ELEVATION 

UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

5101 Elevation Road, Benson, NC 27504

Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors

Our Historical Past

Elevation Church is located at one of the highest points on the ridge separating Black and Hannas Creek in southern Johnston County.  The altitude of the place gave it its name, as well as the name of the township.  At the turn of the century, it was the name of the village with its post office, Masonic Hall, little store, and nearby homes.

The school came first, and the church site began at the school house property. The little church house was constructed in 1861.  A traveling Methodist preacher had come into the neighborhood with his message from the Wesleys which they had adapted from the English Episcopal Church.

Stones in the cemetery bear the names of many of those who made up its first and subsequent congregations:  Dixon, Woodall, Benson, Barbour, Johnson, Creech.  There is also the marker of the unknown Civil War soldier who died in the church one night.

About 1914, the first church building was replaced with a larger one equipped with benches made from pine.  Just after World War II, Sunday school rooms were added and the benches replaced.  In the 1950's this building was dismantled and moved away to be replaced by the present building to which the fellowship hall was added in 1997.

Through the life of the church, it has been served by pastors who served one or more other churches.  In June, 1999, Elevation became a separate church with its own pastor.  Many young folks are becoming another generation of leaders for a church that is a hundred and fifty years old.

The names of the early Circuit Riders who served Elevation are unknown.  The following pastors have served Benson United Methodist Church and Elevation United Methodist Church.

1898. . . . . The Reverend D.B. Parker

1898. . . . . The Reverend W.A. Forbes

1901. . . . . The Reverend E.M. Snipes

1903. . . . . The Reverend W.A. Forbes

1905. . . . . The Reverend J.M. Daniels

1909. . . . . The Reverend T.H. Sutton

1911. . . . . The Reverend R.F. Taylor

1913. . . . . The Reverend George Starling

1915. . . . . The Reverend J.T. Stanford

1918. . . . . The Reverend Edgar M. Hall

1923. . . . . The Reverend J.E. Blalock

1927. . . . . The Reverend B.H. Houston

1930. . . . . The Reverend J.H. Frizzelle

1932. . . . . The Reverend W.C. Merritt

1936. . . . . The Reverend J.C. Whedbee

1938. . . . . The Reverend Harley A. Chester

1943. . . . . The Reverend C.B. Culbreth

1946. . . . . The Reverend J. Kern Ormond

1949. . . . . The Reverend D.A. Clarke

1951. . . . . The Reverend Ivey T. Poole

1954. . . . . The Reverend Carlton F. Hirschi

1959. . . . . The Reverend W.E. Howard

1961. . . . . The Reverend Wallace M. Ellis

1967. . . . . The Reverend Pearce H. Layfield

1972. . . . . The Reverend Henry A. Bizzell

1973. . . . . The Reverend Dr. John H. Crum

1977. . . . . The Reverend David Morrill Tyson

1982. . . . . The Reverend Earl George Dulaney

1986. . . . . The Reverend Charles H. Hutchinson

1990. . . . . The Reverend James D. Bell

1996. . . . . The Reverend David Benson

1998. . . . . The Reverend Bobby E. Smith

1999. . . . . The Reverend Henry W. Lee

2001. . . . . The Reverend Ronald E. Gurganus

2008..........The Reverend Bobby P. Tyson Sr.

2009......... The Reverend Vernon C. Tyson

2010......... The Reverend Reginald W. Ponder 

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