USA > North Carolina > Mecklenburg County > Charlotte > The history of Steele Creek Presbyterian Church : Mecklenburg County, Charlotte, North Carolina > Part 9
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In 1948 the congregation celebrated twenty-five years of service by the Reverend Walker.
On February 25, 1948, the Reverend Walker announced plans to resign his pastorate, effective May 1, 1948, subject to action of the Presbytery. A congregational meeting was called for electing a
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Pulpit Nominating Committee. Those elected to serve were P. E. Cathey and W. L. Byrum to represent the Session, J. M. Bovles and A. H. Freeman representing the Deacons, Mrs. J. B. Watt repre- senting the Women, P. H. Gwynn III the young people and Mrs. R. E. McDowell and Belk Hovis the congregation-at-large. R. A. Grier was nominated from the floor to serve as chairman.
The John Mack Walker family - Mrs. Walker, sons John Mack, Jr., Thomas English and daughters Lila Peck and Sarah English - were loved by the community. The entire family was always involved in both church and community affairs. The diligent work by the Reverend Walker at Steele Creek, that in behalf of the Chapels, and very active participation in Presbytery affairs brought him honor. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree by Davidson College.
A portion of the eulogy presented by the church officers follows:
Ties that have bound pastor and people for more than twenty-seven years are not easily torn asunder. Our hearts are filled with gratitude to God for this long ministry in our midst. We would record our apprecia- tion of his life and labors, especially in the following fields:
Preaching the word of God in purity and power: shepherding the flock with all his strength;
entering into our joys as he pronounced solemn words that united many of us in wedlock;
comforting us in our sorrow with his prayers of solace as he buried our dead;
challenging and leading in the stewardship of posses- sions and service;
showing genuine fellowship on every occasion and in every relationship;
displaying always all the traits of genuine Christian
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character while maintaining the courage of his con- victions.
We are not unmindful of the contributions Mrs. Walker has made to the success of this ministry, for she has proved herself a real helpmate in all the work of the church. The pleasant association with the entire family and the happy hours in the hospitality of the manse will linger in our memories.
Twentieth Pastor - Reverend Watt M. Cooper (1949-1957)
Steele Creek was without a pastor from the time the Reverend Walker left in mid-1948 until the Reverend Cooper was installed October 30, 1949. During this time the Pulpit Supply Committee with Robert W. Boyles as Chairman was bringing many dedicated ministers to our congregation. One who served for many months was the Reverend William R. Smith III, a graduate of Davidson College, Union Theological Seminary, then serving as minister to the students at Davidson. The church continued to grow, but it was a wonderful day when a pastor was again in the manse. Dr. Hunter Blakely, President of Queens College presided at the installation service, assisted by Dr. R. H. Stone, Executive Secre- tary of Mecklenburg Presbytery; Elder J. N. Stribbling, First Presbyterian Church; Elder R. R. Grier, Central Steele Creek Presbyterian Church; and Elder W. Mack Berryhill, Mulberry Presbyterian Church. The sermon was preached by a son of Steele Creek, the Reverend O. C. Williamson, D.D.
We do not look back upon the Reverend Cooper's pastorate as "Seven Years of Plenty", nor do we want to think of it as "Seven Lean Years". It was a period when a congregation of Christian people stood shoulder to shoulder with their pastor and moved forward towards some of the goals which it was God's purpose to accomplish.
Church attendance rose rapidly early in the Reverend Cooper's
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ministry; therefore, a great deal of effort went towards renovation and expansion of the physical plant. The church sanctuary and old Sunday School annex were completely renovated in 1951 at a cost of approximately $74,000.00. A Building Committee headed by Mrs. W. W. McGinn was responsible. This was followed by com- plete renovation of the Community House supervised by L. W. Query's Committee. Much of the work was done by volunteers, thus expenditures were less than $20,000.00. The old church pews, installed in 1889, were dismantled and used as wall paneling. A chapel and a modern kitchen were added. The Children's Build- ing, a new Sunday School wing, was completed in 1954. For this project Mrs. R. E. McDowell served as chairman of the Planning Committee, M. D. Clark was chairman of the Building Commit- tee and Price H. Gwynn III headed the Finance Committee. The total cost was $95,000.00. Coupled with the building program, improvements were made towards beautification of the church grounds.
