Bertie County NC Churches: Capeharts Meeting House 1824 File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by "Neil Baker" History of Capeharts Baptist Church Merry Hill, NC 1824-2000 Revised, October 2000 by Neil Baker There were seventy four charter members of the original church who had received letters of dismissal from the Cashie Baptist Church of Windsor and the Wiccacon (Colerain) Baptist Church of Colerain, North Carolina that they might be constituted to the church at the Capeharts Meeting House. Of the seventy-four charter members, there were sixty four white and ten colored members The Presbytery of the new church consisted of Elders A. Biggs, William I. Newbern, and Rueben Lawrence. The introductory sermons were preached by Elders A. Biggs and William I. Newbern. Elder Rueben Lawrence was called as first pastor of the church and served the church for nineteen years, from December of 1824 until April of 1843. Mr. Charles Cobb was chosen as the first church clerk and served until June of 1839 at which time he was succeeded by Mr. Charles Capehart. The new church in conference on March 12, 1825 voted to petition the Bertie Union at the next Bertie Union Meeting for membership in the Bertie Union and at the same conference voted to petition the Chowan Association for membership in that association where it became a member and remained a member until 1883 at which time the association was divided into the Chowan and West Chowan associations, the church then becoming a member of the West Chowan association in which it is still a member. The church was less than four months old when on April 8, 1825 it voted to license one of its members, Brother William W. Pierce, to preach the gospel, which according to the minutes reads, "To preach in the bounds of this church and the neighboring churches if he thinks proper". In August of 1847 the church voted to form its first missionary society and in March of 1849 voted to help support a minister to travel and preach among the churches in the bounds of the association. In May of 1849 the church voted to abolish the old constitution and instructed the clerk to write a new one according to the one drawn up by the committee at the association meeting held with the Ramoth-Gilead Church in Pasquotank County in May of 1848. On May 11, 1860 the church in conference voted to build a new meeting house, but at the next conference on June 9, 1860 the question of a new meeting house met with little or no progress. The Civil War was going on during this time. Capeharts had members as well as deacons fighting on both sides. The Church apparently, according to the minutes did not take sides. Though they did receive letters from them and the Church would write them back. On September 8, 1866 six years after they had voted to build a new church building, the church decided to build the new church building and appointed a committee to build the new building. On March 12, 1870 the church met for preaching and conference in the new church building, which had been under construction for four years. Three months later on June 11, 1870 the church voted to meet the next morning June 12, 1870 at eight o'clock to organize a "Sabbath School", the first record of a Sunday School in the church history. On December 13, 1873 the church voted to grant letters of dismissal to several members that they may assist in organizing a new church at the cross roads near the Mountain Place, this was to be Greens Cross Church. They were formed in 1874 by members of Capeharts, Ross and Cashie Churches. On October 10, 1874 the church voted to grant letters of dismissal to eleven brothers and sisters that they may assist in organizing a new church at or near the cross roads near Doctor Bowen's place, this is now known as the Lawrence Church in the San Souci community as a Doctor Bowen at one time ran a store in the San Souci area. On December 12, 1903 the church voted to grant a plot of land for the Capeharts School House, not to exceed sixty feet in length and width and to be used for free school purposes only. There were two School Buildings built on the church property during the time there was a school at Capeharts. Both were one room school houses, one was built directly behind the church and one off to the side of the church. After the Capeharts School was consolidated with the Merry Hill School, the school buildings were sold, one to Mr. Will Evans and one to Mr. Henry Smith. In conference on April 2, 1910, fifty years after voting to build a new church building, the church again discussed the question of building another new building. During the following months there was much discussion as to where to build the new church building, at Capeharts or Merry Hill. On June 2, 1910 the church voted to build the new building at Capeharts and at the same meeting agreed to grant letters of dismissal to all members that wanted to organize and build a church at Merry Hill. On August 7, 1910 the church voted to continue granting letters to members that wanted to move with the people organizing and building a church at Merry Hill. On September 6, 1913 by request of several members that wanted to organize a church at Mount Gould, the church voted to grant letters of dismissal to all members that wished to organize and build a church at Mount Gould. This new church is now known as the Riverside Church. After eight years in construction the new church building was completed and dedicated in 1918 during the pastorate of Rev. W. R. Height. The new church is still the present day church building. just nine years later in 1927 the church built and dedicated the Sunday School annex or classrooms. On November 10, 1928 the church voted to adopt the single budget system for the church, the first time a budget system had been used in the church. This budget system is still in effect to this day. On October 27, 1946 the church then in a four church field with Greens Cross Church, Elm Grove Church, and Ross Church, voted to cooperate with the other churches in dividing the field into two-two church fields with Greens Cross and Capeharts forming one of the two church fields. Rev. H. B. Huggins was called as pastor of the newly formed field. In 1948 the church bought and installed the Hammond Organ and in June of 1950 voted to install a heating system and redecorate the inside of the church. In 1951 the church installed rest rooms and redecorated the inside of the classrooms. In conference on September 6, 1953 the church voted to build a parsonage and launch out on a full time program. The church then called Rev. Paul F. Burke