Hudson United Methodist Church

Transcribed from the Caldwell County Heritage Book. Information submitted to the book by Lois Hickman Haas.

The Hudson Methodist Episcopal Church, South, was organized in 1889. Rev A J Green served the congregation which m et in the local school, and later in Sardis Baptist, now Hudson First Baptist. The church was included in the newly organized Granite Falls Circuit, composed of Bethany, Grace Chapel, Rocky Mount, Pisgah, Colliers, Mt Herman, Cedar Valley, Ebenezer, Hudson and Smith Chapel.

Charter members were William D Hickman, Malinda Caroline Hickman; John Wesley, Elcany, Thompson, Ida M, Marcue T, and Jacob Ivey Hickman; and Charlie Sullivan. Mr and Mrs C E Conley joined in 1900 and their infant daughter, Josephine, was the first child christened. Effective church leaders, Mr Conley served as Sunday School Superintendent 25 years and she was active in women's work and a teacher.

W D Hickman, lumberman and farmer, who had moved to Hudson from the Grace Chapel area gave the land and built the one-room frame building, which was used until 1941. E T Hickman furnished the nails from his general store and J Ivey Hickman helped with the construction. C E Conley and J F Sullivan were on the building committee. New members were Connie Jones Hickman, Mrs B B (Mayme) Hayes, Millie E Price and J H Wakefield.

The Women's Foreign Missionary Society was organized Aug 16, 1914 by Mrs M M Courtney of Lenoir. Charter members were Mrs B B Hayes, Mrs C E Conley, Mrs E T Hickman, Mrs Laura Brown Hickman, Miss Carrie Bush Setzer, Mrs Rita Morris Doran, Mrs W D Hickman, Mrs John Hudson, Mrs Annie Morris Greer, Mrs Kate Poarch, Mrs Betty Brown Pearson, Mrs Elvia Icard, Miss Dannie Sullivan, Miss Mamie Sullivan, Mrs E T Bowman, Mrs Zora Bowman Austin and Miss Josephine Conley. Their first financial report to the conference was $7.50. From this meager beginning grew a most active and influential group for the church and community. Because of the hard labor and loyalty to the church, three of these women were honored by having circles named for them: the Mayme Hayes, Beulah Hickman and Ada Conley Circles. The Stella Glover Circle was named for another outstanding member.

In the early days, the society sent money to missionaries, cleaned the church, provided flowers, housed ministers and helped maintain a circuit parsonage in Lenoir.

In 1919, the church began to grow under the leadership of Rev Clem Goforth, Lenoir native and popular, energetic man. He lived in a rented parsonage on Main Street and walked to his churches at Whitnel, Mt Herman, and Colliers. he worked with Sunday School leaders, organized an Epworth League for the youth and a very active Boy Scout Troop. All through the years, the church has provided space for Scouts and leaders.

Mr H B Huss became a loyal Sundal School Superintendent. Mr E T Hickman was trustee and church treasurer for many years, and his wife, Beulah, was organist, quarterly conference recording steward, communion steward and WSCS leader. Mr Hickman gave a strip of land from his orchard for a parsonage in 1937 for Hudson and Mt Herman churches. Rev O L Robinson and his wife were the first to live there. In the early 70's when the churches built a new parsonage, the old one was purchased by Tom haas and his family and was moved to the back of the education building, where it was renovated as a home.

Through the efforts of Rev R D Hunt, the Duke Endowment and a generous donation from Barney B Hayes, the congregation raised funds to build a new church. Bishop Prucell dedicated it June 27, 1943. The beautiful pulpit, altar and railings were made by Reuben Drum. The stained glass window was given by the women and carpet by Mrs Cora Hickman Sharp, who at her death gave the church $10,000.

An organ was bought Sept 12, 1946 for $2,167; it was dedicated by Dr J S Hiatt. Chimes were given by the R Barton Hayes family, who was superintendent. F A Wright was pastor and Cleve Goodnite choir director. The organ has served since with Mrs Lois Haas as volunteer organist for more than 40 years. On March 5, 1978, Mrs Hass was honored by a large crowd during an appreciation night when a baptismal font was placed in the church in her honor and books placed in the library. At one time the women sponsored a Cradle Roll, a Primary Group and Junior Missionary Society. In 1940, the Women's Missionary Society of Christian Service became effective. About this time, the Methodist Church became the United Methodist Church.

Rev E M Graham, a beloved pastor, was killed by a train at the depot crossing on Easter, 1950, while returning from visiting the Bynum Coffey family. Rev Joe Taylor filled his terma and Rev O L Robinson was appointed for a second term.

Supporters and leaders of the church through the years were J F Query and his family, Mr and Mrs S A Carnes, Mr and Mrs Paul Pugh,Mr and Mrs Brite Smith, Mr and Mrs Glen Hickman and J Ivey Hickman.

Rev Clegg W Avett and family lived in the parsonage from 1958 until 1966. Under his dynamic leadership, the membership grew and an education building was built. The estate of Tom and Edna Seaboch helped finance the project. Through these years, Mr and Mrs Carl Wagner, Mr and Mrs James Steele, Sue Angley, Mr and Mrs Richard Sain, Henry Lathan, Carroll Kirby, Mr and Mrs Burton Huss, Cleve Goodnite and Mrs Paul Hickman were leaders and officers. The building was dedicated Oct 26, 1975 by Bishop Hunt and Rev Carlton Alspaugh and Pastor Mack Armstrong. A Day Care was opened in 1973 with Elaine Tapper, director.

In 1969, a gift of Carillon bells was given by the Tom Hasses, Jerry Hasses, James Avetts, Wallace Avetts and Richard Sains in honor of their parents, Rev and Mrs Clegg Avett and Mrs and Mrs Murl Haas. At Rev Avett's untimely death, the UMW sponsored a library in his memory. Mr and Mrs Bain Hickman have been avid supporters of this and other projects. A scholarship to Brevard College in the amount of $3,600 was presented in Rev Avett's memory by Jerry Haas, an alumnus in 1977.

A pall, as a memorial, was presented the church by Mr and Mrs Paul Hickman, Miss Eunice Query, Mrs Rachel Hickman Smith, Mrs Madge Rhyne and Mrs Elaine Sparks.

A new parsonage was begun under leadership of Rev Worth Sweet and completed while Rev John Burton was pastor, with Burlon E Cloer, chairman. Hudson and Mr Hermon jointly paid for and furnished the four bedroom brick home and it was dedicated June 26, 1983 by Bishop L Scott Allen, Rev Marion Workman and Rev Roy Bell, pastor.

The newest additions to the church include new carpet by the UMW, cathedral lighting by Spares and Pairs Class and a lighted wooden cross, made by David Drum in memory of his father, Reuben, and in honor of his mother, Virginia. An interesting note is the increase in the church budget, from $1,165 in 1944 to $44,000 in 1983.

Extensive research on the church history has been done by Miss Mabel Conley, Nell Greene, Rachel Smith and Lois Haas.