Each year the Session's Committee on Evangelism conducted two or more visitation campaigns in the community. These, together with a week of Special Evangelistic Services and an annual Communicants' Class markedly increased church mem- bership. During the Reverend Cooper's time, 504 new members were added, 191 of which came on profession of faith. In February, 1957, there were 1,008 active members, the largest enrollment in the church's history. Attendance at worship services was excellent, often exceeding the regular seating capacity of the sanctuary. Attendance at Wednesday night Prayer Meetings was also good.
Due to the size of the congregation and in order to render greater Christian fellowship of members, the church staff was expanded. Mrs. Evelyn Byrum was first to serve in the position of Church Visitation and Evangelism beginning in 1954. Upon gradu- ation from the Assembly's Training School in Richmond, Virginia, in 1952, Miss Elizabeth Dunlap became the first full-time Director
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of Christian Education. (At the writing of this book Miss Dunlap has become an ordained minister, teaching ministerial students in Zaire.) Mrs. David Wilson had acted in this capacity on a part-time basis beginning in 1950.
Heretofore, church officers were elected for life, but in 1950 the Board of Deacons recommended a term system. This proved highly acceptable, so much so that the Rotation System was expanded to include the church Elders, Session Committees and Sunday School officers and teachers.
Youth activities were expanded. For the first time, the church began to sponsor Scouting. Steele Creek's library, long a significant part of the church's resources, was expanded.
During the Reverend Cooper's pastorate a spirit of harmony prevailed probably unexcelled in the church's history.
The Reverend Cooper resigned in 1957 after accepting a call from a church in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina. He was loved by the congregation as shown by the excerpt from the resolution approved by the congregation:
Organization, membership growth, additions to the physical plant - all of these things are important. They have served to broaden the witness of this church, but our indebtedness to you far transcends the realms of statistics of brick and mortar.
You have visited our sick
You have comforted our bereaved
You have given of yourself in our hours of need
You have prayed for us when we were weak and vacillating
You have rejoiced with us in victory
You have preached to us Christ and Him crucified
And finally you have lived among us a life which in its every context and contact has exemplified the Christ whom we love. You have evidenced a personal knowl-
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edge of and intimate companionship with Him and each of us in knowing you have had Him more clearly illumined.
If these words sound stilted or formal, please re- member that they are intended to express our love. An effort, of course, will be made to replace you as minister of this church. We thank God that no effort need be made to replace you in our hearts - these we shall treasure, our association, our friendship and our shared experiences in Christ.
Twenty-First Pastor - Reverend John R. McAlpine (1957-1971)
The Reverend Stuart D. Currie, a faculty member at Queens College, served as supply pastor between the Reverend Cooper's leaving and the Reverend McAlpine's arrival.
The congregation voted June 2, 1957, to call the Reverend John A. McAlpine as pastor. In late July of that year, the new minister, his wife (Annie Lea), and sons John and Russell - moved into the newly decorated church manse. The Reverend McAlpine was installed as the twenty-first pastor on August 1, 1957.
The Reverend McAlpine was educated at Erskine Presbyterian College, Due West, South Carolina, and was graduated from Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia.
A Church Council, consisting of representatives from all church organizations, was formed in 1957 and made responsible for planning and coordinating church activities.
The church's report for 1958 showed 806 active members; 46 adult members had been added during the year.
The year 1959 was an eventful one for the congregation. A Long Range Planning Committee was appointed to aid in projecting the needs of the church. That same year the congregation approved its largest budget in history: Benevolences, $41,130, and Current Expenses, $39,234. On May 31, 1959, a $25,000 trust fund was
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established with a North Carolina trust company as trustee to derive income for the maintenance and care of the cemetery. Approximately $150 of this trust fund came from the estate of Miss Bertha Abernethy as a memorial for her long service to the church. A Bicentennial Committee was named to plan for an appropriate celebration in 1960. R. A. Grier served as Chairman.
Celebration of the 200th Anniversary lasted from January to July, 1960. Each month outstanding speakers were invited to conduct special services. Those leading the final sessions were Dr. Marion B. Boggs, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Southern Presbyterian Church, and former pastor, the Reverend Watt M. Cooper.
During the celebration many artifacts depicting early life in the community were displayed in the Community House. There was a spinning wheel that no doubt furnished clothing for more than one generation, a butter churn and butter press, numerous old books that were the prized possession of their owners due to the scarcity of reading material, oil lamps and homemade candles, and many agricultural implements, as well as tools used on the farms. An arbor built of rough logs, with a roof of tree branches, was erected on the lawn to depict the first church building. Seats of planks were included for those who wished to stop and reflect on Steele Creek and her two hundred years. Former Steele Creek members and their descendants returned by the hundreds to participate in the celebration.
