The following is a list of community, missions and church projects that Memorial Church is involved in:

Holiday Angels (Christmas gifts, and other family assistance at Christmas), SMPCC (Smoky Mountain Pregnancy Care Center), KIDS Place, CareNet, REACH, monetary donations to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief),  Prayer Shawl Ministry, Art & Craft Ministry, United Methodist Men, Women's Fellowship, Monday applique & sewing group, Macon New Beginnings/The Serving Spoon.    

If you are interested in being involved in any of these projects or groups, or would like additional information, please call Millie in the church office. 

 

A Brief History of Memorial United Methodist Church

Memorial United Methodist Church is located five miles west of Franklin, NC.  It was formed by the merging of Carson Chapel and Mt. Zion Methodist Churches in 1967.  The building site was donated and deeded to the church by Mr. A.B. Slagle, a former member of Mt. Zion.  It consisted of about 18 acres and lies almost exactly halfway between the two churches.

Rev. Donald Noblitt was pastor of Mt. Zion and Rev. P.F. Snyder was pastor of Carson Chapel when plans for the merger were started.  The congregations met in the summer at Carson Chapel and at Mt. Zion during the cold months while plans were being finalized and the new church constructed.  The new church was named by the members (unanimously) "Memorial United Methodist Church" in memory of departed loved ones.

Construction of the church began in 1970 while Rev. William Haselden was pastor (1968-1973).  Members of the building committee consisted of Nelson Waldroop, Chairman, Earl Cabe (Treasurer) Siler Slagle, Fred Slagle, Cecil Parker, Homer Greene, Florence Sherill, Charles Nolen and Earl Harrison.  Members of the Board of Trustees were Jeff Enloe, Nelson Waldroop, Harold Moore, Wayne Harrison, Wayne Pendergrass, Siler Slagle, Cecil Parker, Jim Cunningham, Sr. and Fred S. Moore.

Construction was by Haywood Contractors of Lake Junaluska.  James D. Padgett of Asheville was the architect.  He received a Certificate of Recognition for Rural Churches Design from the Randolph E. Dumont Design Co, which is sponsored by the Committee on Church Architecture of the N.C. Conference and the W.N.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church.

The church building was one of the first churches in the county not built in the traditional idea of a church and received quite a bit of interest during the building process.  One person remarked to Mrs. Harriet Setser, an older member, that it looked like a barn.  She replied, "Well, after all, wasn't Jesus born in a stable?"  After completion of the church, everyone was pleased with the results.

The first service was held in Memorial on February 28, 1971.  The officiating minister was Rev. Paul Barker, as Rev. William Haselden, the regular minister, was ill.  The Formal Opening Service and The Service for "Laying of the Cornerstone" were held on April 18, 1971, with Bishop Earl G. Hunt officiating.  Other participants were Rev. Harley Dickson, District Superintendent; Rev. William Haselden, Rev. C. E. Murray, Rev. Donald Noblitt, Rev. Paul Barker and Soloist, Conrad Hefner, who sang "How Great Thou Art".

On June 26, 1977, Memorial United Methodist Church was dedicated to the "Glory of God and Service to Mankind".  The minister in charge was Rev. Joel Carter (1973 - 1981).  Participants on the service were Bishop L. Scott Allen of Charlotte, Dr. James Coleman, District Superintendent and Rev. William Haselden.  The mortgage was burned by Earl Cabe, Gilmer Setser, and Eugene Crawford.  The members of the Planning Committee for Dedication Day were Steve Roylston, Chairman; Florence Sherrill, Co-coordinator; Harriet Setser, Historian; Jim Cunningham, Sr., Chairman of the Administrative Board, and Charles Nolen, Chairman of Trustees.

The first officers of the church were Bob Bryson, Sunday School Superintendent; Myra Waldroop, assistant Superintendent; Katherine Pendergrass, Secretary of Sunday School; Mae Belle Cabe, Financial Secretary; Clara Harrison, Treasurer; and Sarah Bryson, who had served as Recording Secretary since 1967.

The bell in the tower is from the Carson Chapel Church.  The large cross in the front of the church sanctuary was made by Fred Slagle from material from the alter rail at Carson Chapel.  The brass cross on the piano was donated by Charles Nolen.  The Christian flag was given by the Friendship Sunday School Class; the Communion Element Cover and Table Cover were given by the Adult Sunday School Class.

In September of 2000 the need for additional space became apparent.  After much discussion, a loan was secured in March, 2001, for a building addition that would include a large fellowship hall, kitchen, four additional classrooms, a pastor's office, secretary's office, and a prayer room.  A consecration Service was held on March 10, 2002.  To this day, Memorial seeks to be a church with open hearts to share Christ with everyone and with open doors we hope will be an invitation to come and experience the love of God we have found in Jesus Christ.

Pastors of Memorial United Methodist Church:

William Haselden, 1968 - 1973

Joel Carter, 1973 - 1981

William Sartin, 1981 -1986

Harold Strader, 1986 - 1988

Jerry Evans, 1988 - 1991

Frank Howard, 1991 - 1998

Keith Newell, 1998 - 2012

David Duncan, 2012 - 2014

Susan German, 2014 - 2017

Evan W. Hill, 2018 - 2023

D'Andre Ash, 2023 -