| Edenton St. United Methodist Church | |
|---|---|
| Basic information | |
| Location | Raleigh, North Carolina, United States |
| Affiliation | United Methodist Church |
| District | North Carolina Annual Conference |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Episcopal polity |
| Status | Active |
| Leadership | Bishop Alfred Wesley Gwinn Jr. |
Edenton Street United Methodist Church is a historic United Methodist church in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States.[1] Edenton Street Church is one of the largest United Methodist Churches in Raleigh and was the first United Methodist Church built in the city. Edenton Street Church is located on Edenton Street in downtown Raleigh.[2] The church is well known for its Orgues Létourneau pipe organ.[3]
Edenton St. United Methodist Church was founded in 1811 after a conference of Methodist ministers in Raleigh under the leadership of Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury. Edenton has assisted the community throughout major national events such as the American Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Great Depression. Edenton's third sanctuary was destroyed in a fire in July 1956, but that sanctuary was rebuilt. The fourth and current sanctuary of Edenton was first used on February 2, 1958. The Curtis Fellowship Center was completed in 2002. The Poindexter Memorial Building, which opened in 1937, stands between the sanctuary and the fellowship center. The Poindexter Memorial building contains classrooms, offices, a nursery, and the Joseph G. Brown Chapel. One of Edenton's first ministers, Rev. Melville B. Cox, left his appointment at Edenton in 1831 to serve as the first Methodist missionary to Africa.[4]
On Saturday, December 11 of 2010, the funeral of Elizabeth Edwards, wife of Senator John Edwards was held at Edenton Street United Methodist Church. Her family, including estranged husband John Edwards, as well as notable political figures such as John Kerry, Bev Perdue, Kay Hagan, and Victoria Reggie Kennedy were in attendance. The Westboro Baptist Church, known for its anti-gay protesting at funerals, announced that they would be protesting outside the funeral, and on the day of the funeral five protestors showed up.[5][6]