By Jamie Strickland
WILSON’S MILLS — Some landmarks are measured not just in bricks and mortar or wood and nails, but in the generations of hearts and hands that have shaped them. For a century and a half, Wilson’s Mills Christian Church has been both a steadfast building and a faithful community.
Founded in 1875, the church has even deeper roots, tracing its beginnings to Dr. J.J. Harper, the son of Bentonville residents John and Amy Harper. Their family farmhouse serves today as a Johnston County landmark well known for being a makeshift hospital for soldiers during the Battle of Bentonville, the last major battle of the Civil War.
Dr. Harper became a Disciples of Christ minister in 1862 and led the formation of the congregation after moving to the Smithfield area.
Another key figure in the church’s early history was John Marshall Wilson, namesake of the town of Wilson’s Mills. Wilson’s lumber business prospered near the railroad, and he donated the land for the church. The congregation first gathered in a modest one-room building before completing the sanctuary in 1888.
Over the decades, the church has grown alongside its members. A new wing and kitchen were added in the 1950s, a fellowship hall and updated kitchen arrived in the 1980s, and the kitchen was expanded again in 2016 — a reflection of how gathering for food has long been a central part of Southern church culture.
The church’s mission has always extended beyond Sunday worship, and feeding people is a central part of that outreach.
“Our church has always worked hard to serve our community, providing meals to shut-ins, meals to school children through the backpack buddies program,” said Elsworth Lee, a lifelong member of the congregation. “Through our outreach program, monies are donated for disaster relief for western North Carolina and other areas as well.”
Lee added that the church’s mission will continue to “provide spiritual ministry to the needy, reaching out to our community and be an all inclusive, non judgmental congregation that welcomes all. We will remember our past and embrace our future.”
Lee, who has attended the church all his life, also reflected on its personal and social significance.
“Personally it is a place to socialize with other members weekly to strengthen relationships and our faith as well,” he said. “As a child growing up in the church our Vacation Bible School held in the summer was memorable. When yard work or improvements to the church were needed, everyone pulled together to get the job done and that still is ongoing.”
Interim Minister David Mallory sees the church as “a loving, enthusiastic faith community with a passion for serving others.”
“In an era when so many churches are struggling, it has been a joy for me to be part of a thriving, vibrant faith community,” he said. “Though not a large congregation, this church has a large impact on the world around them. Even as worship is at the center of the faith community, outreach has become a natural and almost instinctive result of that worship.”
The church remains grounded in its Disciples of Christ identity, welcoming all and striving to be “a faithful, growing church that demonstrates true community, deep Christian spirituality and a passion for justice.”
In October, the Town of Wilson’s Mills recognized the 150th Anniversary of the church with an official proclamation.
Through 150 years of history, service and shared faith, Wilson’s Mills Christian Church continues to extend that vision into their future.
