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Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church was started in February, 1988, by a small group of newcomers to the area who were interested in starting a new church reflecting their beliefs and religious traditions. A newspaper advertisement was placed in the local newspapers asking if there were other Presbyterians in the area interested in starting a Presbyterian church. Several people responded and the first service was held on Ash Wednesday, 1988.
The Presbytery of Coastal Carolina was contacted and agreed to help the small congregation with pastoral and financial help. The Reverend Jack Dail & Reverend Wes Jennings, two retired pastors, served the church in its early years.
The small congregation met every Sunday in the Sneads Ferry Senior Citizens Building and slowly began to grow. They continued to meet there until December, 1989, when a rare blizzard struck Eastern North Carolina and severely damaged the building. The congregation had held two Christmas candlelight services at Yopp's Meeting House, a small chapel which had been a primitive Baptist church, but was not being used. The congregation requested use of the building from a small group of residents interested in preserving it, and the request was granted.
The congregation then began meeting in the small chapel which was unheated and had no running water. In spite of these conditions, the congregation continued to grow in spirit and size.
The congregation sought to become chartered as a Presbyterian church and looked forward to having its own building. In September, 1990, First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville agreed to sponsor the Sneads Ferry Mission as one of its projects.
The Reverend Alfred Brough, a retired Chaplin, began serving the church on a part-time basis in May, 1991, and continued until October, 1993, when he retired. Chaplin Mary Washburn, a Chaplin serving at Camp Lejeune, agreed to serve the church part-time.
The year 1992 brought exciting news to the congregation as land was purchased for a future building, and Presbytery agreed to the chartering of the church. On January 17, 1993, the Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church was officially chartered at a service held in Salem Baptist Church.
The congregation continued to grow and plan for its new building. On June 12, 1994, a ground breaking ceremony was held following the morning worship service. On December 18, 1994, the first worship service was held in the new building, exactly 5 years after the congregation had moved into Yopp's Chapel.
The Reverend Norman Story became the first full time pastor of the church in June, 1994, and continues to lead the church. God has blessed the church and congregation throughout these years and we ask His blessing to continue.
Elder Andrea Barrett, Historian
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Last Revised: July 22, 2006 09:11 PM.
Sneads Ferry
