 Peace United Church of Christ has had several names since
its organization in 1903. Its roots are in the Reformed Church
of the United States. In 1934 the Reformed Church and the Evangelical Synod of
North America merged to become the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Then in
1957 the Evangelical and Reformed Church merged with the Congregational
Christian Church to become the United Church of Christ. Our congregation adopted the name Peace United Church
of Christ in 1963.
In
May 1902 the Classis of North Carolina of the Reformed
Church commissioned Rev. J.D. Andrew and Rev. J.C. Leonard
to minister to the Reformed people in Greensboro in an
effort
to establish a church there, and on March 1, 1903, the
First Reformed Church of Greensboro was officially organized
with
seventeen charter members. Rev. Shuford Peeler, who had
just graduated from Ursinus School of Theology, was the
first
minister and served the congregation until 1915. Property on West Lee Street was soon acquired and an existing
building was used until a chapel was built in 1904. Just
two years later a sanctuary seating 400 people was constructed.
The West Lee Street facility served the congregation for
fifty plus years.
In 1950 property for a new church was purchased on West
Market Street, but it was not until February 1957 that the
new chapel and church school classrooms were occupied. Ground
was broken in 1978 for a sanctuary adjoining the chapel,
and the new building was dedicated and occupied on March
18, 1979. In just five more years the building costing over
$450,000 was paid for in full, and Peace Church remains debt
free.
In 1960 an outdoor altar was built on the property in memory
of Rev. Hoy L. Fesperman, minister from 1946 until his untimely
death in June 1960. In 1961 a house was built on adjoining
property for the use of the new minister and his family.
Rev. G. Melvin Palmer served the church from November 1960
until his retirement in 1993, when he was elected pastor
emeritus.
Having recently celebrated its 100th birthday, Peace United
Church of Christ seems to be young again, encouraged and
prepared to move forward. God continues to be good. We know
our history; now we must plan for our future.
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