THE HISTORY OF CEDAR LANDING MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH

1866- 2018

 

The 150 year history of Cedar Landing Missionary Baptist Church is a testimony to the grace and love of God demonstrated in the congregational life of His children. From generation to generation Cedar Landing has been a beacon of light and pillar of hope in Bertie County. Hundreds of men, women and children have been and continue to be blessed by this tabernacle of God.

 

In 1866, approximately one year after the thirteenth amendment to abolish slavery in the U S was signed; a group of courageous, religious men came together for worship in a freight warehouse near the banks of the Roanoke River. The area was called Cedar Landing because of the grove of cedar trees nearby. A building was constructed later near this original worship spot and became the original Cedar Landing Missionary Baptist Church. The building was a boarded chapel and it was later moved to the Cedar Landing gatepost.

 

Solomon Carter, Andrew Outlaw, Peter Williams, Alfred Speller, Reuben Allen, Sam Thompson, Thomas Will Mooring, Ben Gray and Musca Sutton were among the first founders of the Cedar Landing Missionary Baptist Church.

 

CHURCH TIMELINES

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Around 1866 through the early 1900s, Cedar Landing Members worshiped in the freight warehouse and Boarded Chapel in the proximity of a grove of cedar trees and Roanoke River.

In 1906 the second church was built and dedicated. It was destroyed by fire on December 4 1977 while construction of the present church was in progress. This left us without a church home and services were held at St. Paul Baptist Church and Pleasant Oak Baptist Church until March 5, 1978 at 11:00 a.m. when the first worship service was held at the new church. Reverend Eugene Watson, who had served as the assistant pastor to Reverend Cherry, was in charge of the ceremony.

 

 

October 8, 1974 through July 2, 1978      PRESENT CHURCH

 

The ground breaking for the third and present church building was held October 8, 1974 at 11:30 a.m. Deacon Albert Speller, Brother Lewis Carter and Brother Lewis Cooper shoveled the first earth. Construction was completed during the early part of 1978.

 

March 5, 1978  the first worship service was held in the present church

 

July 2, 1978 the dedication ceremony was held.

 

January 3, 1993 Ground Breaking service was held for the addition of the Annex, and was dedicated September 5, 1993. It holds the pastor’s study, multi-purpose rooms and rest rooms. A fellowship hall has been added, and dedication services were held September 6, 2003.

 

PASTOR TIME LINES

1866-1876   Reverend Abram Mebane of Edenton, NC served as the first Pastor.

 

1876-1895 Pastor Thaddeus Wilson of Merry Hill, NC was called as the second pastor and served for nineteen years.

 

1895-1903 Reverend John W. Faulk of Hertford, NC served as pastor for eight years. During this time, several members left the church, built and began to worship at the Peterson Grove Baptist Church.

 

1903-1905 The fourth servant, Reverend Luke Pierce was called as pastor. During his two years as pastor, several members left Cedar Landing and began worshipping at Spellers Chapel Church, Windsor.

 

1905-1910 Reverend Jonah Thompson of Lewiston, NC was called to serve. Under his pastor ship and through around 1913, church membership was larger than ever. The second church was built under his leadership in 1906. The cornerstone was laid in 1910. Minister Willie Taylor, a native son preached the Dedication Sermon in 1910.

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Following the construction and dedication of the second church building as a place of worship, many souls were added to the body of Christ under spiritual leaders as follows:

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Between 1913 & 1921   Minister Lafayette Sharpe served as pastor.

 

1921-1924  Reverend J. C. Melton was pastor

 

1924-1925 For a brief period of time, our own Minister George Washington Gray served as pastor.

 

1925-1927 Minister A.B. Askew was elected and served as pastor for about two years.

 

1927-1956 During 1927 Minister John H. Skinner of Hertford, NC began serving and was officially installed as pastor in 1928. He remained as a faithful shepherd until 1956. During this time, many members left and joined Woodard Gospel Temple.

 

1957-1966 In 1957 Reverend Addison M. Williams, a native of Raleigh NC was elected as pastor. The church made great progress under his leadership and both the exterior and interior of the edifice was beautified.

