Bucklesberry, Back in the Day: Hickory Grove Church (23)
Hickory Grove Church (23)
Dr. Joe Sutton
TRANSITION YEARS (Cont.)
Hickory Grove was established by 1841 as a Free Will Baptist (F.W.B.) church. By 1872, it was a Baptist work aligned with the Union Baptist Association (U.B.A.). A church vote in October 1884 resulted in separation from the U.B.A. Seven months later, the congregation voted to affiliate with the Methodist Protestant Church (M.P.C.) Conference.
In 1885, Hickory Grove was one of four churches that comprised the La Grange Mission of the M.P.C. Conference. All were pastored by Rev. William E. Swain. His regular preaching appointment at Hickory Grove was the first Sunday of each month. Joined by Rev. Jacob Simpson, also of the M.P.C. Conference, the two preachers held a series of revival meetings in late summer:
1885, August 5: "Rev. W. E. Swain, assisted by Rev. Mr. Simpson, is conducting a protracted meeting at Hickory Grove this week. The congregation at that place last Sunday was very large, and we hope to hear of many additions to the Church before the meeting closes." (The Daily Journal, New Bern)
Not as fruitful as had been hoped, the revival meetings apparently did not result in swelling the membership at Hickory Grove. And no decisions of faith in Christ were reported:
1885, August 9: "The protracted meeting at Hickory Grove closed last Tuesday night. No accessions to the Church." (The Daily Journal, New Bern)
Without losing a step in advancing their new Methodist work, Hickory Grove opened its doors to host a local M.P.C. Conference meeting in the fall of the year:
1885, October 28: "The fourth quarterly conference of the M.P.C. Church for La Grange Mission meets at Hickory Grove next Saturday." (The Daily Journal, New Bern)
Rev. Swain kept his commitment to hold a monthly service at Hickory Grove throughout 1885. His pastorate continued into the next year:
1885, November 5: "Rev. W. E. Swain preached at Hickory Grove last Sunday. The next appointment at that place will be 1st Sunday in January, 1886." (The Daily Journal, New Bern)
The next Bucklesberry article will share more about Hickory Grove's transition to the Methodist denomination. Interested readers may enjoy a previously published Bucklesberry article titled "Tuberculosis, Typhoid 1920" available at https://bit.ly/3VLGEnY.