The Mecklenburg Times, then a weekly newspaper serving the county, describes Steele Creek Church in 1960 as follows:
This church is one of the leading Presbyterian Churches in North Carolina, ranking first in its per capita benevolent giving and fourth in the General Assembly's total benevolences. The membership of this church ranges annually something over 750 which is among the first churches of the Assembly.
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The year 1960 saw the end of forty-five years of worship in Beatty's Chapel. With improved roads and modes of transporta- tion, former members sought more regular worship services at other churches. The original provision of Mr. McComb's bequest provided the land would be returned to his heirs when the property ceased in the service of the Lord. The property was sold in 1961 to Mrs. S. A. Wilson, a McComb heir for $2,000 which was turned over to the Memorial Cemetery Fund as a memorial to Mr. McComb.
To insure Steele Creek having a safe storage for its historical records, a vault was placed in the Educational Building. The first documents were the Sessional Records consisting of nine books, for the period April 4, 1858, through January, 1960. Reece E. Brown, Sr. retired as sexton of this church in 1967. He served faithfully in this capacity for thirty-five years.
In 1961, the congregational area was zoned into twenty-nine districts with specific church officers or lay leaders assigned. The purpose was to develop a network of contacts to assist in maintain- ing closer ties among members. During May, 1961, the Reverend and Mrs. Bertis Edwin Down III were added to the missionaries supported by the church. They served in Taiwan. Others in the Mission field sponsored by the church at that time were Miss Rebecca Glenn, serving in Brazil, and the Reverend and Mrs. Clarence Durham, working in Korea.
Steele Creek Church provided some financial support, a por- tion of the salary of a teacher, for the teaching of Bible in the local high schools, but this was taken over in its entirety by the Mecklenburg Board of Education about 1961.
Historically the church community has been forced to deal with outside pressures on numerous occasions. The 1960's and 70's were no different. In early 1961 The Charlotte Observer bore a headline, "Buy Airport Land at Once". This has proved a serious encroachment upon the congregation as many people were forced
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from their homes in the northern part of the community. In a letter to the Charlotte City Council, the Reverend McAlpine pleaded for reconsideration of the plan to expand the Charlotte Airport towards the church property. He pointed out that plans projected a runway to within approximately 1,000 feet of the sanctuary itself, thereby creating an untenable situation. The purchasing of land, causing the area to be vacated, would be cutting at the very feed roots of the church. Only "polite replies" were received from officials, thus "a cancerous sore into the very breast of this Hallowed Place" was begun. At this point in history we are unable to project the final impact of what will no doubt prove the most damaging blow the church has experienced in all its history.
On January 23, 1962, Steele Creek was again host for the annual meeting of the Mecklenburg Presbytery. That same year brought Miss Anna Keitt as the new Director of Christian Education and the appointment of Elder Billy G. McCall to represent the church on a committee concerned with the organization of the Presbyte- rian Home in Charlotte. The statistical report for 1962 gave membership at 930 and a budget of $100,194. The report also stated that membership had increased each year in the early 1960's, and the sanctuary was filled to capacity each Sabbath. The church school attendance averaged 598. Attendance of 700 was not unusual, but on Easter Sunday, 1962, there were 757 present.
Elder J.M. Boyles became the first to fill the office of "Adminis- trative Assistant" to the Steele Creek pastor on April 1, 1963. The Trustee Committee in 1963 consisted of J. B. Watt, E. B. Byrum and L. F. Camp, Jr. The latter was elected to fill the vacancy created by the death of W. P. Davenport.
Mr. Jack Hamilton became the Director of Christian Education on July 15, 1964. Under Mr. Hamilton's leadership high emphasis was given to the training of those young people who wished to become communing members. Communicant classes were held to
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acquaint the participants with the obligations and privileges they would assume as members of the church. The number of partici- pants varied, but on occasions thirty or more attended. At the end of six weeks, the communicants were required to recite their commitment vows and to answer questions posed by the pastor and members of the Session relative to their understanding of the responsibilities as church members.
By 1965, the Church School was deemed inadequate for the large numbers attending and to provide accommodations for the Scouting Program, as well as other church activities; therefore, plans were made and construction undertaken on a new Educa- tional Building. On August 4, 1968, a new building was completed. The total cost, including furnishings, was $373,572.46, which was by far the greatest outlay for facilities in the history of the church.
