 Uniontown Church of Christ History The Uniontown Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) was previously known as a Free Will Baptist Church. It was in a log cabin in the Uniontown (Free Union) Community. Before 1836, the church membership was made up of several races including, Native Americans, Whites and Blacks. By 1836, It had come to be known as a minority church. In the year 1870, the church was totally a minority church. It was during this year the white people of the Poplar Chapel community left to form a separate church. Before 1872, the church membership was totally made up of Blacks and Native Americans. It was located in front of Luther Cordon’s General Store. Black People had a difficult time learning to read and write. Some of the white church official and members, began to teach the black community to organize and conduct church service. The same order of service is used today. White men were appointed to assist the black community in forming a separate conference. They were Elder A. J. Battle, H. D. Carson, J. R. Winfield, H. Gurganus and J L. Walsh. Prior to 1873, the group was known as the O’Kelly Christians. During the annual Free Will Baptist Conferences many different religious views were aired. White preachers influenced by Thomas and Alexander Campbell influenced some of the black preachers to join the group of Disciples. By 1881, the word conference, a holdover from the Baptist, was dropped and the annual gathering was renamed Assembly. Each group began to move out, to organize and to build churches of its own beliefs. Today we know them as, Missionary Baptist, Free Will Baptist, Primitive Baptist, Disciples, Methodist, and many others. By 1894, A group that called themselves Disciples was left in the original Free Will Baptist log building with Elder James Harter, a white preacher, as the pastor. This group remained at that location until around 1892. They then moved to a new structure that had been erected two thirds of a mile south, on the same road ( today's SR 1567) under the direction of Fletcher Brooks. Alford Pettiford, a black preacher served as pastor after moving to the new building. The name of the congregation varied. The first name was Colored Christian Church of Disciple Church, according to the deed of record. Other names including, Piney Woods Church, Free Union Chapel Church, and Union Town Church were used. The present building is known as “The Uniontown (Free Union) Church of Christ, Disciples of Christ”. The church was charted through the state of North Carolina, at the state capital in Raleigh as the Uniontown (Free Union) Church of Christ (Disciples of Christ) Incorporated. Members, back in the day visited one another, cared for one another, and showed love to the Pastor and his family by having them over for dinner after church services. The community did not have very much to give. Sharing meals; as with the last supper, became a way show love, discuss important matters, and work for the betterment of the community without discord. During Special occasions, large gatherings were held on the grounds of the church and food was served in shade of trees. The first person buried on the Uniontown Ground was a black woman. Her name has since been lost to history. At times, member discussions would become very heated, and on one occasion a man was shot in the Uniontown Sanctuary door. Uniontown church has lots of historical stories some of these stories and their details, are best left to the historians of old. The church had its doors open for two Sunday services, 2nd, and 4th. The first pastor of the present era Uniontown Church was John M. Gurganus and according to Arneicy Whitaker aka (Miss Numps), Pastor Gurganus preferred to have all his meals with David Boston, a black man of Indian descent, that was native to the community. Listed in the order of their service are the Black pastors of the present-day Uniontown Church of Christ, DOC. • Joseph F. Whitley • William Anthony James • Thomas H. Daniels • Joseph Israel James • Early Whitehurst ,Sr. Served over 11 Years • Jasper Roberson • James R. Moody • Daniel Boston, Sr. Served over 37 years - The father of Elder Gregory Boston • Gregory Boston (Present Pastor of Uniontown Church of Christ, DOC.) References: The History of the Disciples in North Carolina by Winfred Ernest Garrison and Alfred T. De Groat Elder William J. Barber, Sr Charles Crossfield Ware |
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