THE TIMELINE
1832 The first church at Pleasant Green was simply an arbor covered with branches. The arbor was followed by a log building.
1843 Another log house was built with logs from the first building. An early member remembers it being called 'the old log schoolhouse'.
1869 A larger frame church was built with three rows of benches and two 'amen corners, indicating considerable growth in the congregation.
1910 A new Sanctuary was built on the same site. It was built with gifts of money, lumber and labor. The first organ was purchased for $35.
1912 The Sanctuary was dedicated on June 30.
1939 Sunday School rooms were built on the right (our present fellowship hall).
1962 The addition of two Sunday school rooms and bathrooms were added on the other side of the Sanctuary.
1981 The original Sanctuary was renovated to look exactly the way it is today, with the addition of aluminum siding.
1989 An addition was built to enlarge the Fellowship Hall, add a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, deck and 6 Sunday School class rooms.
2003 The new Sanctuary was dedicated in March. The original Sanctuary has been retained for special services and meetings.
1843 Another log house was built with logs from the first building. An early member remembers it being called 'the old log schoolhouse'.
1869 A larger frame church was built with three rows of benches and two 'amen corners, indicating considerable growth in the congregation.
1910 A new Sanctuary was built on the same site. It was built with gifts of money, lumber and labor. The first organ was purchased for $35.
1912 The Sanctuary was dedicated on June 30.
1939 Sunday School rooms were built on the right (our present fellowship hall).
1962 The addition of two Sunday school rooms and bathrooms were added on the other side of the Sanctuary.
1981 The original Sanctuary was renovated to look exactly the way it is today, with the addition of aluminum siding.
1989 An addition was built to enlarge the Fellowship Hall, add a kitchen, 2 bathrooms, deck and 6 Sunday School class rooms.
2003 The new Sanctuary was dedicated in March. The original Sanctuary has been retained for special services and meetings.
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MR. GREEN
From the 1953 Pleasant Green History by Alan Browning read at the Centennial Celebration of Pleasant Green Church on September 25, 1932
At the time of the building of the first Church, Mr. Green, the contractor, lived in this county. Loved by all who knew him for his genial disposition, and serving as a contractor, legal advisor and highly respected public servant, he was know as Pleasant Green. Thence, tradition tells us, comes the name of our church.
Mr. Orion Jones adds this to the story: In a conversation with a Mr. Green in Durham, Pleasant Green Church was mentioned—then Mr. Green told him that his father had helped plan and build the first church there, and that when naming it had been discussed he had suggested that since it was such a pleasant green place why not call it Pleasant Green? Then someone made the remark that it would also be named for Mr. Green. So, goes the story. The same Mr. Green delivered the oration when the Corner Stone was laid for the Hillsboro Court House in 1845 by the Masonic Order. He was also the same man to whom a well-to-do widow in the county deeded her property when she was about to marry for a second time. After the second husband died, Mr. Green deeded the property back to the widow.
At the time of the building of the first Church, Mr. Green, the contractor, lived in this county. Loved by all who knew him for his genial disposition, and serving as a contractor, legal advisor and highly respected public servant, he was know as Pleasant Green. Thence, tradition tells us, comes the name of our church.
Mr. Orion Jones adds this to the story: In a conversation with a Mr. Green in Durham, Pleasant Green Church was mentioned—then Mr. Green told him that his father had helped plan and build the first church there, and that when naming it had been discussed he had suggested that since it was such a pleasant green place why not call it Pleasant Green? Then someone made the remark that it would also be named for Mr. Green. So, goes the story. The same Mr. Green delivered the oration when the Corner Stone was laid for the Hillsboro Court House in 1845 by the Masonic Order. He was also the same man to whom a well-to-do widow in the county deeded her property when she was about to marry for a second time. After the second husband died, Mr. Green deeded the property back to the widow.
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MORE FRAGMENTS OF HISTORY
* The deed from James Scarlett to trustees for Pleasant Green Church was made on September 25, 1832. For some reason this deed was not filed until May 15, 1880.
* Probably about 1869, a log school house was built on the Church property, slightly to the southwest of the present building.
* In 1890, the pastor’s salary was raised from $900 to $1000.
* Aunt Fannie Breeze was born as a slave in 1832 into the household of church member, Samuel Breeze and died in 1912. She joined Pleasant Green before the Civil War and she, her husband, Uncle Stanford, and daughter are buried in the Pleasant Green cemetery. The Rev. Thompson used to say that he could always find inspiration by looking into Aunt Fannie’s face, radiant with the joy of the Lord. “Probably on God’s list Aunt Fannie’s name is toward the top, perhaps first, of all the persons buried at Pleasant Green. She followed the calling of midwife, and any number of the older people of this Church were brought into the world with Aunt Fannie’s assistance.” (Fannie’s Ford on Eno River is named for her)
* The women of Pleasant Green Church met in October 1929 for the purpose of organizing a “Help U Club.”
* The Methodist Youth Fellowship, originally called the Epworth League, was organized in 1940.
* A group from the Church met on Thanksgiving Day, 1948, to begin dismantling a mess hall at Camp Butner. Rebuilding the Community House became a community project and took several years to complete.
* Boy Scout Troop #467, sponsored and supported by Pleasant Green and McMannen’s Churches, was organized early in 1950.
* Probably about 1869, a log school house was built on the Church property, slightly to the southwest of the present building.
* In 1890, the pastor’s salary was raised from $900 to $1000.
* Aunt Fannie Breeze was born as a slave in 1832 into the household of church member, Samuel Breeze and died in 1912. She joined Pleasant Green before the Civil War and she, her husband, Uncle Stanford, and daughter are buried in the Pleasant Green cemetery. The Rev. Thompson used to say that he could always find inspiration by looking into Aunt Fannie’s face, radiant with the joy of the Lord. “Probably on God’s list Aunt Fannie’s name is toward the top, perhaps first, of all the persons buried at Pleasant Green. She followed the calling of midwife, and any number of the older people of this Church were brought into the world with Aunt Fannie’s assistance.” (Fannie’s Ford on Eno River is named for her)
* The women of Pleasant Green Church met in October 1929 for the purpose of organizing a “Help U Club.”
* The Methodist Youth Fellowship, originally called the Epworth League, was organized in 1940.
* A group from the Church met on Thanksgiving Day, 1948, to begin dismantling a mess hall at Camp Butner. Rebuilding the Community House became a community project and took several years to complete.
* Boy Scout Troop #467, sponsored and supported by Pleasant Green and McMannen’s Churches, was organized early in 1950.
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