The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1951-11-09

Topping clerks Tor captain Ryan
j.. Sister Margaret Riddick, one
of our oldest and most earnest
Disciples" Winfield continued:
1--WE are blessed with an earnest,
consecrated leader in S. j.
Topping. Bro. T. is superintend-
ent OF the union Sunday School,
and with the assistance of Misses
Cassie Smith, Lorena Barfield, An
ME Swindell, and Bro. B. w. Luz
cas-, he is succeeding finely :.
We have some brave, true Disci-
Piles at Belle Haven The public
schoolhouse will not accommodate
the congregation. On last appoint
ment, several came and had to
return home because the house
was already filed" F. F. Dawson
came i'll the summer of 1899 and
reported: "We find a village of
about six or eight hundred people
=. We are told that at times
there are more than one hundred
sail vessels to be seen in this
harEor at one time"
Merritt Owen, Washington, N.
c., pastor, held revival for Bel
haven, in July, 1908, collecting
the scattered forces with new
members into organized work" J.
K. Jingle came as their first To-
Gated minister in December, 1908,
and the first church building was
dedicated in July, 1904, while Ben
II. Melton was conducting revi-
val there. ]. R. Tingle's first help
was in getting the church extern
sion loan paid by July, 1904, for
only a 16-month term of loan,
instead of five years as contracted.
The church prospered under Tin
gle, and built a parsonage also
during his ministry. Tingle report
ed: "The Ladies' Aid Society has
been power in this church.
Through the Aid most of the mon
ey has been raised, and they are
still laboring and planning for
greater things The church is
located in new growing town
and has bright future"
Tingle was succeeded by A. B.
Wade as pastor, who remained I'M
til Aug. 4, 1908. Then Henry C.
Bowen located as pastor, who led
in opening mission in West Bel
haven, the building for which was
dedicated by Jesse C. Caldwell on
Oct. 81, 1909. Bowen reported:
I'VE have secured fee simple
deed for the West Belhaven
Church lot and have taken the
title in the name of The North
Carolina Christian Missionary
Convention Telling of the dedica-
ton at West Belhaven, Bowen
said: I'VE started out to raise
$3.50 and secured in cash and good
pledges $561.90. This will enable
US to go forward" Bowen contin-
ued there with a meeting, taking
IL Disciples from the First Church
and with 10 others completed cen
rolling 81 names for the organiza-
ton of the church," now known
as West Belhaven.
Disciples outgrew the old
frame building of the First Church.
and in 1914 and 1915 erected
handsome gray brick plant on a
larger and more prominent site,
nearer the business district. The
building committee for this was:
5. J. Topping, chairman; w. S. |
Rlddlck, secretary; ]. F. Bishop, |
treasurer; F. L. Voliva, Miss Ida !!
Wilkinson, Thad Barrow, Mrs. w.
E. Stubs, E. w. Latham and
Mrs. ]. D. Pugh. This was dedi-
Gated Oct. 81, 1915, by George L.
Snively, while Hayes Parish was |
pastor.
In 1882, while D. Guy Saunders
was minister, changes were effect
ed in the plant, making it far
more effective for religious educa-
ton, also providing a pastors |
study. The church has suffered |
much from economic reverses to
the community; death has taken
heavy toll of active Disciples; !
and many dependable Disciple |
families have removed from the
city. The church today has 225 |
members, with $50 enrolled in the
church school, and property val |
uation of $4,000.
The roll of pastors includes: |
Thomas Green, the pioneer, June,
1897; George T. Tyson, 1897, '9s;
W. o. Winfield, 1S98-19O1, again |
1902'0S; Dennis Wrighter Davis,
1901, 1902; J. r. Tingle, 19OS-'O6;
A. B. Wade, 19O7-'O8; H. C. Bow
en-, 1908-'11; Joseph d. Waters,
1911-'14; Hayes Parish, 1915-'2O;
except during his World War SER
vice in 1918, when w. s. Martin |
supplied; Spencer L.. Jackson,
1921-'23; C. P. Thomas, 1924-'25; |
J. Walter Lollis, 1926-'27; ID. Guy |