Bethlehem Reformed Church (Winston-Salem, NC)

Collection

Identifier: Church RG 128

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

BETHLEHEM REFORMED CHURCH, WINSTON-SALEM, NC - Bulletins - Cemetery records compiled by Henry Reeves, 1959 Includes the Brindle-Phelps (Colored) Cemetery (2 copies) - Church Records (copy of original): Baptisms, 1918-1919; Directories, 1986 - Constitutions - History - Photographs

Dates

Creation: 1856 - 2007

Biographical / Historical

In 1909 the Waughtown Charge was formed when Hebron (aka Pleasant Retreat) Reformed Church left the Upper Davidson Charge and joined with the newly founded First Reformed Church (originally tried to organize under the name of Zion Reformed Church in 1905). When Bethlehem Reformed Church was founded in 1914 it was added to the Charge. Hebron Reformed Church withdrew from the Charge in 1927 leaving only First and Bethlehem, which later became independent churches. Pastors who served the Waughtown Charge: 1909-1911 A. Samuel Peeler 1912-1921 David E. Bowers 1922-1923 J. M. Luther Lyerly 1923-1937 Augustus C. Peeler 1937-1942 Roy C. Whisenhunt 1942-1947 Hiram E. Davis Pastors who served Hebron Reformed Church: 1856-1857 Thornton Butler (organizer) 1856-1886 Thomas Long 1886-1887 G. Dickie Gurley (supply) 1887-1888 J. H. Shuford 1889-1897 Jacob C. Leonard 1897-1903 H. A. M. Holshouser 1904-1907 William H. Causey 1908-1908 John A. Ditzler (supply) 1909-1927 SEE CHARGE PASTORS 1927-1948 A. Odell Leonard (stated supply) 1948-1948 John W. Settlemyre (summer student supply) 1948-1949 Shuford Peeler (supply) 1949-1953 John W. Settlemyre 1953-1955 Thomas Hoffman 1956-1956 A. Odell Leonard (supply) 1957-1959 Charles Donald Lyerly 1959-1960 A. Odell Leonard; Donald M. Leonard (supply) 1960-1961 Aubrey W. Hedrick (supply) 1961-1967 Rex O. Dobey 1967-1969 William M. Everhart 1969-1974 Terrell M. Shoffner 1974-1976 Lawrence R. Bolick 1976-???? Robert M. Kimball 1984-???? F. W. Snyder, Sr. 1992-???? K. L. Gilliam 1997-???? Jeffery F. Hammonds 2004-???? Raymond C. Craven (interim) 2007-???? David Carter

Pastors who served First (Zion) Church:

1905-1907 William H. Causey (organizer) 1908-1909 David E. Bowers (supply) 1909-1947 SEE CHARGE PASTORS 1947-1957 Hiram E. Davis 1957-1966 Aubrey W. Hedrick 1967-1973 J. Wayne Fouts 1993-1994 Elden Spangler (interim) 1974-1975 Ingle O. Cook 1975-1976 Josh Levens (interim) 1976-1992 Nelson A. L. Weller 1992-2002 Christa Warise 2002-???? Elizabeth Parker Horton

Pastors who served Bethlehem Church:

1914-1947 SEE CHARGE PASTORS 1947-1953 John W. Settlemyre 1954-1955 Harvey H. Koonts, Jr. 1956-1961 Carl C. Kreps 1961-1965 Joshua L. Levens 1965-1966 Banks J. Peeler 1966-???? Weldon T. Madren 1976-???? C. L. Frye 1986-???? Robert C. Boyd 1991-???? R. O. Rahe 2000-???? J. D. Owens 2002-???? Joseph W. West (interim) 2003-???? A. Long

Extent

1 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Existence and Location of Originals

On April 10, 2025, Scott Meyer-Kukan spoke with Rev. Bryan Hullette of Overflow Church as Bethlehem merged with Overflow Church in 2018. Rev. Hullette indicated that he was unsure of the whereabouts of the original church records and that after a good search they have been unable to be found in the building. As of this date, we do not know the whereabouts of any records beyond what is currently held in this record collection.

Related Materials

For: Additional copy of cemetery records of Bethlemen & Hebron Reformed Churches, compiled by Henry Reeves, 1959 SEE ALSO: Microfilm #177 For: Pastoral Records, 1908-1917 of David E. Bowers (1873-1921) SEE ALSO: Ms. Coll. 301 For: Additional copy of Church Records, 1859-1914 from Hebron Reformed Church SEE ALSO: Microfilm #282 For: Cemetery Records found in "Cemetery Inscriptions Davidson (Old Rowan) County, North Carolina", by Reeves & Koch SEE ALSO: BX 9581.46 .D3 R43 1970 For: Commemorative Plates from First (Zion) Reformed Church SEE ALSO: 2006.022.04 and Artifact Box 039.05