Covering this period in our church history is difficult due to it being the period covered by the lost Session Book. (The next Session Book starts in 1925). The information for this part of our history was obtained through a history written by Elder Frank W. Bullock in 1968, newspaper articles preserved by Mr. Frank Hayes and found in the Richard Thornton Library, and papers of Edith Howell Wheeler.
The ministers serving during this time were-- Alfred Shorter Caldwell: 1896 - 1900 (grandfather of the late Mary Peace Lewis and the great-grandfather of Eleanor, Caroline, Meriwether and Courtney Lewis, former members of this church.)
John Ellis Wool:1901 - 1905 (first wife, Katharine R. Kelly, died in 1900; in 1904, he married Annie Bullock Webb of Stem; became uncle by marriage to Lucy Taylor, Betsy, Sam and Elder Joe Baird. His son, the Reverend James Wool, Executive Secretary of Granville Presbytery, 1952, was born in the church manse.)
Churchill Gordon Christian: 1906-1907
George Brazier Thompson: 1908 - 1911
Samuel Knox Phillips: 1912 - 1917
Stuart Roscoe Oglesby, Jr.: 1918 - 1922 ( came directly from Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, VA. He was the 25th pastor and remained six years.)
An article dated October 25, 1913, tells of the activities on the church building:
Plans at Presbyterian Church -- The Presbyterians have recently completed the painting on the outside of their church and are now busy on the interior. The wood work will all be varnished and the walls finished in an ivory white. A new lighting system will also be installed on the indirect method now used in all the best lighted public buildings. This method protects the eye from the strain and glare of the old systems and gives an equalized, soft light that makes reading at night, not only safe, but a pleasure. While the painters and electricians are at work, the congregation is holding its Sabbath preaching services at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. in the Orpheum Theatre. The pastor, Samuel Knox Phillips, expects to preach at the Orpheum next Sunday. The public and friends of the congregation are cordially invited to these services on ....
From sometime in 1913 --
Presbyterian Notices -- To the Public Ledger: The Presbyterian congregation were very much inconvenienced and greatly disappointed on Sunday, because the condition of Gilliam Street was such that they had to forego all their services. The mud could of course have been crossed, but church carpet and furniture would have suffered, and all who worshiped there would have gone not dry-shod like the Israelites through Jordan but we are laden with a bountiful supply of Granville clay. It is hoped that the Street Committee will not stop until the public building is made accessible as before. It used to be easily reached even in the worst weather, but now?! Let the steps be fixed, the gutters dug, curbing replaced and the street macadamized as before!
As to the dedicated work of two of the ministers during this time, the Ledger reports in the October 10. 1917 issue:
The Reverend S.K. Phillips Accepts Call
Will Enter Upon His Labors at Greenville at an Early Date
Sad were the hearers of his congregation last Sunday morning when Rev. S.K. Phillips, for six years the pastor of the Oxford Presbyterian Church, formally tendered his resignation in answer to a call to Greenville, NC. Earnest and faithful in all things, Mr. Phillips labored to build up the moral and social life of the community.
Rev. S.K. Phillips was installed pastor March 1910; born at Burgaw September 1885; educated at Richmond College, and Union Theological Seminary. His first pastorate was at Berryville, Winchester Presbytery, Synod of Virginia. The Oxford church was greatly strengthened during his pastorate. The church edifice beautified; full indirect lighting system installed; all indebtedness cleared; membership more than doubled; per capita gifts increased from $8.69 to $20.56 per member last year. One of his strong points is in promoting unity among churches, and the interest manifested in the colored people and their work in school and churches.
Mr. Phillips will also be greatly missed in the fraternal and social circles of Oxford. He was noble grand of the local Odd Fellows Lodge and a Mason of high standing and chaplain of both lodges and the Granville Grays; vice-president “Athenum”; organizer and director of Oxford Choral Club; active in community and county interests, and a power for good in all human endeavor and was instrumental in forming the Granville County Chapter American Red Cross.
An article from 1918:
The Presbyterian Church - Succeeding Rev. S.K. Phillips who a few years ago resigned the local Presbyterian pastorate for service in eastern North Carolina, after having accomplished a fine work for this church, Rev. Stuart R.. Oglesby, Jr., a native of Arkansas, is carrying on and amplifying the work. The church, from many points of view, is showing new records of accomplishment, the pastor’s vision, zeal and personal popularity being reflected in new gains, spiritual and financial, and in concerted service. The church membership, resident and non-resident, of 214. The Sunday School, including ‘the cradle roll,’ is 135, the average attendance being 100. Recently a Christian Endeavor Society has been organized, the membership of which is 25. There is a Woman’s Auxiliary, with 40 members and a Junior Auxiliary, of 18. The Pastor’s Aid Circle numbers 18. Last December, a Men’s Fellowship League, which meets the third Friday night of each month having for object the promotion of broader fellowship among the men of the church, and Christian service generally, was organized. The membership is 25 and great success has attended its initial efforts. Mr. John R. Hall is superintendent of the Sunday School and Mr. J.M. Baird, teacher of the Men’s Bible Class. The past year was one of great financial success, exceeding all expectations made at the beginning of the final year.
Some important dates for this period were:
1919 - Pipe organ was installed;
First organist was Miss Edith Howell (Mrs. Claude Wheeler);
Large pulpit Bible was made for and presented to the church by Mr. and Mrs. Richard P. Taylor in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Leonedos C. Taylor.
Sometime between 1902 and 1913 the marble baptismal font was given by Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Daniel Booth in memory of their daughter Annie L. Booth. The inscription reads, “Annie L. Booth - dedicated to the memory of our beloved daughter. She waits beyond the river.”
1921 - First Christmas Pageant held.
Another article from the newspaper reads:
The Presbyterian Church, at the present time, is in the very best condition of its entire history. It is not only in a very flourishing condition financially and spiritually, but is planning to launch out into greater fields of activity.
As a proof of its generosity, a paragraph from the records of 1923 will serve. This year, the church reported a membership of 170 to the Presbytery. Of the number there were 38 tithers, and 12 family altars. The contributions to all causes amounted to nearly $7,000.00, or approximately $40.00 per capita.
The church maintains a department graded Sunday School. The instruction is also graded. The present difficulty is a lack of space to house this growing school. It will only be a matter of time, however, until this condition will be remedied. Sufficient equipment and ample facilities, according to the two church boards, must be provided, and that right early. The probable end will be the erection of a Model Sunday School building to take care of a Model Sunday .
In addition to the heavy duties already weighing upon the pastor, he is carrying along another Presbyterian Church in the county. Since beginning the work there a little more than a year ago, the church has had eighteen added to its membership, and has already begun the erection of a model country church, the same to be completed within the next ninety days.
In addition to this, a wide-awake Christian Endeavor Society is maintained in each church.
The church extends a hearty welcome to everyone. Often times it is honored by visits from the constant stream of tourists passing through. The attitude of the church toward strangers is admirably expressed on the front page of a former bulletin: ‘We earnestly desire for the church the distinction of being known as the “Friendly Church”. And we intend that none, who wishes to worship with us, shall ever feel himself, or herself, to be a stranger in our midst.’
So we see that our church having completed its first century of existence, strong in the faith, aware of its heritage was looking to the future and striving to fulfil the dreams of that sturdy band that organized the church 100 years before.