151-year-old Kinston church breaks ground to kick off new sanctuary – Kinston Free Press

Brandon Davis|Kinston/Jones Free Press (kfp)

A Kinston church held a sesquicentennial celebration on Wednesday to break ground for a new sanctuary.

St. John Free Will Baptist Church, located at 405 E. Blount St., started in 1870, five years after the close of the Civil War, and on Wednesday, Feb. 17, church members attended the groundbreaking ceremony to kick off the much-anticipated construction on the same property.

A historical moment, a 150-year celebration is called a sesquicentennial, church member Lendell Fields-Wayne said. Well, today, we add one additional year to it.

More: Video: St. John FWB Church groundbreaking ceremony

St. John Pastor William F. Hudson, Jr., who became the churchs eighth pastor in 2015, said a three-story sanctuary with a balcony was demolished last year to build the new 10,000 to 12,000 square-foot sanctuary at the exact same location. He said construction should begin in two weeks, and the new facility will connect to the current building.

Whats great about that is were known already in this location, Hudson said. So, were just going to bring more to the community. Nobody has to find us. Were still here in one of the centers of Kinston, and were still making a difference.

Before the church was built at the corner of Blount Street and East Street, services were held originally on the banks of the Neuse River at the end of West Gordon Street. Members then moved to a small log building, which became the church. The first pastor was Rev. Cree Lanier.

From 1875 to 1914, the log building served as the sanctuary where members held meetings on the first and third Sunday. Rev. A. Carmon became the second pastor and served from 1879 to 1885. The church saw two new pastors, Rev. Gabel McNeil (1885-1891) and Rev. Griffin Suggs (1892-1922).

In 1901, the General Conference of the Free Will Baptist Church General Assembly was held at St. John, and for a number of years, the church was the site of the General Conference. The church is a member of the Northwest A Division Annual Conference of the United American Free Will Baptist denomination.

The congregation decided to build a new brick, Gothic and Romanesque inspired edifice at the Blount Street location in 1914.

Under the leadership of the next three pastors, Rev. Emmanuel Hill (1923-1956), Rev. W.L. Jones (1956-1982), and Rev. W.J. Best, Sr. (1982-2013), there was tremendous expansion and growth, according to the church. Hudson was installed as the eighth pastor six years ago.

The number 8 biblically represents new beginnings, and to be the eighth past here says that Im in a period where church is transitioning, Hudson said. I mean, were going to have to start doing church totally differently with COVID, so the number 8 to me is significant because it expresses new beginnings.

And to know that this churchs rich history has been around for 150 years with only eight pastors, speaks volumes to the dedication of those that are here.

Before St. John board members, Kinston Mayor Dontario Hardy, and Hudson broke ground with shovels, Hudson presented a plaque to chairperson James Fonville for his 60 years of faithfulness to St. John FWB Church.

You dont really know what this means to me, Fonville said. Ive been waiting for this day since 71 when Rev. Jones brought the idea to us about a project he had."

Fonville then grabbed a shovel with Hardy, Hudson, St. John Bishop J.E. Reddick, and chairperson Virginia Cox-Daughtery to break ground.

The age-old dream of erecting a church at this site has become a reality, Cox-Daughterty said. After 150 years at this site, were going to build a new church.

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151-year-old Kinston church breaks ground to kick off new sanctuary - Kinston Free Press