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Duke Memorial United Methodist Church

Duke Memorial United Methodist Church

 

Duke Memorial United Methodist Church is a historic Methodist church at 504 W. Chapel Hill Street in Durham, North Carolina. It was originally established in 1886. The congregation’s growth paralleled Durham’s growth as a manufacturing center in the textile and tobacco industries and has maintained a close connection with Duke University (formerly Trinity College). From its beginning, the church has counted among its members many of Durham’s educational and industrial elite. It is named in honor of tobacco magnate and philanthropist Washington Duke and his sons, who were instrumental in the building of the church.

Maude Wilkerson Dunn, daughter of Durham builder Albert Wilkerson, recalled a meeting between her father and Washington Duke: “Mr. Washington Duke was at our house one day and he said…“We’ve got to build another Church.” The factory was just beginning to go and people were moving in here. From just a mere nothing but a store or two beside the road, it was beginning to become quite a town. So Pap said, “We have Trinity Church.” Mr. Duke said, “Yes, but we’ve got to have one for the masses.”

Citation Guidelines


Preferred citation for the digital version:

[Identification of item], Duke Memorial United Methodist Church Archives, Digital Version. Hosted by Duke Divinity School Library, Duke University. [Item URL].

Preferred citation for the original documents in the archives at the church, if consulted:

[Identification of item], Archives. Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, Durham, NC.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION: The copyright for materials in this collection is held by Duke Memorial United Methodist Church. These electronic versions are made available for research access and non-commercial use in educational and religious settings/institutions. Persons seeking to reproduce or distribute items in this collection beyond these uses should please contact Duke Memorial United Methodist Church for relevant permissions.

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