 

Modern indoor conveniences were added to the church. Membership increased and both old and new members pledged their whole-hearted support. After eight years of dedicated service, Pastor Williams tendered his resignation in order to serve as full time pastor of The First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, NC.

 

1966-1973 In 1965, Reverend Andrew J. Cherry was called and began his service as pastor the first Sunday in January, 1966. Under his leadership, Reverend Eugene Watson preached his initial sermon in 1967 and became his assistant. Pastor Cherry resigned in 1972 and Reverend Watson served as interim until 1973.

 

1973-1985 Reverend Harold H. Murrill, a native of Wilmington, NC was officially elected as pastor in August 1973. Under his pastorate, the church made much progress including growth in membership and the promotion of the building program for the completion of a new church. The ground breaking service for the third church building was held October 8, 1974, at 11:30 a.m.

 

1986-present In June 1986, God sent HIS servant, Reverend Shelton Ray Barnes, originally of Goldsboro, NC as pastor. At the time he was called, Pastor Barnes was pursuing a career as a Bertie County Public School teacher. He brought with him an array of experience and vast teachings on the saving grace of Jesus Christ. He has worked diligently to uplift the name of Jesus through ministry and outreach.

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The church has experienced unprecedented growth in various areas under his leadership to include:

• Going to full Sunday morning worship services

• Restoration of weekly bible study

• Helping Hands Ministry

• Youth Forum

• E.C Watson Library

• Completion of the church annex in 1993: (Fellowship Hall,  Pastors Study and new bathrooms)

• Paving of parking lot

• Wednesday night bible study

• Upgraded technology: PA sound system, computers & internet service

• Christian Education Ministry to meet education and training needs of church

• Thriving Sunday School (each Sunday morning)

• Thriving Deacon & Deaconess ministries

• Thriving Missionary ministry

• Tuesday noonday prayer

• A growing youth ministry

• Choir ministries

• Innovative trustee board

• Basket Ball court available to members and community youth

• Women’s Ministry

• Young Adult Ministry

• Parenting Outreach Ministry

• A van was purchased to accommodate the youth, seniors and the community with church transportation needs.

 

FEMALE TRUSTEES

Under Pastor Barnes’ leadership the first female trustees were appointed. They were Sisters Vashti Cooper, Muriel Hoggard, Gail P. Wilson, Annie Craig, Buneva Everett, Patricia Cherry, and Nancy Wilson.

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SONS AND DAUGHTERS IN THE MINISTRY

Pastor Barnes provides a special type of spiritual leadership, guidance and training: Under his leadership nine ministers have been birthed for God’s service:  (1) Pastor Zachariah Wilson (1991), (2) Minister William Small Jr. (deceased), (3) Pastor Cornell Watson, (4) Pastor Johnny Speller (2000), (5) Minister Brenda Turner (deceased), (6) Minister John Rascoe, (7) Minister Naomi Bazemore (2009), (8) Minister Ernestine Yates (2013), and (9) Minister Ashley S. Bradley (2015). He affectionately refers to them as his sons and daughters in the ministry.

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CHURCH CLERKS

The first church clerk was Joseph Collins who was followed by William Carter. R. B. Speller Jr. was next to serve as clerk. After his death, J. M. Stewart became the church clerk. Later, Horace Ward served as clerk until 1959, followed by Dr. Willa Dawson Hunt until 1994. Other clerks were Sarah Speller Williams, Annie Craig, who served until 2002, Shirley B. Taylor who served until 2009 and Alicia Small who is presently serving as church clerk.

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PARENT CHURCH

Cedar Landing has been documented as being the parent church of at least two other community churches. During the leadership of Reverend John W. Faulk, several members left the church, built and began to worship at Peterson Grove Baptist Church. Under the leadership of Reverend Luke Pierce, several members left again and organized The Speller’s Chapel Church. Cedar Landing Missionary Baptist Church has traditionally been known to help build and maintain families and the civic, economic and spiritual infrastructure of the community. The Lord has showered HIS Blessings on Cedar Landing Missionary Baptist Church throughout 150 years. Let us continue to build on the strong foundation laid by the generations before us as we work on the legacy for future generations.  

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“A CHARGE TO KEEP WE HAVE”

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