HISTORY OF GRAVES MEMORIAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
1831
GMPC History
Shiloh Presbyterian Church was organized by a traveling missionary agent, The Reverend Alex McIver who then became the first minister of the congregation. The church was built on land donated by founding member, Samuel A. Bunting, and was located four miles east of Clinton on the old Warsaw Road.
1849
The church and adjacent school house were destroyed by fire. Members then began to worship in the Masonic Lodge at the corner of Chestnutt and Sycamore Streets in Clinton. They changed the name of the congregation to Clinton Presbyterian Church.
1906
The church was once again destroyed by fire. A solicitation for a small contribution of $.50 to help rebuild the church from Mrs. John D. Kerr was answered in full by N. Z. Graves, a contractor in Philadelphia. Graves had multiple connections to the church. His uncle, Nelson Z. Graves, for who he had been named had been a minister at the Goldsboro Presbyterian Church and had served temporarily in Clinton. Nelson Z. Graves married Ida Johnson who was the aunt of future long serving Clerk of Session Ferdinand B. Johnson.
November 28, 1908
The building was renamed as the L. C. Graves Memorial Presbyterian Church and was dedicated with The Reverend P. L. Clark as pastor. Other ministers to follow in the early 20th century included The Reverend James Thomas, a son of the congregation, The Reverend George M. Matthis in 1917 as well as The Reverend M.O. Sonnets in 1931.
1936
Sunday School rooms were added to the back of the sanctuary.
November 1938
The Reverend Mack C. MacQueen began his 33 years of service at Graves Memorial where he served until his death on December 18, 1971.
1948
The sanctuary was remodeled and enlarged. Extensive improvements were made on the entire building.
1960
The education building and fellowship hall was constructed.
October 14, 1971
The building was dedicated as the “Mack C. MacQueen Education Building”
1970
GMPC purchased a second manse located at 317 West Main Street where Mrs. Memory MacQueen, widow of Rev. MacQueen, lived until Hurricane Fran demolished the house in 1996. At that time she once again moved back into the original manse, 112 N. Chestnutt Street, until her death in March of 2002.
1983
GMPC became part of the newly formed denomination, the Presbyterian Church in the United State of America (PC-USA). The Reverend Frank Elliott served as interim in the first six months of 1988 until Dr. Hawkins began his pastorate.
1993
Mary Ann Shelton began a handbell choir and served as the director for the first two years. Ellen Tew followed her as director of handbells and remained as such until her death in November of 2016.
December 1989
The congregation purchased the property in front of the education building and the backyard of the manse lot for use as a parking lot.
Diana (Dee) Askins served as the first Director of Christian Education at GMPC from April 1989 to April 2005.
April 1994
Several building projects were completed including a new music room and a renovation of both the education building and the sanctuary building.
2004
The “Honeycutt” manse, 110 N. Chestnutt Street, was purchased
2005
Church Street which had separated the sanctuary and education buildings was closed
2006
The Rich house rental property at 203 N. Chestnutt Street was sold
October 26, 2008
An extensive addition and major improvements were made to the MacQueen Education Building/Fellowship Hall and it was rededicated.
That day also marked the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the sanctuary building.
March 1, 2024 to present
The Reverend Katherine W. Rives began as pastor. Clerk of Session is Carl Barr. Church treasurer is Brooks Barwick. OPS Recorder (Offerings, Pledges, Statements) is Neal Sinclair. Organist is Lara Capparuccia. Co-directors of music are Sean and Lara Capparuccia. Handbell director is Sean Capparuccia. Melissa Griffin is the secretary.
We look forward to where God leads us…
