Calvary Memorial UMC
1830-beyond
Methodism was brought to Greene County in the late 1780s by circuit riders dispatched by the Virginia Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Snow Hill Circuit was formed in 1830 with William Anderson and Thomas S. Ransom as the first pastors, and by 1837, the Snow Hill circuit consisted of ten churches: Snow Hill, Ormond’s Chapel, Rainbow, Jerusalem, Tabernacle, Yelverton, Lebanon, Bethel, Hookerton, and Kinston. Since 1830, the Methodist congregation in Snow Hill has served as a leading witness for Jesus Christ in the Snow Hill and Greene County community.
Following World War II, Calvary Memorial grew to the point that the church was able to support itself and became a station under the leadership of Rev. J. D. Young; during this period of time, the loan on the sanctuary was paid in full, and the building was dedicated to the glory of God on November 20, 1949 in a service led by Bishop W. W. Peele and Rev. Young.
Important events in the church’s recent history include the formation of the Woman’s Society of Christian Service on September 13, 1940; the first Chrismon Tree presented by the young people of the church on December 16, 1973; the dedication of a new parsonage on May 17, 1981; and the completion of a new Fellowship Hall with kitchen, bathrooms, meeting room, and office suite in 1982.
After the devastation of Hurricane Floyd in 1999, Rev. Claire Clyburn led the church to form Greene County Interfaith to minister to the physical needs of the community; in 2015, Interfaith (now a 501.c.3 non-profit) moved into a new facility built specifically for its mission with partial funding by the Duke Endowment. In 2012, Rev. Martin Armstrong led the church’s first international mission team to the Boca Costa Medical Mission and community in Guatemala; in summer 2019, the ninth medical and construction mission team travelled to Guatemala.
Today, the Calvary Memorial United Methodist Church has 324 members, many of whom are active in its regular program of worship and fellowship, its varied small groups and discipleship programs, and its outreach ministries. New members have taken active leadership roles in the church and support it fully with their prayers, presence, gifts, service, and witness.
They are drawn to the church because of its warm and hospitable membership, its active engagement with the community, and its focus on discipleship of all members. A strong laity works in partnership with Pastor Emily Blair to plan and implement the program of the church and to carry out its stated mission: Calvary Memorial United Methodist Church provides hospitality, healing, and hope to make disciples for Jesus Christ.
Snow Hill lies equidistant among four larger towns—Wilson, Greenville, Kinston, and Goldsboro—and many of its old and new residents commute to work in these communities but choose to live in Snow Hill because of its “village” atmosphere. Calvary Memorial has a unique challenge to welcome potential new members and nurture their involvement in the program and ministry of the church.
In the years ahead, the church recognizes that its success in cultivating new members and remaining a strong, viable community of faith will lie in its openness to diverse membership while maintaining its integrity as a United Methodist church grounded in Wesleyan tradition.