Preserving a Burke treasure: Gilboa Methodist Church

In a quiet wooded setting southwest of Morganton, Gilboa Methodist Church is among the most significant surviving landmarks of early Methodism in the American South.

The Methodist faith had already taken root as a reform movement within the Anglican Church when Methodist Lay Preacher Francis Asbury arrived in British Colonial America in 1771.

Asbury soon pursued a rigorous horseback circuit, spreading Methodism throughout the Upper and Middle Atlantic Colonies and North Carolina.

He eventually came to preach at Gilboa, as documented in Asbury’s own journal and secondary sources.

Gilboa’s founding Methodist congregation traces its origins to 1793, when the first log structure was built. Faithful members of the Gilboa family started being laid to rest in its cemetery in 1825.

Burke County had been formed only a few years earlier when the first congregation organized, and the county extended all the way to the Tennessee border.

Because of Asbury’s visit, the church has often been called the Mother Church of Methodism in Burke County and, by extension, Western North Carolina.

After the first log structure and a second had been lost to fire, the present building was erected in 1879. Gilboa School was also located on the property for a time.

While it no longer serves an active congregation, Gilboa Methodist Church remains a simple rectangular frame church reflecting the plain style of rural religious life in the 19th century.

The Revolutionary War and the Rise of Methodism

The American Revolutionary War played a crucial role in shaping the Methodist movement and Asbury’s leadership.

When the conflict erupted, most Anglican-connected clergy — Methodists among them — returned to Britain or ceased activity. This meant that many Methodists could not receive the Sacraments, as only ordained clergy could administer them.

Asbury notably remained in America throughout the war, continuing in his circuit despite political turmoil and a distrust of English preachers.

His decision to stay earned him the trust of American Methodists and positioned him as their de facto leader by the war’s end.

In the immediate aftermath of independence, the separation from the Church of England created an urgent need for a distinctly American Methodist structure.

This culminated in the “Christmas Conference of 1784” in Baltimore, where the Methodist Episcopal Church was formally organized.

Asbury was ordained deacon, elder, and then bishop, at this Conference, becoming the first Bishop of American Methodism.

The Revolution thus helped transform Methodism from a colonial movement tied to England into an independent American denomination and Asbury from a Lay Preacher to a Bishop.

Francis Asbury and Gilboa

When Gilboa was formed in 1793, Asbury had already been made a Bishop. Yet, he continued to serve in the capacity of a circuit rider to set an example for both lay and ordained clergy.

Over a half century of service, he traveled 270,000 miles, preached 16,425 sermons, presided over 224 conferences, and ordained 4,000 preachers.

His journals and regional histories verify repeated visits to North Carolina — at least 72 trips in total — and confirm that he preached before the early Gilboa congregation during his journeys in Western North Carolina.

A Living Landmark Preserved

Though modest in size, Gilboa Methodist Church still stands as a cherished historic site lovingly maintained by the Historic Gilboa Foundation, (“HGF”) a nonprofit dedicated to preserving its physical structure and cultural story for future generations.

Preservation work is ongoing and quite active. The church’s exterior was repaired and repainted last fall. Interior painting was completed in June of this year. These efforts were funded through the auspices of Partners for Sacred Places, along with other supporting grants that aid the HGF’s mission.

Workers were supplied through the B.R.I.D.G.E. Program (Building, Rehabilitating, Instructing, Developing, Growing, Employing), a cooperative effort between the N.C. Forest Service and the N.C. Department of Adult Correction.

All HGF Board members have contributed generously of their time, talents and money to this comprehensive effort. Special thanks are offered to volunteers Wayne and Pat Kiser for road repair work and to Pat for assistance with ceiling preparation.

With painting complete, the building is preparing for replacement of electrical wiring, as the structure was fully electrified during the early 1900s.

Funding for this initiative has been generously provided through a grant from The WNC Foundation. HGF is attempting to locate historically appropriate overhead lighting fixtures to replace those stolen from the sanctuary many years ago.

Continuing Significance

Historic Gilboa Methodist Church endures as more than an architectural relic. It represents the convergence of frontier faith, Revolutionary-era transformation, and enduring community stewardship.

From the horseback ministry of Francis Asbury to the careful preservation work of today, the church continues to bear witness to generations of faith and history.