Duke Memorial United Methodist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Duke Memorial United Methodist Church
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Duke Memorial United Methodist Church from W Chapel Hill Street
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 504 W. Chapel Hill St., Durham, North Carolina |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Kramer, George W.; Underwood, Norman |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Romanesque |
| MPS | Durham MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001781 |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1985 |
The Duke Memorial United Methodist Church is a historic Methodist church located at 504 W. Chapel Hill Street in Durham, North Carolina. It was first started in 1886. As the city of Durham grew, especially with its textile and tobacco factories, the church also grew. It has always had a strong connection with Duke University, which was once called Trinity College. Many important people from Durham, including leaders in education and industry, were members of this church. The church is named after Washington Duke, a famous tobacco businessman and generous giver, and his sons, who helped a lot in building it.
Contents
The First Church: Main Street Methodist
How the Church Began in Durham
The Duke Memorial United Methodist Church started from Durham's very first Methodist group. As Durham grew, especially in its eastern and western parts, the original church members realized new churches were needed. Durham's population was increasing fast because of the booming cotton and tobacco industries. Companies like Washington Duke, Sons & Co. and W.T. Blackwell & Co. brought many new workers to the city.
Washington Duke, a key figure, believed in building more churches. He felt there was a need for a church that could serve "the masses," meaning everyone, not just the wealthy. He and other business leaders like Julian Carr wanted Durham to be more than just a rich city. They hoped it would also be a place with culture and good values. So, they encouraged the creation of important community places like churches and colleges. Trinity College (now Duke University) moving to Durham and the building of this church are great examples of this vision.
Early Days and First Services
In 1885, some members of the Durham Methodist Church formed a committee to plan the "West End Church." This committee included businessmen like Washington Duke. They decided to build the church and started raising money.
In 1885, Reverend Amos Gregson became the pastor for the new West End Church. Even though the church building wasn't ready, Rev. Gregson held the first services on May 2, 1886, at the Washington Duke, Sons & Co. Tobacco Factory. This new group also started the Bethany Sunday School, which became very popular. Many of Durham's business leaders, like B.N. Duke, were active in the Sunday School. Washington Duke and his brother Brodie L. Duke also joined this new church.
Building the First Church Home
On October 10, 1886, the Sunday School moved into the new church building. This building was 40 by 70 feet, made of red brick, and located at Main and Gregson Streets. Washington Duke's oldest son, Brodie L. Duke, gave the land for the church. On April 24, 1887, the Main Street Methodist Church was officially opened. The church quickly gained new members. In 1889 alone, 138 new people joined.
Connecting with Trinity College
The year 1892 was important for both the church and Durham. Trinity College moved to Durham, thanks to Washington Duke and Julian Carr. Soon after, the college and Main Street Church became very close. Many professors from Trinity College were active church members and Sunday School teachers. Dr. John Carlisle Kilgo, a Methodist minister and church member, became president of the college in 1894. He often preached at the church and later became a bishop.
Growth and a New Building
For the next ten years, the church continued to grow. By 1904, it had 640 members. Washington Duke was very involved in the church's plans and operations until he passed away in 1905. He often paid off the church's debts himself so the members wouldn't have to raise money.
The church also started a good library for its members. However, both the library and the church itself soon ran out of space. As Durham's population grew, so did church and Sunday School attendance. The Main Street Church building, after only 20 years, was too small. In 1906, the building was sold.
The Memorial Church: A New Beginning
Planning and Construction
In the fall of 1906, the church committee bought the land where the Duke Memorial United Methodist Church stands today. This land was at the corner of Duke and Chapel Hill Streets. Work on the new church's foundation began on January 1, 1907. During construction, the church's name changed from "Main Street Methodist Episcopal Church, South" to "Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, South."
Mr. N. Underwood, a Durham builder, was hired for the construction. Mr. George W. Kramer from New York City designed the new building. The plans were for a stone church in the Gothic style, costing about $90,000. James B. Duke and Benjamin N. Duke each promised $30,000. Money was also raised for an organ and church bells.
Opening the New Church
The new building was first used for a Sunday service on July 19, 1908. However, the main worship area (sanctuary) wasn't finished yet, so the service was held in the Sunday School auditorium. At this time, the church had 498 members. The sanctuary was finally ready on June 2, 1912. By then, membership had grown to an impressive 709 people.
