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About Us

About Us

Church Building

Church Building
East Durham Gospel Tabernacle United Holy Church was founded in the year 1944 in the East Durham Community, "factory hill", Durham, Carolina under the leadership of Rev. Samuel C. Williams. The church was first originated by going from house to house and it was comprised of the following members: Rev. Samuel C. Williams, his wife, Sis. Dinah Williams, Rev. Murlee Owens and others. The church was organized under the jurisdiction of the Southern District Convocation of the United Holy Church of America under the charter #16427. Worship services at East Durham was in a tent and later moved to a brick veneer store front with no running water or bathroom facilities.

In October 1952, the Southern District Convocation appointed the second Pastor to East Durham, Elder Charlie Valton McCoy, who was big in stature but humble in his heart. The church grew tremendously and in the early 1960's urban renewal came through the East Durham Community and stated that the church had to relocate to make room for the expressway. The Pastor and members wanted to remain in the East Durham Community where most of the membership resided at that particular time; so with much fasting and praying, Elder McCoy and the membership petitioned God for the property at the end of Troy Street. The owner, Mr. Clair Herndon, was unwilling to sell the property, but through much prayer, fasting and supplication to God, the owner had a change in heart and later sold the property to the church. Construction of the new edifice began and the new church was completed in the year 1969. While the new edifice was being constructed, worship service was being held in the basement of the home of one of the neighbor's in the community (666 Troy St.). After the completion of the new church in 1969, the congregation marched from the old site to the new church on the First Sunday in November 1969 singing, "We Have Come This Far By Faith, Leaning On The Lord"; for it was through faith that the land and the new site was obtained and it was at this time that the name of the church was changed to Faith Gospel Tabernacle United Holy Church.

In 1969, Western North Carolina District Convocation was organized and Faith was no longer in the Southern District Convocation of the United Holy church, but was now in the Western North Carolina District Convocation.