of Camden County in the Chowan Association as the first full time pastor of the church. The parsonage was completed in record time and in November of 1953 the pastor and his family moved into the new parsonage and started serving the church as the first full time pastor. On August 12, 1962 the church elected a committee to investigate and report on plans to add a new wing to the classrooms and in February of 1963 work was begun on the new wing. The new wing classrooms were completed in August of 1964 and on December 6, 1964 the church commemorated the one hundred and fortieth anniversary of the church with homecoming and dedication of the new wing. On August 29 1982 Capeharts held a ground breaking for a new fellowship hall with baptistry, it was officially dedicated on October 16, 1983. Since its beginning in 1824 the church has been served by thirty five pastors in thirty-seven different pastorates. The Rev. T.T. Speight and Rev. J.0. Walton served in two different pastorates the only pastors to serve more than one pastorate during the history of the church. To the people who have lived in the Capeharts community, this illustrious history and the Capeharts Church Stands as a monument to their dedication, devotion, and faith in God and their fellow man. Though there were bright days of rejoicing and dark days of disappointment, their faith never faltered as they looked to God and the future since that humble beginning back in 1824 when seventy-four dedicated people affixed their names to the covenant of the new church, "Capeharts". The following is an excerpt from the original Capeharts Church minutes. Capeharts Meeting House 1824 Sunday before the 2nd Lords day in December 10th 1824. The introductory sermon was delivered at Capeharts M. H. by Elders A. Biggs and Wm. J. Newborn. To the Constitution of the Baptist Church of Jesus Christ at this place. After preaching met in conference for the purpose of Constituting the Church at Capeharts M. H. Elders A. Biggs- Wm. J Newborn & Reuben Lawrence composed the Presbytery---when the following seventy four members from Cashie & Wiccocon Churches presented their letters of dismission, and after the necessary inquiry being made & the Presbytery being fully satisfied that the Church at this place was ready to be Constituted. They were constituted as a gospel Church and is to be as such to and as a regular Baptist Church of Jesus Christ by us a Presbytery--- A. Biggs-Wm. J. Newborn-Reubin Lawrence and the united vote of all the members, after which they unanimously agreed to adopt the following Church Covenant & Rules of Decorum. We whose names are written being called as we trust by the Grace of God, do in the name of the Lord Jesus voluntarily and jointly separate ourselves from the world and give ourselves to the Lord who hath promised to receive such & be their God--holding ourselves henceforth as his and no longer our own. We also voluntarily and mutually give ourselves to each other & receive one another in the Lord, meaning thereby to become one body, jointly to exist and jointly act by the bonds & rules of the gospel each esteeming ourselves henceforth as members of a Spiritual body, accountable to it, bound to obey it, subject to its control; and no otherwise to separate therefrom, than with consent first had; or unreasonably refused. We also voluntarily engage (the Lord enabling us) to keep the faith once delivered to the Saints; which we believe includes the following sublime and important doctrines. The being of a God, the trinity of person on Godhead, the fall of Adam, and the imputation of his sin to his posterity, the corruption of human nature; and the impotency of man. Whereby he was rendered unable to do that which is truly properly, and spiritually good. The everlasting love of God in election redemption, and covenant of Grace justification by the imputed righteousness of Jesus Christ pardon and reconciliation through his precious blood regeneration and sanctification by the influence and operation of the holy spirit. The final perseverance of saints in grace the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgement in that the happiness of the righteous and the torments of the wicked; will be enable finally we do voluntarily and jointly engage (in the strength of the Lord) to do all things which he hath commanded us to do, particular to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow the Lord, in all his examples and precepts, assemble ourselves together; as often as conveniently can attend our church conferences, and keep up a Gospel discipline that we may be unblamable in the sight of God, and man. That we may live as brethren and submit to one another in the Lord and also to know, honor, maintain and obey them who shall have the spiritual charge or rule over us in all things as is fit in the Lord. This is the covenant we now enter into be the Lord; and we solemnly call upon Almighty God to witness the purity of our intentions and sincerity of our souls in this weighty and all important business and to establish fix and confirm the above covenant, we have willingly, and unanimously order our name to be affixed hereunto. Males: James McGlahon, Nimsod S. West, Cornelius William, Hardy Bowen, William Phelps, Henry Cobb, Charles Cobb, Wm Steel, John Morgan, Wm W Pierce, John Hunter, Seth Morgan, Perry Cowan, Elisha Thomas, Archibald Morriss, Josiah Dempsey, Thomas Harden, Robert Phelps, Nathan Miller, Benjamin Coffield, Wm Worley, Thomas Cullifer, Henry Phelps, Charles Waters, William Ray, Shadrack Britt, J D Castillow. Females: Judith McGlauhon, Ann Henry, Mary Cobb, Mary A. Capehart, Eliza A. Capehart, Eleanor Cook, Penelope Madry, Elizabeth Miers, Nicy Cowan, Frances Steel, Martha Floyd, Edy Phelps, Susan Phelps, Sinthy Phelps, Ann Williams, Osphouz Curry, Mary Lualls, Mary Phelps, Mary Phelps, Betsy Worley, Priscilla Harden, Mary Pearce, Penelope Bowen, Francis Butterton, Elizabeth Dempsey, Ann Ray, Sarah Cook, Elizabeth Bird, Rebecca Lednom, Nancy Lednum, Sarah Waters, Mary Mason, Elizabeth Murry, Ann Britt, Zilphy Castillow, Charlotte Castillow, Winefred Miller. Colored People: Lewis (I Hunter), Cambridge (W McGlauhon), Jerry (Wm Hardy), Jonas (E Thomas) emale Colored: Becca (Armistad), Mary (T Holley), Judy (McGlauhon), Liddy ( McGlauhon), Hasty (Thomas). Statistics 64 white 4 colored male 6 colored female. Total 74 The Capeharts Baptist Church Records, 1824-1976 have been preserved on microfilm at Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC in the Z. Smith Reynolds Library. 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