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The
village that was to become known as West End was
not so named until 1890. At that time, there were fewer
than 35 families living within a three-mile radius. This
area was encircled by four churches: Bensalem,
Culdee, and Jackson Springs Presbyterian churches as
well as Beulah Hill Baptist Church.
In 1899, the Rev. A.M. Hassel moved to West
End to serve the three outlying Presbyterian
churches.
The first County Schoolhouse was erected
in 1906 and became the new home for the Sunday
School and worship services. In 1908, the Rev.
A.S. Arrowwood, a Presbyterian minister who had founded Elise
Academy in Hemp (now Robbins), began holding monthly
services for the church. On November 17, 1912,
twenty-one charter members were present for the organization
of the West End Presbyterian Church.
The Rev. T.C. Delaney was the first minister of the
church and served for approximately two years, while
also serving as pastor to the three other area churches. In
1914, Fayetteville Presbytery called the Rev. Arrowwood
to serve the churches of West End, Caledonia,
and Mt Carmel. By 1915, West End Presbyterian’s
membership had increased to 55.Following Arrowwood's
death in 1919, the Rev. R.G. Matheson became the minister
and headed the efforts to construct a sanctuary. On March
25, 1922, the congregation worshipped in the sanctuary
for the first time.
R.G. Matheson, who served the church until his retirement
in 1939, also served as minister of Jackson Springs,
Culdee and the Morris School at Samarcand
Manor. In 1940, the Rev. R.R. Ramsey began his
ministry at West End Presbyterian Church that would
span the decade and end in 1951.The church called its
first full-time minister in 1952. This was also
the first pastorate for the Rev. Hogan Yancey, who served
the church until 1955. The manse, now known
as Hogan House, was constructed at this point in the
church's history. Subsequent ministers included
the Rev. George Houck (1956 to 1962), the Rev. George
Cheney (1963 to 1967), the Rev. W.L. Painter (1967 to
1971), the Rev. John L. Speight (1973-1977), the Rev.
Burke Kerr (1977 to 1982), and the Rev. W. Dudley Crawford
(1983 to 2005).
In
2006, the congregation called the Rev. Dr. Lawrence
A. Lyon to serve as minister and in 2008 the congregation
called the Rev. Charles Pope, III to serve as associate
pastor. |