A Historic Place of Worship

Trinity United Methodist Church was the first church built in the Town of Smithfield, built in 1812, sixty years after the town was established. Since we know that Methodists were meeting in Smithfield since at least 1791, we assume that they met in private houses, or visited churches in the county, such as Bethel or Benn's Church. It is possible that they even met in pastures under the shade of a large tree. In 1812, Benjamin and Mary Drew deeded a lot on South Freemason Street (now called Mason Street) for six shillings to George Benn, Andrew Woodley, Isaac Velines, Micajah Bidgood, Samuel P. Jordan, Mathias Jordan, and Benjamin Drew, all trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The deed states they "have erected and built a house thereon for the purpose of divine worship, for the members and minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States." This lot was four lots south of the present church on Freemason Street almost across the street from the present Masonic Lodge.

The first church was plain, unattractive, and very uncomfortable. It was unlathed, unplastered and the walls were unceiled. The church was unpainted inside and out. The seats were backless wooden benches. There were no provisions for any kind of heat. The building was improved in 1834 by James Wilson Riddick, a dedicated recent young convert. It was turned to be parallel to Freemason Street and was properly lathed, ceiled, and painted. The old backless benches were replaced by pews. The yard was enclosed and shade trees were planted. The church was sold to the Methodist Protestant Society in 1848. The society sold the church to Brown's A.M.E. Church in 1877. The church burned down in 1957 prior to a wedding that day. That was the 145th year of being a house of worship.

With proceeds from the sale of the old church, the congregation purchased the lot on the corner of Cedar and Freemason Streets and built a new and much larger wooden church. The entrance to this church was on Freemason Street. At that time, men and women did not sit together.  The middle row of benches was divided down the center.  The men sat on one side and the women on the other. There were galleries on both sides and one across the back, in which the choir held forth. (continued next column)