Historical Reflections Of New Stoney Hill United Holy Church
In 1903, a small group of people felt a strong spiritual need to worship together. Initially, they found refuge in a make shift bush shelter. The group organized the first place to worship.
The Beginning: Bush Shelter 1903
After several years of expansion, the group recognized the need for a building in which to worship. A new leader named Rev. Paul Murray joined the group. Rev. Murray sought assistance from the community. He was granted permission from Mr. William Howard, a white businessman, to construct the first building for a holiness church.
In 1908, Rev. Murray, planned and participated in the construction of the first church. The church was located on Highway 117 North in the Belfast community and was named Stoney Hill Holy Church. Rev. W. Cox assisted Rev. Murray in the construction of the new church. In the organizational structure of the church, the founders became their first Deacons and Mothers. They included Bro. A. A. Parks and wife, Bro. Andrew McIntyre and wife, Bro. Richard Cox and wife and others.
First Constructed Building 1908
Pastors following Rev. Nicholas were Elder J. R. Grandy of Kinston, NC, Elder L. L. Davis of Raleigh, NC, Elder J. W. Jackson of Ayden, NC and Elder J. W. Bailey of Wilson, NC. Elder Cora M. Dawson served as assistant pastor for many years. Other great pioneer officers of the early church were Bro. Samuel Parks, Bro. Joe Smith, Bro. Marcellus Wooten, Bro. Luby Moses, Sis. Julia Wooten, Sis. Horner, Sis. Daisy McIntyre and others.
As the church grew the members joined with another group of similar faith, called the Holy Church of North Carolina and Virginia. After some time the combined group was known as the Holy Church of North Carolina. The third pastor, the R. D. Brown was chosen during that time. Rev. Brown and the members realized that because of an increase in membership, they needed more than one service to accommodate the people. The first program that organized was the Young Peoples Holy Association or the Y.P.H.A. During the same year, Bro. L. M. Moses was instrumental informing the first Bible Church School and a choir for the church. Bro. Solomon Royall began the Sunday School. Sis. Ophelia Cox, along with others, began the Missionary Circle. The Willing Workers Club, also organized by Sis. Cox and her assistants, raised money for the upkeep of the church.
In 1928, Dr. E. D. Nicholas of Winston-Salem, North Carolina became the fourth pastor. He found the church active and strong in it’s belief and dedication to meet the spiritual needs of the people.
Following the pastoral leadership of Elder J. W. Bailey, in the early 1950’s, the Elder B. B. Dunn became pastor of Stoney Hill Holy Church. During the tenure of Pastor Dunn, the church continued to grow and many souls were added to the church. In 1959, the pastor and members of Stoney Hill realized that most of the members had moved to the city for employment. Deacon Hubert McIntyre and his son Bro. Lee McIntyre were selected to find a site for a new building that would be convenient for the majority of the members.
Rev. H.E. McNair
Later in the same year, the land located on Poplar Street Extension was purchased for the construction of a new church site. In 1960, the McIntyre’s and others talented in brick laying and masonry gave their skills and labor to build a new church. In the spring of 1963, their labor became a reality and the first service was held in the new sanctuary with Elder B. B. Dunn as Pastor. At that time, the name of the church was changed to New Stoney Hill Holy Church.
Rev. H.E. McNair
In 1965, Rev. H.E. McNair was appointed assistant pastor to Elder B. B. Dunn. Rev. McNair served as assistant pastor until Elder Dunn was called home to be with the Lord. In 1974, Rev. McNair was appointed Pastor. His gospel preaching brought more and more people to the church and to the kingdom of God. Elder McNair served the church for 56 years until 2021. Elder Kathye Gamble Batts, his god daughter, was elected to succeed him in September of 2021.
New Stoney Hill United Holy Church 2019: Wheel Chair Ramp added in 1985; Dining Facility / Annex added in 1990
New Stoney Hill United Holy Church 2020