Sharon Presbyterian Church

This church/cemetery is located approximately 1 ¼ mile east of Mt. Gilead on the right side of SR # 731.

The Sharon Presbyterian Church, for runner of Mt. Gilead Presbyterian Church, was organized in 1795, and on April 2. 1812 Sharon called Rev. William Peacock to be its pastor. The first church was a crude log building replaced by a framed structure, and both were located on the land of Charles McKinon about 1 1/2 miles southeast of Wadeville on Dyson's Creek. (Also called Denson's Creek)

When William Peacock was about 21 years of age, he came to Fayetteville from Scotland to work for a merchant, some tme later opening a store business on the Pee Dee in Montgomery County. During the Great Revival that covered the Carolinas in 1802, he dedicated his life to God and in 1810 was licensed to preach.

Minutes of the Fayetteville Presbytery state that on Dec. 29, 1832, William N. Peacock (this could be the former pastor's son) was ordained in the gospel ministry at Sharon Church and installed as pastor of Sharon and Macedonia Church. (This is presumed to be the Macedonia Presbyterian church located near the Ewing homeplace.) He remained at Sharon until 1855.

In 1852 Angus Martin, Asa Chambers and Oliver Wiley donated land for a church and cemetery, and Mr. Wiley became the first person buried in the new cemetery. The third and last Sharon Church was built here near Mt. Gilead on the Pekin Road. This frame church structure was used until 1903 when the congregation (most of whom lived nearer Mt. Gilead) built a wooden structure on Hotel Street in the town of Mt. Gilead. (Today the street has been re-named Haywood Street). At this time the namne of Sharon was offically changed to Mt. Gilead Presbyterian Church.

Steps of progress were made by those of this faith, and on Dec. 28, 1924 a meeting was called for considering building a new church with the present church on Main Street becomeing a reality for the members April 10, 1927. The beloved J. W. Stork, who served the church for 33 1/2 years brought the message of dedication. Dr. Stork administered not only to his own members but to the general public--the people of Mt. Gilead became his people and he shared his life willingly with them.

Members of committees helping with the new church were T. R. Upchurch, R. A. McRae, Mrs. George T. McAuley, Sr., Ella Parker (Ledbetter), John A. McAuley, W. J. Batten and Dr. P. R. Rankin.

And the fate of the discarded church buildings? They go right on. THe first building of Sharon Church was purchased by R. McKinon, grandfather of Claude C. McKinnon who built a residence form the dismantled timbers. The house stands today near the Claude McKinnon home about 1 1/2 miles from Wadeville.

The last Sharon church, constructed in 1852, stood for many years. After the congregation moved to town it served as silent vigil for around it were buried people who had worshiped or had lived nearby. Sharon cemetery became the community burial ground. Around 1930, Old Sharon, steeped in its memories, was torn down and sold to O. M. Scarboro who used the timbers for a barn (which is still in use today). When the first Mt. Gilead Presbyterian Church was torn down, Mr. Scarboro was also on hand to purchase it to build his home in 1929.

One of the encouraging as well as interesting facts about this church is that today many deacons, elders, teachers and Sunday School Superintendents serving the Mt. Gilead Presbyterian Church are descendants of the oldest officers and members named on the church rolls of Sharon Church.

The above are excerpts from church documents of Sharon Presbyterian Church. This information comes from the book; "Pattern of Timeless Moments", A HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, by Mabel S Lassiter.