General Info

FIRST REFORMED UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST Burlington, North Carolina was first known as Company Shops, an unincorporated settlement inhabited principally by Germans, Scots, Irish and English Quakers. It dates back to as early as 1700. The name appears to have settled upon the community from habitual use, because North Carolina Railroad Company shops were located there. In 1885 a municipal organization was formed, and the name was by popular vote changed to Burlington. In this community stood a rather large frame building, known later as "The Old White Church, " sometimes referred to as the Union Church, so named because various religious bodies represented in the community used it for their meetings. It was here that the interests of the Reformed Church first were fostered in 1889. That year the Classis of North Carolina met at nearby Brick Church and created the Alamance Charge, composed of St. Mark's, Stiner's and a congregation to be organized in Burlington. The Tri-synodic Board of Home Missions of the Reformed Church had already voted a grant of $300 during its meeting, which convened April 8, to be used in the Burlington effort. Rev. Jesse Richards of Lakeside, Ohio, was commissioned missionary pastor and reported for work immediately. A congregation was organized sometime later in the year in the home of Zimri M. Faust, who lived on South Main Street. The charter membership first contained the following names Z.M. Foust, Mrs. Z. M. Foust, Miss Lulu Foust, J.J. May, J.P. May, Mrs. J.P. May, Mrs. Rachael May, W.N. Mebane, W.M. Mebane, Mrs. W. M. Mebane, and Mrs. Jesse Richards. Rev. Richards held services in the old white church. During his pastorate, which lasted two years, membership increased to 50 people. But the next pastor, Rev. David P. LeFevre, who assumed his duties on October 1, 1891, served during a period that witnessed numerical loss in the congregation, leading to a decision by the Board of Home Missions to withdraw financial support from the Alamance Charge as of October 1, 1893. Occasional visits by Rev. J.D. Andrew of the Guilford Charge held the small congregation together and on October 20, 1895, reorganization was effected with twenty-three members. Z.M. Faust and W.R. Garrett were elected elders, and J.R. May and A.M. Sheppard, deacons. Then in a special meeting of Classis at Newton, September 4, 1897, the Burlington Charge was formed from part of the Guilford Charge. Burlington, St Mark's and Fairview constituted the new charge. The Bi-Synodic Board of Missions re-enrolled the congregations January, 1898. Rev. J.D. Andrew, the commissioned pastor, began his work on September 1, 1898. Sunday School was organized with 19 members on April 23, 1899. On February 13, 1900, a site was purchased from B.R. Sellars for the sum of $265. On this, a brick church with an auditorium and two classrooms was built. The church was occupied on January 6, 1901. By May 6, 1906, all debts were paid. Owing to an increase in Sunday School enrollment, the congregation borrowed $500 from the Board of Home Missions to build additional Sunday School rooms. This was in October, 1909. Rev. Andrew closed his pastorate on June 1, 1913 and became President of Catawba College. From 1913 to 1924 good progress was made under the leadership of three ministers: Revs. Dugan C. Cox, A.H. Zechiel and Samuel J. Kirk. A parsonage was purchased in 1913, a new parsonage was built immediately behind the church in 1917, and the congregation was made an independent, though not a self-supporting Charge, in 1918. The name was changed to "First" Reformed Church in 1924. By the time Rev. Harvey A. Welker arrived to serve the parish in 1923, there was urgent need for new educational and worship facilities. On February 1, 1925, at a congregational meeting, a building and finance committee was authorized and instructed to make preparation for the project. The building committee was composed of L.A. Sharpe, J.M. Fowler, D.E. Clapp, A.C. Neese and John