The History of Zion Church
Zion Church was founded in 1840 by John W. and Matilda R. Love on land transferred from J. M. Hagler and Henry T. Long on May 25, 1874. The parcel was bought for $13.
The cemetery already existed on the land at the east end where enslaved people were buried in unmarked graves.
Zion was in Mecklenburg County until Union County was formed in 1842.
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The era was peek-time for Camp Meetings—outdoor religious services popularized on the American Frontier during the early nineteenth century.
Zion was one of the camp meeting sites started by Methodist Circuit Riders.
Campground facilities, an arbor, and a church building sat in the middle of what is now the west end of the cemetery.
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A bell tower, which stands in the middle of the cemetery, was erected in 1924 in memory of W. A. Love, son of the founders of the church. The bell rang on Sundays to announce worship time and during the week to announce funerals and community events.
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The church building was later moved to where the New Life Center is now and was replaced by the present sanctuary in 1940.
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Zion was organized as a part of the South Carolina Conference in 1939.
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The 1940s and 1950s were very active years for the church. “Children’s Day Programs” were held on the last Sunday in June. Methodist Youth Fellowship was organized by Vance Clontz, and Methodist Women was started with Melissa Kindley as the first President.
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Zion had its first Vacation Bible School in 1954 and this event has become a very influential part of our church program in spiritual growth as well as Christian fellowship.
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Under the leadership of D. K. Love, Baucom Memorial Hall was built in 1958, adding a fellowship hall downstairs and Sunday school rooms upstairs.
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In 1998 our “New Life Center” was dedicated, adding an up-to-date kitchen, additional bathroom facilities, and a larger multipurpose room.
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Since 2000, Zion has been a station church, and under the supervision of David Tucker, built a new parsonage on Unionville Brief Road.
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The trustees led projects to install new windows in the sanctuary and paving the parking lot and the driveway around the cemetery.
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​Under its present-day leadership and, by the grace of our Lord, we pray that Zion will continue to be a place of spiritual enrichment.
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