Historical Sketch of the United Church of Raleigh

Stuart Noblin was a member of the United Church of Raleigh during the 1960s, as well as a historian at NC State. He wrote two histories of the United Church. The brief one below was written in 1967 as part of a self-study project within the church. The longer one entitled “The United Church of Raleigh: A Case Study” was written two years later and is also available in this archive (link on left).

Historical Sketch of United Church of Raleigh (PDF)

The United Church of Raleigh: A Case Study - By Stuart Noblin

The United Church of Raleigh, A Case Study -- written by Stuart Noblin, North Carolina State University, for the Southern Historical Association, 1969.

A Case Study (PDF) (14 pages)

The E&R Church - Our Present Home

The First Evangelical and Reformed Church of Raleigh was formed in 1954. (See first photo in collection below. This plague is hanging in the CUCC Fellowship Hall.) In 1956 the E&R congregation completed construction of the church building on the corner of Dixie Trail and Wade Avenue. (See second photo in collection. This plaque also hangs in the Fellowship Hall.) The photos in this collection represent the earliest known pictures taken of the new church. One of them pictures the Rev. G. Harold Myers in the pulpit. Rev. Myers served as Pastor at the Evangelical and Reformed church during the 1950s. In 1969, the United Church of Raleigh abandoned its downtown location and moved to the E&R church to merge with the E&R congregation. (The E&R and Congregational-Christian denominations had merged in 1957, so this joining of churches in 1969 was a merger of churches which were already associated with the same denomination). By 1969 the E&R congregation was relatively small, and following the merger few of the E&R members were actually assimilated into the new congregation.

  Click any photo to view large versions of all photos  

Organization of E&R Church of Raleigh, 1954

Architectural award for new church building on Dixie Trail and Wade Ave., 1956

Earliest exterior photo of the new church

Front: W. C. Pickett, Jr., William Cope. Rear:T. Edsel Cooke, Helen Peeler, Perry Moore, ?

First Consistory of the E&R Church of Raleigh

New sanctuary

Rev. G. Harold Myers in pulpit

United Church Scrapbook (1923 - 1959)

The United Church scrapbook (192 images) includes program announcements, church bulletins, correspondence, and extensive newspaper clippings from the period roughly from 1923 to 1960. This archived version attempts as much as possible to preserve the scrapbook digitally in the same form as the physical scrapbook.

United Church Scrapbook

Letter from Rev. Allyn Robinson to the congregation - Sept. 30, 1943

Rev. Allyn Robinson came to the United Church of Raleigh in the late 1930s. He is widely known for having started the Institute of Religion in 1939. But on September 30, 1943, he drafted a remarkable and unusual letter to the congregation.

He begins by acknowledging rumors that he was planning to accept a call to another position. He describes the job offer he has received, and then describes his strong feelings for the United Church that have persuaded him to decline the offer. But then he emphatically proclaims “BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG!” and proceeds to berate the congregation for poor attendance at worship on Sunday mornings. And their lack of enthusiasm for worship leads him to conclude with the charge that such apathy is the cause that “the liberal church is weak.” And finally he lays out the expectation that he will see his parishioners at church on Sunday mornings unless they are “providentially hindered” from being there.

A. A. Riddle

A. A. Riddle obituary from Sept. 2, 1952

United Church Organizational Structure - 1952

This little booklet has markings that indicate that it probably dates from 1952 or 1953. It includes directory information as well as a listing of some scheduled meetings.

  Click any photo to view large versions of all photos