The History of Becks Evangelical Lutheran
Church
In the 1700's, records were not kept in detail; so
therefore, trying to compile a history of a church that is
factual and accurate is a very formidable task. No one
anticipated the great need of these records in the years to
come.
In The
History of the Lutheran Church in North Carolina, it
states that the Rev. Adolph Nussman served Becks from 1773
to 1787. This suggests that there was a worshipping group at that time,
the members of which had invited him to
serve as their pastor.
It is unknown exactly when the congregation was formally
organized. The deed for the land on which Becks
was originally located was made on November 5, 1787. If
there were a church and burial ground on the property when
purchased in 1787 and since Pastor Nussman served at Becks
beginning in 1773, it would not be very far in error if 1773
were chosen as a starting point for Beck's Lutheran
Church.
The first deed reads in part as follows:
"
This indenture
made November 5, 1787, between John Billings, doctor, and
Leonard Smith, Etc. of the one part, and Martin Frank and
Frederick Billings of the Profession of the Church of
England, and David Smith and Henry Lookinbee of the
Profession of the Church in the Dutch Settlement on Abbotts
Creek, of the other part, "Witnenesseth that for five
shillings --- hath sold --- all that piece or parcel of
land, containing fifty-three acres, including the meeting
house and burying grounds, near Abbotts Creek in said
congregation."
The expression in the deed, "of the Church
of England," refers to the Lutherans, and that of "the
church in the Dutch Settlement" refers to the German
Reformed.
The first building was a log house, which was there when the
land was purchased. It is possible that a second log
structure was put up soon after the congregation was
organized.
It
is not known exactly where and when the congregations became
known as Becks Church (a union church) --- it was certainly
sometime after 1787. They are known today as Becks
Reformed Church and Becks Lutheran Church.
Two groups of Lutherans developed.
One group belonged to the North Carolina Synod and the other
belonged to the Tennessee Synod. For a period of time, the
church was served by two pastors, one pastor serving the
Tennessee group and another served the North Carolina group.
According to the records, Pastor Henry Goodman from the
Tennessee
Synod began serving that group in 1832. In 1833, Pastor
Daniel Jenkins came to serve these of the North Carolina
Synod. These two groups continued until 1878.
About 1878, a frame building was erected. At about this time
the Lutherans decided to build a church for themselves. Mr.
George Hedrick, a member of the congregation, (Grandfather
of Mr. Roy Beck) offered the gift of a lot, which adjoined
the original tract of land. The Lutheran congregation
accepted this gift and built a frame church on this
property. This frame Church stood on the hill just below the
present parsonage of Becks Reformed Church. In this
old church, this congregation worshiped for many many
years.
During this
time (around 1867), the
Reformed congregation raised the question of Lutheran
ownership in any part of the old church property, due to a
lapse of time in appointing trustees to fill vacancies that
had occurred in the Lutheran group. The reformed group
referred this matter to the court, which upheld their
contentions, so the property passed out of Lutherans hands
after 90 years of undisputed ownership.
It appears that the Tennessee Synod congregation was
instrumental in relocating the church on the property given
by Mr. George Hedrick. At this time of moving to their own
church, the North Carolina Synod congregation disbanded and
united with other congregations.
In 1918, the North Carolina Synod and the Tennessee Synod
merged into one. At the time of the merger in 1918, Becks
Lutheran Church was a member of the Tennessee Synod and was
being served by the Rev. J. M. Senter. At this time, the parish of which Becks was a part
consisted of ---- Becks, Holly Grove, New Jerusalem and
Lebanon Churches, Lexington and Emmanuel Church of
Thomasville. (Emmanuel Church disbanded in 1925).
During these early years, Becks Lutheran Church closed for
three months in the dead of winter because of impassable
roads and because the church could not be heated during the
severe cold weather.
The regular schedule of worship services was once each
month. Many of the people attended neighboring churches on
the other Sundays so they participated quite regularly in a
program of church activity.
After the merger --- the Rev. R. Bruce Sigmon came from the
seminary to serve the parish of which Becks was a part. His
ministry was on of keeping the flock together under their
new Synodical connections. He labored faithfully and well
until 1928.
Two mem were most influential in the old church --- George Washington Beck --- who often came to
church when no one else came. He served as Sunday School
Superintendent, teacher and as church organist. He is given
a great deal of credit for holding the church together
through those years when it appeared that there was no
future for the church. The other man whose influence was
felt in the church was J. Ed Young, who supported the church
liberally and gave it wise and sound counsel as it struggled
along.
The
following story will tell us of the influence of these men:
On Saturday, it rained unusually hard and o n Sunday morning
there were puddles of water all over the church where the
roof had leaked very badly. G. W. Beck had been in the old
church and came to a group of men visiting in the shade of a
tree on the church grounds. "We've got to do something
about this leaking roof on the church before the whole thing
rots down,” and Mr. Ed Young replied --- "Well, I won't give
a dime to put a roof on this old church, but I will give a
thousand dollars toward a new church". This idea seemed to
catch on and a number of men pledged liberal gifts toward a
new church.
