Charles Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church- Abingdon, Virginia - This Old Church on Waymarking.com

Historical Significance:
In the early 1800's, some of the black citizens of the Wolf Hill section of Abingdon, known as King's Mountain, attended the Wolf Hill Methodist Church. Black people from the beginning of American Methodism have been a substantial portion of the denomination membership. In 1823, Holston Conference total membership included 7,512 whites and 1,078 colored. In 1827, Abingdon church membership included 70 whites and 30 colored. The first meeting was held in the Masonic Lodge Hall located on the park where Campbell's funeral home now has a warehouse. Here the first black Methodist church was organized.

No records could be found telling who the first pastor was. However, in 1873, Rev. Soloman Wing founded the Charles Wesley Methodist Episcopal Church. The congregation outgrew their facilities. This situation sparked the committee to locate a new site. In 1873, a tract of land on the east end of Abingdon was purchased. This land, on Main Street, was part of a "convent" occupied by the sisters of the Academy of Visitations of Abingdon, Virginia. On November 20, 1877, the congregation moved into their new church on East Main Street in the name of Charles Wesley Episcopal Church. After the Civil War, the Holston Conference Methodist Episcopal Church, south, granted a request of the Negro members that they be constituted separately. Charles Wesley joined the Washington County Conference in 1878 and the East Tennessee conference was in 1900.

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Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 11/20/1877 Age of Church building determined by?: Cornerstone or plaque If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: United Methodist Church If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Sunday Street address of Church: 322 East Main Street Abingdon, Virgnia USA 24210-2906 Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: Not Listed Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed

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