Asbury Methodist Church
Also known as: Asbury Memorial Church; Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church South
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Why it's listed
Built in 1861 in Raynham, Robeson County, Asbury Methodist Church is a timber-frame, gable-front building with a prostyle portico and six-over-six windows, set in the modest Greek Revival manner of rural North Carolina churches. David Townsend served as master builder, with his brothers Jackson and Robert helping to build and finance it on land Jackson Townsend deeded in 1861. The congregation grew out of Providence Methodist Church, organized around 1811 by Bishop Francis Asbury, and Asbury became the mother Methodist church of Robeson County. The interior keeps its oak pews, communion rail, wainscoting, plaster walls and tongue-and-groove ceiling largely intact. The adjoining cemetery, dating to 1848, holds many early parishioners. The church was listed for its architecture as a well-preserved example of a plain rural church of its period, with its interior furnishings and original woodwork still in place.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is an intact example of a mid-nineteenth-century rural Protestant church with Greek Revival elements, and that its interior retains original woodwork and furnishings. It also describes the church as the mother Methodist church of Robeson County and ties the cemetery, dating to 1848, to the congregation.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 09000264, listed April 30, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SE. side US Hwy. 301 N., .10 mi. SW. of NC 1154, Raynham |
|---|---|
| County | Robeson County |
| Listed | April 30, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000264 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1861 |
| Architect / builder | Townsend, David, builder |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Church remains in use for an annual homecoming, occasional weddings, baptisms and funerals; trustees keep the church and grounds in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 34.57515, -79.19247 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 09000264.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19864788
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.