The History of Mt. Tabor: Condensed
The story of Mt. Tabor United Methodist Church starts with a Muddy Creek, "a brush heap," and a few noisy Methodists making themselves at home on somebody else's land.
In 1844, a local Methodist preacher named John Alspaugh bought 109 acres of land from his father, "on the waters of the middle fork of Muddy Creek." John Alspaugh and his wife, Elizabeth, built a large, two-story house less that a mile from the present site of Mount Tabor Church, on what is now called Allistair Road.
One day in 1845, Alspaugh noticed a spring on the property where Mt. Tabor currently stands. He remarked that it would be an excellent place to build a church. The site had level land and a strong, clear spring – which would be suitable for setting up the "camp meetings" that were an essential element of early American Methodism.
The land was owned by the local Moravian church, but it became a place for Methodist worship, with a platform for the preacher and log seats for the congregation. A brush arbor was built to cover it with a "roof" make of roughly cut tree branches.
By 1848, the site was referred to as "Alspaugh's Stand" or "Alspaugh's Brush Heap."
The property was located in Stokes County until 1849 when Forsyth County was formed and Stokes County was reduced by almost half. The road alongside the church (now Robinhood Rd.) was called Old Brookstown Road. Winston acquired its name in 1851.
On March 22, 1851, at the first session of The Methodist Church's Forsyth Quarterly Conference, trustees were elected for the "Mount Tabor Meeting House." By the end of 1851, Mt. Tabor had 42 members mostly from local farms and an organized Sunday School.
Although Mt. Tabor was a growing, active Methodist church, it was still sitting on Moravian land. On Sept. 4, 1853, the Methodist Quarterly conference met at Mt. Tabor to give the church permission to purchase the land. On Dec. 19, 1853, a deed was written transferring 7 ¼ acres from the Moravian Brethren to the Mt. Tabor trustees for $25.
In 1853, a small log church was built. The arbor area was still used for outdoor activities. By 1856, it had become the second largest church on the Forsyth Circuit.
After the Civil War, membership began increasing rapidly. By 1881, there were 125 members. By 1885, Mt. Tabor's old log church was outmoded and overcrowded. In 1887, the trustees had expended $1500 for a new building. The new brick church was finished and dedicated on the 3rd Sunday in April, 1888.
In 1916, electric lights were installed to replace oil lamps. By 1921, more than 200 people were meeting in 12 Sunday classes in Mt. Tabor's one-room church.
Construction of a new Sunday school annex with 11 rooms was begun in 1924, and completed in 1925. In 1925, construction began on a parsonage across the street from Mt. Tabor.
By 1933, the church had 381 members. By 1938, the church had 444 members. In 1938, the basement of the educational wing (built in 1925) was completed.
With almost 500 members in 1941, Mt. Tabor became a separate appointment with its own pastor rather than one church among several on a circuit. Abram J. Cox, became the church's first full-time pastor.
By 1954, the building committee reported the need for additional space. Groundbreaking for additional office space began on Dec. 18, 1955. In July, 1960, plans for a new educational building were completed. A groundbreaking was held on May 21, 1961 for construction of a new educational building, fellowship hall, and replacement of the 1925 parsonage.
On March 6, 1966, a groundbreaking service was held for the new sanctuary, and the new sanctuary was consecrated on Jan. 1, 1967. In 1993, additional office space, classrooms, and a large Family Life Center were completed.
Over 150 years of history have already happened at Mt. Tabor. It has been a place where people hammer out their convictions- whether it's questions about church facilities or questions of faith. The richness of Mt. Tabor's history is matched by the promising potential of its future.
