Methodist church

The obituary of Jennette Barnes (reveals a mystery).

Wilson Daily Times, 4 April 1947.

Jennette Barnes‘ obituary adds two interesting bits of information to the profile already posted: (1) she had a brother named Joseph Jones, and (2) she was a member of Evansdale Methodist Church.

Evansdale Methodist?

Evansdale United Methodist anchors the old Evansdale community south of today’s Beddingfield High School. As mainline churches go in Wilson County, it is relatively young, having been established in 1913. Did Evansdale United Methodist admit black people to full membership during Jennette Barnes’ lifetime?

On 7 February 1930, Evansdale Methodist appears in a list of “colored churches” holding services in Wilson County.

Wilson Daily Times, 7 February 1930.

However, in every similar listing that year — they ran weekly — Evansdale Methodist appears under “County Churches.” And a 1963 history of Evansdale United Methodist discloses that the pastor from 1929 to 1931 was Rev. J. Vincent Knight. The February 7 paper, it appears, contained a typesetting error, and one that probably caused significant consternation.

So, we’re back to square one. Was there another Methodist church — a black one — in the Evansdale community? As far as I know, there have been no standard Methodist churches in Wilson County founded for or by black people. All nineteenth and early twentieth century references to “colored Methodist” churches related to African Methodist Episcopal Zion or African Methodist Episcopal churches (of which there were once many more than there are now.) Barnes’ obituary notes that she was funeralized at Saint John A.M.E. Zion. Was Evansdale also A.M.E. Z.?  I’ll keep searching.

Methodist Episcopal church?

This little clapboard church appears on South Lodge Street, directly across from Imperial Tobacco, on page 9 of the 1913 Sanborn fire insurance map of Wilson. It was labeled “M.E. Church (Negro),” but which Methodist Episcopal church was it?

A look in the city directory only deepens the mystery. Here are the two Black Methodist churches:

The first church was today’s Saint John A.M.E. Zion Church. The second was today’s Saint Luke A.M.E. Church. Neither is the church on the map above.

Here’s the entry for Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church:

That seems close, but not quite. Saint Mark’s was in the next block of South Lodge just across South Street.

I’ll let you know if I figure this out.

Unfit for use.

A regular meeting of the Board of Aldermen was held in the office of C.A. Young this Monday evening, December 19, 1887.

Present, G.D. Green, Mayor in the chair and all members of the Board.

…

On motion the Old Methodist E. Church (Colored) was condemned as unfit for use.

…

On motion the Board was adjourned.     — C.A. Young, Clerk

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The location of the condemned church building on the eastern edge of town is shown here.

This Board of Aldermen entry appears Minutes of City Council, Wilson, North Carolina, May 1, 1885-June 16, 1892, transcribed in a bound volume shelved at Wilson County Public Library, Wilson

Trustees of the Colored Methodist Church of Elm City.

WDT 11 15 1910

Wilson Daily Times, 15 November 1910.

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I have not been able to identify W.S. Allen, but in the 1910 census of Toisnot township, Wilson County: 55 year-old rock quarryman John Jones; Virginia-born laundress wife Mollie, 45; and children Annie B., 15, John, 15, and William, 5.