My talk a couple of weeks ago on the history of Wilson County’s African-American churches made me revisit a list pulled from mid-1940s issues of Wilson Daily Times. Where were these churches? Which are still active?

• Barnes Chapel, South Warren Street, Rev. E.D. Joyner [of Rocky Mount], second and fourth Sundays

Still active at 1004 Railroad Street, Wilson.

• Bethel A.M.E. Zion Church, Stantonsburg, Rev. W.B. McCoy 

Founded in 1877. Still active at 210 West Broad Avenue, Stantonsburg. Bethel’s original site was southeast of Stantonsburg on what is now Peacock Bridge Road. Its old cemetery marks the approximate site.

• Bethlehem Colored Holiness Church of God, 412 South Bruton Street, Elder Jesse Herring
• Brown’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, corner Bruton and Walnut Streets, Rev. E.M. Rogers, second and fourth Sundays

Brown Chapel was founded in 1900 in Grabneck, then moved to Daniel Hill. It is still active at 1507 Hadley Street, Wilson.

• Calvary Holiness Church, Ashe Street, Rev. William McLandon

Calvary Holy Church’s building was at 118 Ash Street. It sold the property to Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, now Antioch Outreach Church Ministries, in 1977. Calvary is now active at 515 Daniel Street.

• Calvary Presbyterian Church, Green and Pender Streets, Rev. Obra J. Hawkins

Founded in 1889. Still active at 209 North Pender Street.

• Church of God, 904 South Wainwright Street, Elder E.D. Swain

Church inactive. Church building still standing at 906 Wainwright Street, Wilson; now owned by Trustees of Glorious Hope Church.

• Clifton Chapel, Wilson, Elder F.W. Williams, fourth Sunday

The “Elder” designation suggests that Clifton Chapel was a Primitive Baptist or Holiness church. There is no Clifton Chapel now in Wilson. However, there is a Clifton Chapel Church of Christ Disciples of Christ in Spring Hope, Nash County.

• Dixon Chapel, “three miles from Wilson on Old Stantonsburg Road,” Rev. C.B. Smith, clerk Lizzie Ellis, third Sunday

Founded about 1900. Dixon Chapel’s status is unclear. The church stands at 4000 Stantonsburg Road, Wilson.

• Ebenezer Baptist Church, corner Hadley and Rountree Streets, Rev. Charles T. Jones, first and third Sundays

Founded in 1938. Still active at 414 Hadley Street.

• Ellis Chapel Free Will Baptist, Rev. R.T. Carr, first Sunday

Founded in 1881. Not active. The church building is still standing at 5032 Aviation Place.

• First Baptist Church, corner Nash and Pender Streets, Rev. Fred M. Davis Sr.

Founded in 1872. Jackson Chapel First Missionary Baptist Church. Still active at 571 East Nash Street.

• First Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, 703 East Gay Street, Rev. L.E. Powell, second and fourth Sundays

Still active at 704 Gay Street.

• Flat Rock Disciples Church, 402 Vick’s Alley, Elder D.C. Artis, fourth Sunday

Flat Rock Church of Christ Disciples of Christ is active at 6730 Flat Rock Road, Sims. Is this the same church?

• Good Hope Chapel, East Atlantic Street, Rev. Frank F. Battle

Not active. Church building stood at 1211 Atlantic Street.

• Gospel Tabernacle Holiness Church, 317 Elva Street, Rev. Bettie V. Lofton, second and fourth Sundays

Not active, and the church building is no longer standing.

• Hardy’s Chapel A.M.E. Zion Church, Black Creek, Rev. C.D. Ward, second and fourth Sunday

Not active. No other information.

• Holy Temple Church, Moore Street, Rev. W.H. Holliday

Founded in 1928. Its first sanctuary was at 714 Moore Street, and second at 1003 South Lodge. In 2008, Holy Temple merged with Rose of Sharon United Holy Church to form Kairos Church Ministries. The Moore Street building is now occupied by Mission of Faith Free Will Baptist Church.

• Johnson Chapel, East Vance Street, Bishop J. Hargrove, secretary Florine Folsom, second and fourth Sunday

There is no active Johnson Chapel in Wilson. However, in Elm City, Johnson Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, founded in 1886, remains active.

