In The Beginning

2026 marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of Aldersgate UMC. Throughout the

year there will be periodic brief summaries chronicling important events in the history of

our church. 1956 was a pivotal year in America. Dwight Eisenhower was re-elected

president; interstate highways were begun, and Elvis Presley elevated rock ‘n’ roll.

In the mid-fifties, Bishop Paul Neff Garber of the NC Methodist Conference challenged

the conference to start 70 new churches in 70 months. To help finance this ambitious

expansion, a contribution plan called the Ten Dollar Club was started. Members were

asked to contribute ten dollars at each of three calls for a total of thirty dollars per year

(now 5 calls per year). The Ten Dollar Club was so successful that grants of $25,000

were made available to begin new churches, Aldersgate being one of them.

Northern Durham was growing rapidly and targeted as an area where a new church was

needed. When the Durham District Superintendent, Dr. W.L. Clegg, found out that

Smith’s dance hall had lost its liquor license and was up for sale, he set the wheels in

motion to buy the property. After the dance hall was purchased, the first meeting in the

cinder block building was held on October 30, 1955. The official organizational service

was held following the worship on January 8, 1956 with Dr. Henry Glass as the first

pastor. There were 34 charter members.

2026 Marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of Aldersgate UMC. Throughout the

year there will be periodic brief summaries chronicling important events in the history of

our church. 1956 was a pivotal year in America. Dwight Eisenhower was re-elected

president; interstate highways were begun, and Elvis Presley elevated rock ‘n’ roll.

In the mid-fifties, Bishop Paul Neff Garber of the NC Methodist Conference challenged

the conference to start 70 new churches in 70 months. To help finance this ambitious

expansion, a contribution plan called the Ten Dollar Club was started. Members were

asked to contribute ten dollars at each of three calls for a total of thirty dollars per year

(now 5 calls per year). The Ten Dollar Club was so successful that grants of $25,000

were made available to begin new churches, Aldersgate being one of them.

Northern Durham was growing rapidly and targeted as an area where a new church was

needed. When the Durham District Superintendent, Dr. W.L. Clegg, found out that

Smith’s dance hall had lost its liquor license and was up for sale, he set the wheels in

motion to buy the property. After the dance hall was purchased, the first meeting in the

cinder block building was held on October 30, 1955. The official organizational service

was held following the worship on January 8, 1956 with Dr. Henry Glass as the first

pastor. There were 34 charter members.