Our History

North Kannapolis United Methodist Church originated in 1927 under sponsorship of Ann Street Methodist Protestant Church, Concord, North Carolina. The Rev. G.H. Hendry, pastor of that church, guided a small group of sixteen persons to charter “The Methodist Protestant Church of Kannapolis” on June 15, 1927. Meeting first in a tent; next in an arbor, then new congregation completed a building on North Walnut Avenue in 1929 that served the people until 1951. When Methodist congregations merged in 1939, the name was then changed to North Kannapolis Methodist Church.

The present stone church building was constructed in a little over two years. Groundbreaking was conducted in May, 1949, and the first service was held in the new church on December 15, 1951. Most of the labor for the building was donated by the men of the church, an amount in excess of 30,000 hours. By October 20, 1957, all indebtedness had been liquidated, and on December 15, 1957, the building was formally dedicated by Bishop Nolan B. Harmon.

In 1959 an eight-room parsonage was built next door to the church, replacing the former wood structure. The parsonage debt was paid by 1962, primarily through a third Sunday walk-up offering by the people – the manner by which they had retired the church debt. This year the windows in the parsonage and the educational portion of the church were replaced with clear, tempered glass, double-hung windows.

James Herbert Christenbury and Phyllis Callicut were the first couple married in the new church on June 7, 1952.

The Rev. Davis Argo led the establishment of We Luv Um Child Care that opened January 17, 1973, with Pam Humann as director. Child care was and still is available Monday through Friday 6:30 AM to 5:30 PM. The Child Care was originally housed on the ground level of the church. The current pastor’s study was used as a storage room for the Child Care so the building could be clean and tidy for Sunday mornings.

On July 1, 2022, the church expanded it’s reach and became a two-point charge with another United Methodist Church in the area, First United Methodist Church of Landis. The pastor of North Kannapolis is shared between First Landis as well as community ministries.

When the church outgrew its fellowship hall, a decision was made to build a new Family Life Center. Groundbreaking was held February 13, 2000. The center houses a large multipurpose room, a kitchen and all the child care classes totaling 8,300 sq. ft. The majority of the building was paid for by a Wednesday night meal project. Meals started at $6 each and were served from 4:30-7:00 P.M. The primary meals were as follows: barbeque, slaw, rolls, dessert and drink; hamburger steak or rib-eye steak ($8), baked potato, salad, dessert and drink; spaghetti, salad, roll, dessert and drink. Once a month, hotdogs were served at $1.25 each from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. The church was able to pay off the Family Life Center by December of 2019.