded land in the Town of Longview, Hickory Township to the church trustees of “West Hickory Advent Christian Church”.

A small brick building constructed by the church members was erected. The trustees at this time were J.E. Hodge, E.L. Duncan, B.E. Berry and R.T. Preslar.

Services continued in the church building in Longview until 1940. The congregation was faithfully served by six pastors during this time.

They were…

Rev. R.L. Isbell

(1929-1933)

Rev. Harrison Ingle

(1933-1934)

Rev. W.F Preslar

(1934-1935)

Rev. A.O. Turnbow

(1935-1936)

Rev. A.C. Trivette

(1936-1943)

With seventy-two active members, the church building became too small to meet the needs of the congregation. Many felt that a larger and more modern building should be erected. Plans got underway through the faithful work of a people “who had a mind to work”.

On December 23, 1935, trustees J.C. Hodges, Carl Moretz, and B.E. Berry bought from the R.W. Rink Estate lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 Block A of the Hickory/Taylorsville State Hwy for the sum of $500.00 and……the construction of a new church building was underway.

To supplement the church finances, the trustees of the West Hickory Advent Christian Church, J.E. Hodges, Arthur Huffman, C.W. Moretz, Willard Lail, and W.F. Preslar sold the land and church building in the Town of Longview to Longview Baptist Church for the sum of $800.00.

The first service, a prayer meeting, was held in the new building in Windy City on October 6, 1940.

The congregation met on November 3, 1940 to reorganize the church. There were one hundred eight persons who gave their names as desiring to become members of the new church.

At the official board meeting November 6, 1940 the Covenant and the Statement of Faith was formally adopted.

Statement of Faith located on the Home Page.

During the November 6th meeting the first elected deacons were:

Ø Mr Arthur Huffman

Ø Mr. Carl Moretz

Ø Mr. Charles Preslar

The business of completing the church organization continued on November 10, 1940 with Pastor Trivette acting as chairman. A motion was made and carried that the following members serve in the various official capacities.

Ø Deaconess

Ø Ms. Isma Huffman

Ø Ms. Carl Moretz

Ø Ms. Exie Preslar

Ø Trustees

Ø Max Preslar

Ø E. B. Rozzelle

Ø Cletus Bentley

Ø Willard Lail

Ø Allen Huffman

Ø Treasurer

Ø Garland Preslar

Ø Clerk

Ø Helen Winebarger

Ø Sunday School

Superintendent

Ø Charles Preslar

In 1945, a building was built near the church, which later became known as the parish hall. The present parsonage of Cape Cod architecture, was erected in 1949.

Again the church became too small to meet the needs of the congregation. In 1959 a building committee was appointed, consisting of:

H.C. Huffman, chairman, Dewey Preslar, R.D. Bolick, E.B. Rozelle, Carl Hefner, Coy Wilson, Mrs. E.E. Whisnant and Mrs. Ben Terry.

A 30 foot extension was added to the present sanctuary, 12 new pews, new lights, a new baptistry, two choir lofts with new pews, air conditioning, and new carpet on the floor.

The basement was completely rebuilt, with an assembly room for the Junior Sunday school, a nursery, four Sunday school class rooms, and two rest rooms.

Adjacent to the church, a new 90 x 45 foot educational building was also constructed. The building provided an auditorium, Sunday school office, library, seven Sunday school rooms, a kitchen, and two rest rooms.

1991 – Steeple to Be Dedicated

Hickory Church Selects Name

The Advent Christian Church, Hickory, North Carolina, which soon will be 43 years old, finally has an official name.

It will now be know as the First Advent Christian Church of Hickory, N.C., Rev. Cecil W. Noble, pastor, recently announced.

When the church was organized, it was set up as Advent Christian Church, but had no name. At a recent meeting of the official board of the church, two names were presented and approved to be presented to the church. A ballot was presented to the membership on Sunday morning with: “First Advent Christian Church” and “Northside Advent Christian Church.” The membership which now stands around 200 persons, voted overwhelmingly in favor of First Advent Christian Church as the official name. Present Truth Messenger- February 20, 1964

Pastors to serve the First Advent Christian Church from 1940 to the present:

Rev. Alton C. Trivette

(1935-1944)

Rev. Samuel E. Thurlow

(1944-1947)

Rev. Allen B. Hodges

(Interim-January to May 1948)

Rev. Milton G. Butterfield

(1948-1954)

Rev. J. Ronald Schoolcraft

(1954-1958)

Rev. Cecil W. Noble