History 

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.


 

 

West End Presbyterian Church, 275 Knox Lane, P. O. Box 13, West End, NC 27376  ~ 910-673-4341

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