Mt Carmel Church History

Mount Carmel Methodist Church came to life in the year 1885 when wagon roads and foot paths were the main thoroughfares of Union County, which boasted a population of some 14,000 persons. Reverend F. B. McCall, who never attained the status of a conference member of his church, served as the first pastor. He did a superb job during his ministry of less than a year. The exact date of the organization of MT Carmel is not known, but it was the twenty-seventh church to be established in Union County and began with a charter membership of nineteen people. By the end of 1885, the membership had grown to thirty-seven people, with all but one of these having been received by pastor McCall.

The beginning of MT Carmel predates the birth of the Western North Carolina Conference, so the church began as part of the Holston Conference and was attached to the Monroe circuit. About 1905, the church became a part of the Prospect Charge and this assignment continued until 1952 when it was joined to the Hebron Charge. In 1984 MT Carmel was taken from the Hebron Charge and united with Midway Church to form the MT Carmel - Midway Charge. In 1999 MT Carmel became a station church with a current membership of 255.

There is not a great deal known about the early years of MT Carmel. No written record of it's hardships and glorious moments have survived to our day. The oldest membership record, which is contained in a record book from 1891, gives the names of the charter members and an accurate account of the church's membership to date. Partially complete records are given from 1900 to 1919, and then no records are entered for the years between 1920 and 1933. A new membership record was prepared in 1933 during the ministry of Reverend J. O. Ervin, and gives records that are complete for the years to follow. The old record book shows that there were two Richardsons, two Dosters, the Helmses, Two Belks, Two Winchesters and one Broom amoung the charter members.

In 1964 a new educational building was started and completed in 1965. The building contained classrooms and a fellowship hall needed to accommodate a rising membership. Throughout the following years, not only the number of members increased, but also the bond of love between these members, building a truly sacred and sound bodied church. Construction of a new sanctuary began in 1975. The sanctuary was dedicated on Homecoming Day, 1975. The original church building was purchased by Mrs. J. H. Sutton, and moved to her property nearby and converted to a residence. In 1984 additional property was acquired adjacent to the church on which a parsonage was built. It was first occupied in August or 1985 by Reverend Mark Clontz and family.

MT Carmel has continued to minister to the people of the community throughout it's 100 plus years of service. The church has passed some very hard years when only the determination of it's most faithful members gave it life. Today it is permeated by a warm Christian fellowship that gives it great promise and hope for the years to come.