In 1928, the Rev. Roy L Fisher began his service as pastor
of this parish. During his ministry, Becks Lutheran
Church
changed greatly. Perhaps the greatest change was the
relocation of the church.
Shortly after Pastor Fishers arrival the congregation,
knowing that the replacement of their house of worship was a
pressing matter, elected a committee composed of ---Dolph
Hedrick, Thurman Briggs, Homer Young and Ivey Briggs. These
men were charged with the responsibility of investigating
the possibilities of building and also of relocation.
In searching for a place to relocate, several sites were
under consideration. The deliberations finally narrowed
down to a choice of one of three possible sites. One was
across the road from the Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Lohr's old home
place. Another choice was to remain at their present
location, and the third possibility was to move further up
Becks Church Road to the Bower property. The matter of
relocation came to a congregational vote with the following
results" , 9 voted to stay where they were, 17 voted to move
to the Lohr property and 32 voted to move to the Bower
property.
Now trustees were needed to hold the property that the
congregation planned to purchase. Elected were J. Ed Young,
Dolph Hedrick, and Thurman Briggs.
The congregation now purchased 6 1/4 acres of land from Mr.
R. L. Bowers and here they planned to relocate their
congregation and build a new house of worship. Several of
today’s members of Becks Church can remember helping to
clear the property so definite building plans could be
formulated.
Preliminary plans were finished, a
design was adopted and the congregation awarded the contract
for building the new church to G. W. Smith Lumber Company,
Lexington. The amount of the contract and complete cost of
the new church was $12,500 for a turnkey job. In 1937, the
congregation moved into a modern edifice, well-equipped nave
and a basement containing classrooms, fellowship area, a
kitchen area, and room for a modern heating plant.
The Rev. Roy Fisher served until 1942 and was succeeded by
the Rev. Charles F. Kyles. During Pastor Kyle’s ministry,
Becks
Lutheran
Church became an independent parish. Pastor Kyles left
Becks in 1947.
The Rev. Dr. J. L. Morgan supplied the congregation in 1948.
The Rev D. B. Summers served at Becks from 1949 to 1968. Under
his leadership, the congregation constructed a fellowship
building including a kitchen, fellowship hall and office
rooms in 1954. In 1959, a new parsonage was constructed.
In
1969, the parsonage was completely remodeled and
air-conditioned. The church has been remodeled,
air conditioned and modernized.
The
Rev. Eldon D. Roever served as pastor at Becks from April of
1969 until his death April 1, 1989. The basement area
which serves as Sunday school facilities, were air
conditioned and renovated during this time. A carillon
was added in 1989.
The
Rev. David Keller Huddle began his ministry on July 16, 1990
and served until his
retirement November 11 2007. The first change was the
renovation of the parsonage into the "Complex," providing
much needed office space, conference rooms, library, and
work room. In 1991, the sanctuary and balcony were
renovated.
In
1992, a long-range planning committee was formed and charged
to look at future development of program facilities for the
next ten years. A 1937 Moeller pipe organ was
purchased from St. Stevens Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Hickory
and was totally rebuilt by Harold Andrews. In
September, Karl Kinard, Minister of Music at St. Johns
Lutheran, Salisbury, presented an organ concert for
homecoming.
In 1993, the "adopt a highway" program was added to the
community witness of Becks Lutheran Church. The
exterior of the church was painted and a new sound system
was installed in the sanctuary.
In
1994, a survey conducted by the Long Range Planning
Committee led to the appointment of a Building and
Development Committee by the Congregation Council.
The first Seder Meal was held on Maundy Thursday of that
year. The senior youth group took their first "big
trip," traveling to Canada and New York State.
In
the summer of 1994, the first Day Camp for K - 6th grades
was held at Becks Lutheran Church. The congregation
also voted to move forward with plans to construct a
fellowship hall with kitchen, nursery, adult Sunday School
classrooms, and basement area.
In 1996, a building committee was appointed. The
Lutheran Laity Movement was hired to head the Capital Fund
campaign with the theme "The Future is Now." Also this
year, the first Octogenarian Sunday and luncheon was held,
honoring all members 80 years of age or older.
In 1997, the "Hut" was relocated and on April 6, a
ground-breaking services was held to begin construction on
the new facility.
In July 1998,
Becks Lutheran Church began a Parish Nurse Program - a
healing ministry for the members of the congregation and the
community. On August 16, the new 11,500 square
foot fellowship and education building (FEB) was dedicated.
The people of Becks Lutheran Church celebrated with a
luncheon in the new fellowship hall.
On
September 1, 2008 new pastors began their ministry at Becks.
Kenneth Raymond (Ray) Sipe and his wife, Ruth Ann Sipe began
their first call as co-pastors of Becks Lutheran Church.
They were ordained and installed on September 3 in a special
worship service held on that evening, with North Carolina
Bishop Leonard H. Bolick presiding.
Last Updated Nov. 4, 2008
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