Turner Presbyterian Church of Union County, N.C. came into being at a meeting held at Walkersville Presbyterian Church on
September 13, 1922.
Elder Henry Belk was appointed to organize a church in the Roughedge Community of Union County. On October the 8th, 1922
the church held it’s first meeting at the schoolhouse on Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Turner’s farm (thus the name “Turner”).
The Turner’s donated 7 acres for the church and work on the first building (which Includes the present sanctuary) began
on February 12th 1923. The first service in the sanctuary was held on June 3, 1923 at 11:00 a.m. with the Reverend B. B.
Shankel, the first pastor of the church. giving the message. A second service was held at 2:30 p.m. that same day were
the Reverend W. B. S. Chandler of First Church, Monroe preached.
The early years at Turner where marked by some big stories. The original membership was 15 persons with folks from both
Baptist and Methodist churches offering their assistance to get things going. Some committed themselves to coming to
church early to light the gas lights and fires like Mr. and Mrs. Israel Helms. Other folks like Mr. Henry Belk, of Belk’s
Department store, gave money to encourage folks to memorize scripture and promote service to the church. And still
others were like Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Richardson who were remembered for showing up for Sunday School and worship despite
bad weather, bad health and no transportation other than their feet.
And as time rolled on the church enlarged its physical plant. The Sunday school rooms attached to the sanctuary were added
in 1938. A manse was built for the pastor to live in back in 1953. The sanctuary was remodeled in 1957. The manse
was enlarged in 1960 and Art glass windows were also installed in the sanctuary. In 1975 the fellowship hall and
education building were completed. And thus the educational space behind the sanctuary became pastor’s study, workroom
choir room and prayer room in 1980. In 2005 the pastor’s study was re-purposed to an after church fellowship and snack
room while the smaller prayer room became the pastor’s study.
Through out the changes to our property Turner has remained a small membership church. The role has risen and fallen
over the years for numerous reasons but we are blessed then as now to do some big things. We support a missionary family
that flies aircraft for Jaars. Heifer International has recognized us as the biggest giver in the Charlotte, NC area for
the last few years. We work with Habitat for Humanity and other hand up organizations to improve our community.
Additionally, we offer support to local schools through the collection of school supplies and prayer. By God’s grace,
the church has supported it’s own first full time minister since 1996. Turner also has a choir ministry lead by Organist
Sue Holmes and accompanied by Pianist, Christy van den Berg. We are so blessed to have such excellent talent in our worship music.
Come and see what else God will do.
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