Furniture for the lobby of the building was placed there in 1970 as a memorial to R. A. Grier, Elder Emeritus. This recognition was made possible through the efforts of Mr. Grier's class of 1920 at Dixie High School.
In May 1970, the Youth of the Church appeared before the Session to ask for their help in securing a leader for them. At a meeting of the Session on May 3, 1970, Elder Robert O. Bvrum announced that Mr. Nicholas Barry Morgan, a Junior at Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, had been secured to work with the Youth that summer and to preach while the pastor was on vacation. Mr. Morgan accepted work with the Youth of the Church and did an excellent job. He proved to be a fine leader. Mr. Morgan returned to the Seminary, completed his work there, was ordained and is now Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church of Virginia Beach, Virginia. David Q. Garrison, a son of this church, was ordained and installed as minister of the Southminster Presby- terian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina on September 18, 1966.
In January, 197 1, the Reverend McAlpine resigned as pastor to
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accept a call from the First Presbyterian Church, Henderson, North Carolina. Mr. Jack Hamilton also left his post as Director of Christian Education to accept a similar position in a congregation at Florence, South Carolina. The congregation of Steele Creek expressed regret upon losing their outstanding leaders.
Excerpts from the tribute to the Reverend McAlpine by Price H. Gwynn III follow:
You have done beautifully and competently what every minister is called to do. You've preached Christ to us and Him crucified. You've comforted us in times of sorrow and bereavement and shared in our joys and triumphs. You've brought hope and gladness to our sick and afflicted. You've counseled with us in periods of personal family crises. You've worked diligently and well at evangelizing the unchurched in our community. No congregation could ask for more; and yet you gave us more - yourself and, as a result, we are more than just your parishioners; we are your friends in Christ.
Jack, you've made many contributions to the Church, to us individually, and to the fellowship in the half generation you've been with us. I'd like to mention four major ones that are significant and characteristic of your ministry:
First, the last few years have been trying ones for the church catholic, as well as for our denomination, yet you have guided us through a perilous period and leave us a stronger body than when you came.
Second, you've brought us through the most chal- lenging and ambitious building program in the 210-year history of this church. Not only have you encouraged us in the program itself, you've stayed with us long enough to see most of the indebtedness retired.
Third, during your term of service, the individual
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members of the congregation have made giant strides forward in the area of stewardship.
Fourth, you have preached the full gospel to us with power and conviction, backed by Biblical scholarship and sound theology. . . . You have blessed us beyond the capacity of thanks in this regard.
Dissolving a relationship requires some doing, but in thinking through these last thirteen years, I've come to another realization; an important one. If the relationship is based on love, you can't really dissolve it. Oh, sure, we can pass the motion and we shall, but I don't have to write the last chapter to this love affair 'cause the story never ends. God bless you, Annie Lea and Jack. We love you.
On May 1, 1971, Dr. Thomas B. Gallaher, a retired minister from Fort Smith, Arkansas, came to Steele Creek as Interim Minister and served faithfully in this capacity through January 1, 1972, at which time Steele Creek's pulpit was filled on a permanent basis. Under Dr. Gallaher's leadership Steele Creek observed its first Christmas Eve Communion Service and Love Feast. This was met with much enthusiasm, as shown by the large number of members and friends who attended this service, which was followed by a Christmas Carol Singing and Candle Lighting Service.
Mr. John Burger of Atlanta, Georgia, and a Junior at Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia, was employed by the Church for the summer of 1971 as leader for the Youth of the Church and proved to be most helpful.
After completing this work at the Seminary, he was elected an Associate Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, North Carolina.
Dr. Gallaher and his wife, Alma, lived in the city of Charlotte in quarters furnished by the church while he ministered among us. The Gallahers made many inroads into the hearts of the Steele
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Creek congregation, and all others whom they chanced to meet, especially by their talents for a special kind of homespun wit.
Dr. and Mrs. Gallaher will long be remembered in this church and community. It was with much love and regret that we gave them up. Dr. Gallaher went from Steele Creek to become Interim Minister at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church in Charlotte.
Twenty-Second Pastor - Reverend Lewis W. Bledsoe (1972- 1
In February, 1972, the Reverend Bledsoe, his wife, Brenda, and their daughters Kimberly and Kelly, moved into the newly deco- rated church manse. The Reverend Bledsoe became our twenty- second pastor following his service with Guilford Park Presbyte- rian Church, Greensboro, North Carolina.
