This document summarizes Methodist churches organized in Western North Carolina in 1866. After the Civil War ended in 1865, Northern Methodists began establishing congregations in NC, forming both predominantly African-American churches and Caucasian churches of Union sympathizers. As a result, new Methodist congregations were founded in 1866 in what is now the WNC Annual Conference, including Methodist Episcopal Church (both African-American and Caucasian congregations), Methodist Episcopal Church South, and Methodist Protestant Church congregations. Several churches are specifically noted as being organized in 1866 across eight counties in WNC.

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WNC Annual Conference
The United Methodist Church

2. First UMC, Lincolnton
Lincoln County
Organized 1816

3. 1866
• Civil War ended in 1865
• The Methodist Episcopal Church
(Northern Methodists) began sending
missionaries into North Carolina, with the
goal of organizing new congregations
• Predominantly African-American
congregations were formed
• Predominantly Caucasian congregations
of Union sympathizers were formed

4. 1866
• Result—new congregations being formed
in what is now WNC Annual Conference in
all three branches of Methodism
• Methodist Episcopal Church (both
predominantly African-American and
predominantly Caucasian)
• Methodist Episcopal Church, South
• Methodist Protestant Church

5. Baltimore UMC (MP)
Yadkin County
Organized 1866

6. Bell UMC, Leicester (ME)
Buncombe County
Organized 1866

7. Big Spring UMC, Charlotte (MECS)
Mecklenburg County
Organized 1866

8. Boone UMC, Boone (MECS)
Watauga County
Organized 1866

9. Morning Star UMC (ME)
Haywood County
Organized 1866

10. St. Matthews UMC, Greensboro (ME)
Guilford County
Organized 1866

11. Simpson-Gillespie UMC, Charlotte (ME)
Mecklenburg County
Organized 1866

12. Badin UMC, Badin (MECS)
Stanly County
Organized 1916