White Plains United Methodist Church History
In June 1961, the North Carolina Conference sent Rev. Johnnie M. Lewis, a new graduate of Duke Divinity School, to Cary to organize a new congregation. Six weeks later, on August 13, the Rev. Lewis assembled his flock in the auditorium of Cary High School for the first worship service. In 1962, White Plains bought 4.54 acres of land for a permanent home. A sanctuary and Sunday school classrooms were erected in 1964. These facilities are now used as a fellowship hall and offices.
The current sanctuary was consecrated in 1977, followed in 1982 by the Education building, and in 1992 by the Christian Life Center. The most recent expansion came in 1999 when White Plains purchased church property at 500 Maynard Road.
White Plains’ membership has grown steadily and currently, an average of over 400 people worship at two services in English and one in Spanish on Sunday mornings.
Worship, Christian education, music, and programs for United Methodist Women, United Methodist Men, and United Methodist Youth go back to the church’s earliest days. Ministries added over the years have included scouting, Appalachian Service Project, Children’s Center, Stephen Ministry, Puppet Ministry, Contemporary Worship, Interfaith Hospitality, the Carpenter Shop, and the Hispanic Ministry.
Reverend Kelly Lyn Logue returned to WPUMC as Senior Pastor in 2022 after previously serving as the Associate Pastor in the 2000s. Former senior pastors include Johnnie Lewis, 1961-66; Walton Bass 1966-67; Caswell Shaw 1967-73; N.B. Hill 1973-75; J. Thomas Smith 1975-81; Samuel McMillan 1981-1987; James H. Bailey 1987-90; Whitfield Warren 1990-1993; W. Edward Privette 1993-1997; Jerry T. Smith 1997-2002; Charles K. Morrison 2002-2006; Ray Broadwell 2006-2012 and Ray Warren 2012-2022.
White Plains UMC has been blessed to have many of our membership called into professional Church service over the years. Currently, over 30 of our members or former members are serving in some level of professional Christian Service. ALL of our members past, present, and future serve in some way the call of Christ.