A Brief History of Bullock’s Church
Bullock’s Church sits quietly in tall pines, her art glass windows glow in the sunshine and peace can be found sitting in the sweet stillness of her sanctuary. Although the old church may be past her prime, she is still very much loved. Bullock’s was founded by people who held their faith dear and passed their beliefs on to their children, grandchildren and so
on, unto today as direct descendents of the original founding families still attend Bullock’s. “Generations have proudly stood up and called Bullock’s Methodist Church, “Blessed.”
At this time,2007, Bullock’s Church has been worshipping for 175 years. Founded in 1832, it began a mere fifty-six years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Andrew Jackson was the 24th President United States of America; thirty-four presidents have come, and gone, since. This Church sustained its people through a Civil War, two World Wars, the Great Depression, Wars in Vietnam, Korean and Iraq, and the September 11 tragedy. Its congregation has gone from arriving on foot, to horseback and carriage, to trains, to automobiles. Bullocks witnessed the end of slavery, the invention of electricity, Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic, women voting, TV, the moon landing, computers, and cell phones. While Bullock’s stood, the Titanic sank and the Hindenburg crashed and Challenger exploded. Prohibition came and went, as did Segregation and the Soviet Union. Hurricane Hazel severely damaged the building and yet the strength was found to rebuild. While so much in the world has changed, the spirit at Bullock’s remained, steadfast and faithful, through all. The first Bullock’s Church building was a simple frame building, constructed near the Hester Community in 1833 “on a knoll of sandy soil shaded by hickories, pines and cedars, near a spring of clear water”. Prior to that, Bullocks’ congregation simply met under a brush-arbor. Described as a “group of dedicated people who were sincere in their religious beliefs” and “were not afraid of work or hardships”, the congregation constructed their Churches themselves with hand-hewn timber, faith and determination. Benjamin Kidd was the first Pastor of Bullock’s, then in the Granville Circuit, Danville District, Virginia Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church. Two acres of land for this building were donated by Edward “Ned” Bullock, son of Micajah Bullock, a Revolutionary War veteran, remembered on a marker in the cemetery. Sons Edward “Ned”, Richard and Leonard Bullock, along with Clement Lyon and William Fleming, acted as the first five trustees of Bullocks’ Church. Although the deed for transfer of ownership is dated 1833, the deed was not officially recognized until 1843. The North Carolina Conference was not formed until 1836 at which time Bullock’s and the Granville Circuit was placed in the Raleigh District with Reverend Henry Speck officiating. During these early years, ministers usually served only one year, sometimes two and there were also Circuit Riders. In 1845, at the convention held in Louisville, Kentucky, a Plan of Separation was formed which organized the Methodist Episcopal Church South (the affiliation noted in the art glass name plate over the entrance). The Reverend Ira T. Wyche was serving then. During the Civil War, Bullock’s remained with the Methodist Episcopal Church South when the issue of slavery divided our nation. “Many of the young men of the [Church] joined the other plough boys [and went off to war] not knowing whether or not they would ever return” wrote David Grissim, student pastor, 1975. The history of the Church is basically unknown during the years of the Civil War as records are sparse and there was no convention in 1865. After the War, as men returned to their families and our Country needed healing, the faithful at Bullock’s surged. Although there are no records of the minister are available for 1870-71, the Congregation was busy building a larger Church. Bullock’s people once again proudly provided most of the material and labor for their Church in 1870-72. The Oxford Public Ledger records “It was a beautiful Church constructed of the very best heart pine, put together with wooden pegs and hand cut nails. The interior was plastered and the woodwork finished with hand dressed boards. The pews were also hand dressed and finished.” This structure stands today as do those pews. At that time, the Granville Circuit was again placed in the Raleigh District with the Reverend J.R. Griffith as Pastor. An Oxford Ledger article noted “[The] Church was dedicated in 1872 and before the sound of the hammer and saw had hardly ceased the great revival began”. Reverend V.C. Gannon (Bullock’s Pastor in 1864) delivered that “great” message. The Granville Circuit was placed in the Durham District from 1884-1889. By 1885, the Seaboard railroad, running past the Church, had brought growth to Bullock’s and to the growing Hester Community nearby. In 1888, Reverend P.L. Groom oversaw what was reported as a “sweeping revival that continued for several weeks”, given by Reverend V.A. Sharpe, pastor at Bullock’s from 1889-1893. At the turn of century, 175 members were listed on the roll at Bullock’s. The church was prosperous and a center of spiritual growth in the area. During this time, services were held on first and third Sundays with Sunday School and prayer meetings each Sunday. There was also an extended service held the week following the third Sunday each July. This July “Homecoming” became a social event as well as a spiritual one. Families gathered to visit, pray and break bread together. “A young preacher who came here [~1902] said that there were more fine horses, and more pretty and fine dressed women than he had ever seen before in all of his life” upon visiting Homecoming (Oxford Public Ledger). In 1914 Bullock’s Methodist Episcopal Church South became the Mother Church of the Creedmoor branch of the Church as many of the members moved to the growing town of Creedmoor. The effect on Bullock’s was “crippling” and “there was some talk of abandoning the old mother church, but some objected and a faithful few held on and struggled on until now [1927] there seems to be abundant life and activity” Oxford Ledger. By 1920 the Creedmoor Circuit was organized and Reverend B.H. Black preached for the new circuit consisting of Bullock’s, Creedmoor, Banks and Grove Hill Methodist Episcopal Churches. A concrete paved road, parallel to the railroad in front of Bullock’s, was finished in 1925. As the congregation was strong once again, the addition of Sunday School rooms, a small library and a porch were completed January-March of 1927 overseen by N.H. “Dutch” Fleming. The Reverend B.E. Stanfield was minister and saw the installation of the first electrical lighting fixtures in the Church. These were given in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Bragg by Sallie Bragg. The glorious “Art Glass” memorial windows were also added, each donated by the family and friends of those early members honored. At the time of the Centennial Service in 1933, Bullock’s Church celebrated with an all day service of worship and fellowship. By 1939, The Methodist Church reunited, 74 years after the Civil War. Records from a meeting of the Stewarts (R. Hunt, H. Moore, Jos. Word, Wm. Lunsford, Benj. Bullock, and Willis Mitchels) dated 1949, show the assessments charged to each Church in the Circuit “for the support of the ministry”. Of the thirteen churches, Salem was the largest at $250 and Perry’s Chapel the smallest at $35. That year Bullock’s was assessed $135, indicating a strong congregation. The Stem-Bullock’s Charge was established in 1952, although the two Churches were served by the same Ministers from 1887-1920. Bullock’s Church was damaged during Hurricane Hazel in 1954. There was again concern that the Church might close. But once more, the Bullocks spirit rallied and with the inspiration of Reverend Vernon Tyson, the congregation repaired their Church and continued to worship herein. The United Methodist Church was formed in 1968 when The Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren. When Bullock’s celebrated its 150th Anniversary in 1982, the Congregation was once again small but celebrated the occasion with great spirit. The Church as cleaned and painted, landscaping was updated and a new sign, commemorating the achievement was placed along Highway 15. Then, as today, Bullock’s Church is part of the Stem-Bullock’s Charge, Durham District, North Carolina Conference, United Methodist Church. Today, this wonderful piece of our past, Bullock’s Methodist Church, is endangered. Time and attrition is threatening its faithful congregation. New members and a revival of spirit are desperately needed in order for Bullock’s to continue onward to her 200th Anniversary in 2032. A detailed History of Bullock’s Church, including color pictures of the Art Glass windows and the graves, is available from Anne Gay Crews, Bullock’s Historian. The above is an edited excerpt from that work.
