A Brief History of Star UMC
1860s – Records of the first organization of Star UMC were lost, but the date was around the time of the Civil War or during 1860s. It was called “Bethlehem.” The building, which housed this congregation, was built of logs with a large fireplace in one end. The church was located about one and a half west of Star off the Old Salisbury road to the right of Okeeweemee Road. In the early years of this church, Circuit Riders served ad ministers as they did in all Methodist churches. One of early know ministers was Rev. Make Hurley (The body of the Rev. Hurley was placed in the cemetery of the present Star UMC).
1885 – The members of Bethlehem Church had dicided to move their church to the little village nearby called “Hunsucker’s Store” later to become Star. This second church building was a one-room wood building located where the present brick church now stands. When the present brick structure was built, this wooden building was moved on Hwy 220 North across from Montgomery Hosiery Mill.
1898- A group of ladies of the church me with Mrs. Emma Page of Aberdeen and organized the first Woman’s Missionary Society in Montgomery County.
1923 – The membership realized that they had outgrown the 1885 building. They began planning for a new brick structure completed in 1924.
1924 – The present day sanctuary and ten small classrooms were completed.
1954 – The brick educational building was completed with a fellowship hall, kitchen, nursery, six classrooms and the pastor’s study.
1959 – Star Methodist Church was no longer on a charge with Biscore and Candor but was not a “Station Church.”
1959 – Work on the present parsonage was begun and completed in 1960.
1980 – Bishop Blackburn was a guest speaker on January 26th. This was the first time a Bishop has been to the church.
1981 – An Allen organ was given for the sanctuary by Dr. Charles Scarborough and Betsy.
1983 – Parking lot was paved.
1996 – The William Lott Monroe Memorial Chapel was created off the sanctuary.
Pastors (and circuit riders) who served at Bethlehem and Star
Rev. Perry Hurley
Rev. Malcolm Make Hurley
Rev. Thompson
Rev. Bane
Rev. Oglesby
Rev. Campbell
Rev. J. E. Wooley
Rev. Stamey
Rev. Futrell
Rev. O.R. Ross
Rev. W.H. Brown
Rev. Reade
Rev. W.W. Peele
Rev. Starling
Rev. D.N. Caviness
Rev. Simmons
Rev. J.T. Draper
Rev. Dawson
Rev. George Bruton
Rev. Joyner
Rev. Guyton
Rev. A.S. Parker (1918-1921)
Rev. Bishop. F.B. Peele (1921-1926)
Rev. N.B. Johnson (1926-1929)
Rev. J.H. Miller (1929-1932)
Rev. W.F. Trawich (1932-1937)
Rev. H.R. Ashmore (1937-1940)
Rev. J.W. Page (1940-1945)
Rev. M.E. Tyson (1945-1948)
Rev. A.M. Williams (1948-1952)
Rev. J.F. Coble (1952-1955)
Rev. C.B. Harris (1955-1957)
Rev. J.A. Wagnon (1957-1959)
Rev. John Russell (1958 supply)
Rev. H.L. Rogers (1959 supply)
Rev. R. Dennis Rickes (1959-1964)
Rev. James Hamilton (1964-1967)
Rev. Grandy L. Kinley (1967-1970)
Rev. Howard Dennis Draper (1970-1973)
Rev. Leonard Mayo (1973-1978)
Rev. Emit McCall (1978-1979)
Rev. David Grissom (1979-1983)
Rev. Joseph Forbes (1983-1988)
Rev. Bobby Smith (1988-1992)
Rev. Jerry Cribb (1992-1997)
Rev. Michael Leburg (1997-2002)
Rev. David Hutchins (2002-2007)
Rev. David Foushee (2007-2010)
Rev. Kay Boone (2010-2022)
Rev. Dr. Heejun Yang (2022-present)