HISTORY OF THE CEDAR GROVE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Thomas Thompson and wife Ann arrived about Aug. 1, 1752 and, as Francis Nash records in his history of Orange County, they settled ten miles north of Hillsborough. John Anderson and his wife Anne Moore were already here. They settled on the Eno River in 1738. The same year in England, May 24, 1738, John Wesley, the founder of our Methodist Church, was moved to go out and preach the gospel. John Wesley's brother, Charles, wrote 6,500 hymns. Ships from England were bringing people of many denominations. Thomas Thompson and wife Ann deeded a plot of land to John Anderson in 1754 for a newly formed "Meeting House". When Hugh McAden, a Presbyterian missionary, came to the home of John Anderson there already was a " Meeting House" for him to preach in. He preached on the second Sunday of August in 1755. The research done for the 1832-1982 history shows the Cedar Grove Methodist Church to be laid in the founding of the Old Eno Presbyterian Church in 1755. These devoted men and women who worshiped together as a body of Christians who were not as much concerned of being Presbyterians as they were believers in Christ and his teaching. Their chief concern was that the spirit of God was abiding in them.

In 1780 Bishop Asbury preached in Hillsborough. We wonder if the people of Cedar Grove went to hear him preach. Bishop Asbury traveled about six thousand miles on horseback and became the first Methodist Circuit Rider in America. The preachers of the Methodist Church were soon called the traveling Methodist. Some of the traveling preachers came from Virginia.

The North Carolina Circuit was formed in 1776. The North Carolina Circuit was divided as

Roanoke, Tar River, and New Hope. Not only were Leasburg and Cedar Grove connected by

preachers but by schools and trade. Cedar Grove was also near a Christian school, Pleasant Grove or Mount Pleasant Academy. Daniel W. Kerr moved his school from Wake Forest to Orange County Jan.15, 1836 near the present Mount Zion Christian Church. In 1838 James Clark announced Fairfield School, about three miles south of Cedar Grove, was ready for scholars. As Kathrine Nicks McDade wrote in the history written for the 150th anniversary celebration, "I speak of other nearby denominations because I believe our church is born of the Spirit of God found in the hearts of these early settlers who became the forefathers of many denominations."

Joseph Allison, the first Cedar Grove post-master (1826), and John Kelly gave land for the first Cedar Grove Methodist Episcopal Church and it was organized the 9th day of May, 1832. Trustees, Joseph Allison, Thomas Taylor, William Maris, John Kelly, Hunter McCulloch, and Ira Elllis were directed to build the Cedar Grove Methodist Episcopal Church in 1834. The church but at this time faced the east and had only one door. The pulpit was in the west end of the church. Our first pastor was Issac Haines. Often a log "Meeting House" was built until a church could be built. In 1843 the names of John McDade, Ashal Moore, Henderson McDade, Mary Moore, John A. McDade, Samuel P. Moore, George A. Ellis, John J. Allison, William H. Brown, and Thomas Anderson were associated with the new church....

Read the full History of CGUMC HERE