Salem United Methodist Church has served the community of faith for more than 151 years and is still fulfilling its purpose. 

The church's history goes back to an outgrowth of the old camp meetings that were held in the area. (To the right: Salem United Methodist Church is shown in the mid-1800s in a drawing by Mary Banner.)

In 1857, John R. Patterson deeded a tract of land on the west side of Wards Gap Road for the purpose of building a Methodist Episcopal Church.

A white frame church was built facing Salem Road, which is now named Myers Drive. The church had two front doors, and the women sat on one side of the church and the men on the other, according to Susan Allred. The front porch was decorated by lattice wood, according to Howard Allred.

Rev. Marcus Wood, a circuit rider, preached at Salem Methodist Church Feb. 11, 1858, before the church was finished, according to Foot Prints in the Hollows by William F. Carter Jr. and Carrie Young Carter.

After the old Lebanon Church, which was located near the water tank on North Main Street, Mount Airy, was abandoned, Salem and South Main Street Methodist churches became a double circuit, with Salem being the stronger church, according to Mr. B.F. Sparger as told to Ruth Minick. In 1908, the Mount Airy Circuit consisted of eight churches: Salem, Green Hill, Oak Grove, Laurel Bluff, Zion, Epworth, Beulah and New Hebron.    

The present sanctuary and basement rooms were erected in 1923-1924 and given by Mrs. Z.T. Smith, the daughter of John H. Jackson, and furnished by the congregation and dedicated on June 29, 1924.

The church’s first homecoming was held on Aug. 3, 1941, during the pastorate of Rev. Heckard. In 1951, Salem was made a station church. The old parsonage on Elm Street, Mount Airy, was sold, and Salem’s congregation built a new one on Myers Drive. The first family to use the parsonage on Myers Drive was the Rev. and Mrs. Lester Ballard.

Salem celebrated its 100^th anniversary, July 28-Aug. 4, 1957, during the pastorate of Rev. A.W. Lynch. Salem took on a small church, Imogene, into the circuit to keep it from closing. It was later closed and Salem was assigned Epworth, a charge relationship that still lasts today.

The congregation raised money for an educational building by having suppers and auctions at least once a year. When the Rev. W.L. Barbee became the minister, he started exploring the possibility of beginning the construction.

By using donated labor to a great extent, the building was completed and dedicated Sept. 4, 1977. Bishop L. Scott Allen preached at the 11 a.m. service and dedicated the building. An addition to the educational building was built in December 1986 that consisted of a church office and another classroom. Rev. Steve Rainey was the pastor. The first woman’s missionary society was organized in 1894. The Methodist men chartered a group in 1999. 

The church completed its Christian Life Center in the fall of 2008. It is a beautiful addition to the church where suppers and other events can take place. The kitchen was also expanded and remodeled during this time. Please read about our church today in the About Us section. 

~ Compiled by Juanita Tate