BURKHEAD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
1888
Winston-Salem, NC
Research by Mrs. Betty G. Bewely
Burkhead Historian
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In 1886, Centenary United Methodist Church organized a group as the Mission Grove Methodist Mission. Their purpose
was to start a church in North Winston. A Sunday School class, the Union Grove Mission, was conducted in the old Union
Chapel located on North Liberty Street. Around 1887 twenty two charter members under the leadership of Centenary,
organized a new church and named it Burkhead Methodist Episcopal Church, South, in honor of Dr. L.S. Burkhead. He was to
serve for only a year until his untimely death in December 1887 during the annual conference in Fayetteville.
The first building was started in 1888, and the church was dedicated in September 1888 with 22 members coming by certificate:
The Union Republican printed the following announcement: "Revival services in Burkhead Methodist Episcopal Church in North
Winston under direction of Rev. C.W. Robbins." The 22 founding members were:
(See Burkhead Membership Roster)
Alex Nading
Mrs. Sarah Nading
J.A. White
Mrs. Mary E. White
J.A. Walker
Mrs. Susie J. Walker
H.K. Thomas
Mrs. Mary M. Thomas
Mrs. S.C. Dowdy
E.N. Haskins
Mrs. H.C. Crawford
Samuel Thomas
Mrs. Clare Thomas
Miss Mary Hartman
Miss Susie Hartman
W.R. Ham
C.A. Casey
Mrs. M.E. Fry
Adison Johnson
Mrs. Louisa Johnson
H.C. Wooters
Mrs. Lennie Wooters
These members from Centenary officially became Burkhead's charter members.
The dedication of Burkhead's first church located at 1012 North Liberty Street was dedicated that September 1888. Since
Winston had voted to put electric lights in the town in 1887, there is a strong possibility that Burkhead was wired for electricity
when it was built. In 1910 this building was enlarged and brick-veneered.
Burkhead quickly increased its membership and by 1908 the subject of building a new church was raised. "The building
committee was empowered to secure the lot in front of the present church (known as the P.H. Hanes lot) on the most favorable
terms possible...." (Quarterly Reports)
The original building was enlarged in 1919 even while plans to build a new sanctuary were begun. Consolidation in April 1920
with Liberty Methodist Episcopal Church South created even more growth and a new church building was begun.
Consolidation added new members to the roll including Ella Mae (Mrs. Glenn) Hedrick who entered on the Cradle Roll from the
Liberty Church. Mrs. Hedrick served as Church Secretary and Historian for many years. During these years the men, including
Bill Hamilton's grandfather, J.J. Hamilton, were doing so many church visitations that the Baraca Sunday School class bought
them a car to use.
The cornerstone of the new church was laid July 9, 1922 with over 500 people in attendance. The new sanctuary was completed
by the end of 1922 with the dedication taking place May 27, 1923. At that time there were 719 members. By May 1923 the
church and the remodeled parsonage was paid for.
For the next several decades Burkhead continued to grow. In 1964 five acres on Silas Creek Parkway were given to the church
by the Winston-Salem District Missions Society. Through fund raisers and pledges, Burkhead built a new church and found a
new home in what was the suburbs of Winston-Salem. Bricks salvaged from the original church on N. Liberty Street (which had
been demolished in the late 1950's) were used to construct the new parsonage at 3309 York Road. Today, the church is still
located on Silas Creek Parkway in Winston-Salem, NC. and is very active.