Bass Chapel United Methodist Church

History Update

Our previous history listed that the church started in 1875 with Rev. C. W. Blaylock as our first minister. The 2025 version of the Bass Chapel history is updated to more accurately reflect information from conference archives. Also we are including information from an archive document discovered in our previous church building. The archive document contains notes that date back to November of 1866. 

Synopsis

The origins of Bass Chapel Church can be traced to meetings held in the Center Grove Township area of Guilford County, starting as early as November 1866. A notepad discovered at the church's location at 5064 Bass Chapel Road documents these early gatherings. One notation dated October 20, 1869 lists Hardy Pleasant and Branson Kirkpatrick as class leaders with Milton Bass, Aaron Gorrell, and Lewis Lindsay as stewards. Seven meetings were held in 1869. A notation from March 7, 1870 mentions the collection of funds to compensate Pastor Champlin, a Methodist Episcopal minister. Officially Rev. Champlin’s assignment to this area did not start until 1871. The notepad also identifies Rev. L. B. Gibson as the pastor in charge on June 9, 1872. Branson Kirkpatrick was noted as a class leader in February 1873. While the last dated entry concerning the church in the notepad is from 1876 and appears to be a financial note. Additionally, the notepad lists three births from 1881, 1882, and 1884. The notepad never indicates where the meetings were held.

While the precise date of Bass Chapel's establishment as an official Methodist Episcopal congregation remains unknown. If the first church building was started under Rev. Blaylock’s tenure, this would have been between 1877-1879.  The land for the church was acquired from Mr. Milton Bass through the efforts of Mr. John McKnight, Mr. James McAdoo, Mr. Preston Rankin, Mr. Calvin Gorrell, Mr. Leven Davis, Mr. Henry Davis, and other dedicated individuals. Although a small church was initiated on the site, it was never fully completed. 

Information of the land transfer deed from Milton Bass to the Church has not yet been located. Mr. Milton Bass is mentioned in a number of the class lists and in one case as a steward. 

Conference records do not specifically list the ministers from 1880-1892. The 1900 Conference Minutes mention, "A new church has been built at Bass's and it is nicely painted," during Rev. R. D. Bethea’s tenure. The 1906 Conference Minutes note the digging of a well on the church grounds. A 1908 District Report Summary mentions improvements to the church at Basses. In 1909, under Rev. A. W. McMaster, "at Bass's a nice tower has been built this year; a large bell has been bought and paid for."

Under Rev. J. A. Laughlin in 1911, Bass' Chapel was expanded, and a significant revival was held. The Epworth League Sunday School Convention and District took place at Bass's Chapel from July 14-19, 1914. Under Rev. J. W. Shuford, a modern brick church with cathedral windows was initiated in 1929, leading to substantial membership growth. The 1930 Conference Record acknowledged the progress at Basses Chapel, noting, "A large brick veneered church is far on the way to completion" and predicting it would be "the best country church in the entire Conference" once finished. In 1941 under Rev. W. T. Lomax, a recreational building was erected and used for various purposes. Under Rev. Eugene Black in 1949, the sanctuary was repaired, a furnace was installed, the choir stand was enlarged, and a new organ was acquired.

Under Rev. Belvin Jessup's leadership in 1962, an educational wing was added, including three classrooms, restrooms, a kitchen, a fellowship hall, and a pastor's study. The sanctuary also underwent renovation. In 1996 under Rev. Larry E. Fitzgerald, a new church was constructed. On September 15, 1996, the congregation marched from 5064 to 5075 Bass Chapel Road for an 11:00 am service in a beautiful new edifice. During the relocation, the notepad containing early church history was discovered in the old building at 5064 Bass Chapel Road.

In 2011, Rev. Donald E. McCoy became the pastor. His dedication to the community was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, as he maintained fellowship through Thursday night teleconferences, video-recorded sermons for Facebook, and held socially distanced outdoor services. A video archive of Sunday messages was also initiated. In 2020, Rev. Tamara M. Ingram continued the tradition of outstanding preachers and teachers at Bass Chapel. Because of the pandemic, she was welcomed in the parking lot, echoing the early preachers who delivered messages under an arbor.

Below is a list of pastors who served Bass Chapel, along with the years of their service:

1866: None Listed

1867: Hardy Pleasant and Branson Kirkpatrick (class leaders, October 20 meeting)

1869: (Meeting dates for March 14, May 8, July 4, August 1, September 5, September 20, November 28 - Pastors not listed)

1870 and 1871: Rev. John E. Champlin

1872: L. B. Gibson

1876: Rev. J. Payne

1877: Rev. C.W. Blaylock

1888: L.B. Gibson

1892: Rev. George F. Hill

1894: Rev. S. L. Johnson

1896: Rev. Ben F. Thomas

1900: Rev. R. D. Bethea

1905: Rev. A. W. McMaster

1907: Rev. David C. Skeen

1910: Rev. J. A. Laughlin

1916: Rev. G. W. Byers

1919: Rev. W. B. Zeigler

1924: Rev. P. I. Wells

1926: Rev. P. F. Johnson

1927: Rev. J. W. Shuford

1935: J. B. Meekins

1936: Rev. T. H. Wooten

1937: Rev. M. M. Patrick

1938: Rev. J. H. Ledwell

1939: Rev. T. C. Frazier

1941: Rev. W. T. Lomax

1949: Rev. Eugene Black

1959: Rev. W. E. Tyler

1960: Rev. Liston Sellers Jr.

1962: Rev. Belvin Jessup

1967: Rev. John W. Jones

1974: Rev. William Royster, Rev. David Harkness, Rev. D. J. Hughes

1976: Rev. Cornelius Holland

1982: Rev. Paul Milton

1988: Rev. Peter Addo

1991: Rev. Diane Jones

1992: Rev. Larry E. Fitzgerald

2011: Rev. Donald E. McCoy

2020: Rev. Tamara M. Ingram