Under the leadership of the Reverend Bledsoe, the church's scope of activities has continued to expand. The budget for the years 1976 and 1977 below serve to illustrate the church's expan- sion.
Budgeted
I. ANTICIPATED INCOME
1976
A. Pledged
$168,525.00
1977 $186,615.00
Less Attrition
5,275.00
5,115.00
TOTAL
$163,250.00
$181,500.00
Church School
3,500.00
3,600.00
Loose Offering
1,300.00
1,100.00
Other:
Women of
the Church
900.00
900.00
Louisa Watt Fund
300.00
200.00
Special Offering
8,000.00
9,000.00
TOTAL
$177,300.00
$196,300.00
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II. ANTICIPATED EXPENDITURES
A. Benevolences
1. Askings (General
Assembly, Svnod, Presbytery)
$ 28,400.00
$ 31,300.00
2. General Assembly
Designated Causes
Missionary Support
6,300.00
7,200.00
Special Offering:
World Missions &
Church Extension
3,300.00
4,000.00
Overseas Relief
1,600.00
1,600.00
Jov Gift
1,000.00
1,000.00
TOTAL
$ 12,200.00
$ 13,800.00
3. Synod Designated
Causes
Special Offerings:
Presbyterian Home
$ 1,100.00
$ 1,000.00
Barium Springs
1,000.00
1,400.00
TOTAL
$ 2,100.00
$ 2,400.00
4. Presbytery Designated
Causes
Presbytery
Assessment
$ 2,440.00
$ 2,532.00
Mecklenburg-Haiti Development
2,000.00
TOTAL
$ 2,440.00
$ 4,532.00
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5. Local Designated
Causes
Alexander
Children's Center
$ 1,000.00
$ 1,100.00
Committee on Witness
3,050.00
3,050.00
NW Ashe
County Project
14,550.00
14,500.00
TOTAL
$ 18,550.00
$ 18,650.00
TOTAL OF ALL
BENEVOLENCES
$ 63,690.00
$ 70,682.00
B. Current Expenses
1. Program Committees:
World Missions
$
650.00
$ 650.00
Membership, Out-
reach & Nurture
600.00
600.00
Christian Education
5,000.00
5,075.00
Youth Ministry
2,365.00
2,595.00
Worship
880.00
1,075.00
Activities
850.00
850.00
Stewardship
450.00
600.00
TOTAL
$ 10,795.00
$ 11,445.00
2. Operational Expenses:
Building and
Grounds
$ 21,646.00
$ 22,250.00
Insurance and Taxes
2,800.00
2,800.00
Transportation (Bus)
500.00
500.00
Church Office
3,500.00
3,500.00
TOTAL
$ 28,446.00
$ 29,050.00
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3. Administration:
Personnel
Committee
$ 71,369.00
$ 78,000.00
Executive Finance Committee
3,000.00
7,123.00
TOTAL
$74,369.00
$ 85,123.00
TOTAL OF ALL
CURRENT EXPENSES
$113,610.00
$125,618.00
TOTAL BUDGET
$177,300.00
$196,300.00
Mrs. Evelyn Sadler Byrum, the first to hold the position of Church Visitor, retired in March, 1972, after eighteen years. Her missions of mercy, her cheery visits into the homes in the commu- nity, and her enthusiasm for life will long be remembered by the congregation. Especially will she be remembered for her presence and loving sympathy in times of bereavement.
The church rejoiced that one of its own, Miss Margaret Ann Aldrich, was appointed by the Board of World Missions for service as medical missionary (nurse) to serve in Zaire, Africa, in July, 1972. By action of the Session, Steele Creek became one of her sponsors until 1976 when her service was terminated due to restrictions on finances within the Division of International Missions of the General Assembly Mission Board. The year 1972 also marked the creation of the Community Service Room at the church to serve as a collection and distribution point for usable clothing to both the community and to others, such as the Green Acres Nursing Home and the church's mountain ministry in Ashe County, North Carolina. Through this room wheelchairs, crutches and other items became available for loan.
During the summer of 1972 Mr. Ronald William Buckalew, a rising middler at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia, came to Steele Creek with his wife, Carol, and served as summer assistant minister with responsibilities in all phases of
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church ministry. Ron preached for the first time in a regular Sunday morning worship service at Steele Creek and we rejoiced with his significant growth. Upon his graduation from seminary in 1975 he was called as pastor of the Ronceverte, West Virginia, Presbyterian Church where he, Carol and their daughter, Jennifer, serve as of this writing.
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