• Living Hope Missionary Baptist Church, Black Creek, Rev. W.S. Barnes, third Sunday

Possibly, Living Hope Missionary Baptist Church, 5079 Artis Road, Lucama. Status unclear.

• Mount Calvary Holiness Church No. 2, Rev. W.M. Mercer
• Mount Calvary Holy Church, Bishop B. Johnson, Evangelist Marie Donnell

Mount Calvary Evening Light Holiness Church, 208 South Pender Street, is active. I don’t know if this is the successor of church 1 or 2 or both.

• Mount Olive A.M.E. Zion Church, Stantonsburg, Rev. R.A. Murphy, second Sunday

Not active. No other information.

• Mount Zion Free Will Baptist Church, Lane Street, Rev. George W. Little

Founded in 1912. Still active at 305 Lane Street.

• Mount Zion Holy Church, South Lodge Street, Bishop G.J. Branch, assistant Rev. A. Austin

Founded in 1906. Succeeded by Branch Memorial Tabernacle United Holy Church and stands at 517 Hadley Street.

• New Sandy Fork Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. W.S. Barnes, second Sunday

Still active at 6117 Sandy Fork Place. [Not to be confused with Sandy Fork Baptist Church on Sandy Fork Road in Nash County. The churches split around 1915.]

• Patterson Chapel Colored Holiness Church of God, “two miles south of Wilson,” Rev. Carrie Tabron, third Sunday

Still active at 2924 Forest Hills Road.

• Piney Grove Free Will Baptist Church, corner Vick and Carolina Streets, Rev. Eddie H. Cox

Founded in 1882. Still active at 309 East Vick Street.

• Rocky Branch Christian Church, Rev. C. Hodges

Founded in 1870. Still active at 5968 NC-581, Kenly.

• Rountree Missionary Baptist Church, Rev. H. Hoskin, fourth Sunday

Founded in 1866. Still active at 2110 Martin L. King Jr. Parkway.

• Saint Alphonsus Catholic Church, North Reid Street opposite Community Center, Rev. William F.F. Murray, assistants Rev. Thomas Gilhody and Rev. John Anderson

Founded in 1942. Merged with Saint Therese Catholic Church in 1986. Church building remains at 810 North Reid Street.

• Saint James Church, Stantonsburg, Rev. W.H. Holliday

Founded in 1932. Saint James Holy Church is still active at 100 North Main Street, Stantonsburg.

• Saint John A.M.E. Zion Church, Smith and Pender Streets, Rev. William A. Hilliard

Founded in 1868. Still active at 119 North Pender Street.

• Saint Luke A.M.E. Church, corner Vick and Atlantic Streets, Rev. P.J. McIntyre

Founded in 1910. Still active at 112 North Vick Street.

• Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, corner of Reid and Nash Streets, Rev. Robert J. Johnson, lay reader John H. Clark

Founded in 1887. Still active at 106 South Reid Street.

• Saint Paul’s Disciples Church, Nash Road, Rev. E.Z. Coley, fourth Sunday

Founded in 1905. Saint Paul Church of Christ Disciples of Christ is still active at 4009 Lake Wilson Road.

• Saint Rose Disciples Church, Spring Street, Rev. E.F. Johnson, first and third Sunday

Founded in 1903. Saint Rose Church of Christ Disciples of Christ is still active at 605 Douglas Street.

• Saint Rose Pentecostal Holiness Church, Rev. W.H. Bailey, first and third Sunday

Founded in 1932. Status unclear. Church located at 5252 Saint Rose Church Road, Sims.

• Solid Rock New Testament of God, 412 South Bruton Street, Elder P.E. Mincey, Bishop H.L. Dixon.

No longer active. Church building no longer standing.

• Trinity A.M.E. Zion Church, Bank Street, Rev. John A. Everett

Still active at 1626 Martin Luther King Parkway.

• William Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Elm City, Rev. C.A. Merritt, second Sunday

Founded in 1885. Still active at 6154 William Chapel Church Road, Elm City.

• Wilson Chapel Free Will Baptist Church, Barnes Street, Rev. L.E. Rasbury [Rasberry]

Founded in 1910. Wilson Chapel is still active at 513 South Barnes Street.