Worship in Wilmington: Here are 10 of the oldest churches serving the area

When the pandemic hit, it hit a lot of places hard. It also impacted places of worship. From death to sickness to loss of revenue, many struggled to stay open while others shut their doors for good.

But among the ones that remain, these nine historic churches and one synagogue in the Wilmington area have maintained services for at least 100 years.

Here are some of the oldest churches in the Wilmington area.

Brunswick County

Sharon Methodist Church - Holden Beach: The church was established in 1825 in a small log cabin schoolhouse near the present Silent Grove Cemetery on Holden Beach Road. The church rebuilt another small cabin with handmade shingles nailed over the logs in 1860. A larger frame building, complete with a wall down the center aisle to separate the men and women in worship, opened for the first service in 1886.

Through the years the church had to be rebuilt. A parsonage was built in the early 1980s, with the first full-time pastor living in the home by 1984. In 2009, construction began on the current sanctuary with the first worship service in the new sanctuary on Easter 2010. The renovated education building was renamed “The Crossing” in 2021 and serves as a multi-use facility for the church family and community services.

Sharon disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church and aligned with the new Global Methodist Church in January 2023. The church is located at 2030 Holden Beach Road in Supply.

First Baptist of Shallotte: In 1836, First Baptist Church in Shallotte was originally known as Chapel Hill Baptist when the Shallotte area was referred to as Chapel Hill. In 1954, changing its name to First Baptist of Shallotte, the church has gone through several phases of growth and a few different buildings through the years. The most recent church was built in 2004. Worship services are a mix of contemporary and traditional. Sunday school begins at 9:45 a.m. and Sunday worship service is at 11 a.m.

Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church: Believed to the be oldest Missionary Baptist Church in Brunswick County, Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church was formed in the 1750s, when a group of fishermen from New England came to the coast and settled near the mouth of Lockwood's Folly River in Brunswick County. Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church was organized in 1762 by Ezekiel Hunter, who was pastor of the Baptist Church at New River in Onslow County. In 1912 membership was growing resulting for a new church to be built. Today, Mt. Pisgah has continued to see growth, which resulted in the church built a larger sanctuary and educational building. Mt. Pisgah was instrumental in starting these churches: Mill Creek Baptist in 1776, Prospect Baptist Church (1891), Mount Olive (1913), Boone's Neck (1945) and Shell Point (1955). It is located at 494 Mt. Pisgah Road, S.W., Supply. Sunday services at 9:30 a.m. Sunday school 10:45 a.m. worship and 6 p.m. Sunday evenings.

Mill Creek Baptist Church: Founded in 1776, but was not formally established until 1800, it was part of the church at Lockwood Folly that would later become Mt. Pisgah Baptist. Mill Creek was established as a new congregation for what is now the Mill Creek community. The church has had six different houses of worship, the most recent being built in 1952. Sunday school was taught from 1895-2021, but the church remains committed to teaching God's word each time the congregation meets. The church is located at 1099 George II Hwy. Winnabow. Worship services are at 10:30 a.m. Sunday and Wednesday at 7 p.m.

New Hanover County

Temple of Israel: Is a Jewish house of prayer located on the corner of Fourth and Market streets in Wilmington. Built in 1876, it's the oldest synagogue in North Carolina and one of the earliest Reform synagogues in the South. After a successful fundraising campaign to restore the historic Temple of Israel building, renovations to the historic building are scheduled to be completed this summer. It is located at 1 S. Fourth St.

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First Baptist Church: The church was organized in Wilmington in 1808, originally established as Front Street Baptist Church, since the meeting house was located on South Front Street near the corner of Ann Street. After starting several other Baptist churches in the city, the name was changed to First Baptist. Construction on the current sanctuary at the corner of Market Street and Fifth Avenue started in 1860, but the Civil War and its residual effects delayed completion for 10 years. The sanctuary was dedicated in May of 1870. The architecture of the building is early English Gothic with large arches and two spires.

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St. James Episcopal Church: Founded in 1729, it's part of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina and is the oldest church in the city of Wilmington. The church is located at 25 S. Third St.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church: Established in 1869, Saint Mark's is the oldest African American Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Eastern North Carolina. Service is at 11 a.m. Sundays. The church is located at 600 Grace St., Wilmington.

St. Stephen African Methodist Episcopal Church: Established in May 1865, the original wooden church was built in 1866 under supervision of Lewis Hollingsworth. The current church was designed by J.K. Vaughan, a northern architect and sympathizer who came to Wilmington after the Civil War. The church is open regularly for services. Sunday service is 10 a.m.

Pender County

Mount Holly Baptist Church: Formed in 1814, the church was organized in local plantation owner Labon Carroll's home. According to the church records, the church building was constructed in 1861 with the intention for slaves to be able to attend services. The men would sit on the left side of the church and the women on the right. Celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2014, the church has done extensive renovations through the years. Mount Holly is located at 5551 U.S. 117, Burgaw.

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This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What are the oldest churches serving Wilmington NC