Strong Ties to Duke University
Just like with the Main Street Church, Trinity College was a very important part of the new Memorial Church. When Trinity College became Duke University in 1924, this strong connection continued. Many university leaders, including presidents like J.C. Kilgo and William Preston Few, were members of the church. This shows how important the church was to Durham's educated and wealthier residents.
Students from Trinity College also filled the Sunday School classes. In 1926, the opening of Duke's School of Religion was celebrated with a special service at the church. Many of the church's pastors have studied at Trinity College or Duke University.
Dedication and Name Change
By June 1913, the church still had some building debt. Following his father's example, B.N. Duke offered to pay off the remaining $19,000 if the church members could raise money for the interest and basement completion. On June 7, 1914, the church was officially dedicated.
After James B. Duke passed away in October 1925, the church board approved another name change. The church became "Duke Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church, South." This change recognized the huge role Washington Duke played in building the first church and how his sons helped build the new one. It was understood that the church was a memorial to the Duke family.
In 1929, B.N. Duke passed away. His funeral was held at Duke Memorial Methodist Church, attended by thousands of people.
Later Additions and Final Name
From 1930 to 1931, a new building for the elementary Sunday School was added, matching the church's style. In 1939, the church's name became "Duke Memorial Methodist Church" when the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South joined together.
In 1963, work began on a completely new education building. This building was officially opened on August 23, 1964, completing the church as it looks today. The final name change happened in 1968, to "Duke Memorial United Methodist Church," when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Churches merged to form United Methodist Church. The church is still active today and helps the Durham community in many ways.
The Duke Family's Legacy
The Duke family played a huge role in the church's history. Washington Duke believed that his success came from his faith and the Methodist preachers who visited him. He wanted to help others spiritually, especially those who worked in his tobacco factory and the wider Durham community. He was known for being very generous without being asked.
Washington Duke helped build the first Main Street Church and kept it running until he passed away in 1905. In 1889, six Duke family members, including James B., B.N., and Sarah P. Duke, were church members. Three of the seven church trustees were Washington Duke, Brodie L. Duke, and B.N. Duke.
Outside of the church, Washington Duke made a huge gift of $500,000 to Trinity College, which was the largest gift to education in North Carolina at that time. He wanted to build a better community through faith and education.
Washington Duke's sons continued his generous spirit. They supported not only Main Street Church and Memorial Church but also many other Methodist churches, especially in rural areas. B.N. Duke was particularly interested in helping new churches start and existing ones expand.
In 1915, James B. Duke started giving an annual donation to North Carolina Methodism. This included money to help build churches in struggling areas, support pastors, and help retired preachers. In 1924, James B. Duke created the Duke Endowment with $40 million. This not only established Duke University but also set aside money to continue his annual donations, including funding rural churches and orphanages. The Duke Endowment still supports Methodist churches and their clergy in North Carolina today.
Their older brother, Brodie L. Duke, also gave land for the Main Street Church and other church-related buildings. Generations of the Duke family have continued to support the church financially and by attending services. The Duke family's strong commitment to giving and their Methodist faith is clearly seen in the Duke Memorial United Methodist Church.
Church Building Details
The church building is supported by strong steel beams. Its outside walls are made of white brick with granite decorations. It has a granite foundation and a red tile roof. The building's style is mostly Gothic Revival, which you can see in the stone work around the doors and windows. However, the brickwork of the two tall, four-story towers is in the Romanesque Revival style. One of these towers has a set of 10 working bells called a chime.
The main worship area (sanctuary) has two stories and is shaped like a cross. It is decorated with beautiful Gothic Revival woodwork. The decorative supports hide the steel beams inside. The two newer parts of the church, the elementary building (built in 1931) and the education building (built in 1963), are connected to the sanctuary and have the same Gothic Revival look.
The church's stained glass windows, installed in 1911, are very special. Most of them show people from the Bible and scenes from the life of Jesus. The largest window, facing Chapel Hill Street, is different. It shows John Wesley, a founder of Methodism, preaching on his father's tomb after being told he couldn't preach in the local church.
In 1970-71, the sanctuary was updated, and a new organ was installed. In 1982, the bell tower was renovated. In January 1986, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its historical importance.
Images for kids
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Duke Memorial United Methodist Church from W Chapel Hill Street
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Rev. Amos Gregson, friend of Washington Duke. He was the son of Julius C. & Holland Gregson. Conducted the first services at Washington Duke, Sons & Co Tobacco Factory. Gregson St in Durham NC is named in his honor.
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