(As recounted by Bishop Dr. F. C. Barnes)

 

The Red Budd United Holy Church was organized in the year of 1959, on Highway 58, 2 miles west of Castalia, North Carolina.

 

The late Deacon Luther Bullock purchased a building that he planned to use for a store, but the Lord said "CHURCH".  Obeying the voice of God, Deacon Bullock came to Elder Barnes, and they decided to have church service in that building.  It took quite a bit of preparing because the building had been used for a night club.  After 3 months of hard work, we were able to have our first worship service the First Sunday in May 1959.

 

On that Sunday, the late Mrs. Mary L. Neal was the first member to join the newly organized Red Budd United Holy Church.  Later, Mrs. Neal had become a licensed missionary, served on the mother board, and was a faithful member in Sunday School, prayer meetings and other church activities until her death.  Following the membership of Mrs. Neal were the pastor's wife and family and others.

 

We worshiped in Castalia for 3 years.  Because most of our members lived in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, we moved our church to Rocky Mount on the corners of Albermarle and Highland avenues.  The building was old and much work had to be done to get it ready for worship service.  By the help of God and the deep concern of our members, we soon were able to have service.   The Lord blessed us tremendously and added many new members to our church.

 

After 4 years of renting, the owners of the property decided to sell and gave us first choice of buying the property. We stayed there 18 years and the church needed more seating capacity.  The Lord blessed us again to move to a new church location on Church Street and we worshiped there for 1 year and then we moved to Nash Street to worship for 9 more years.  With the vision the Pastor had in mind for other spiritual activities and helpful programs for the community plus the tremendous growth of membership; we were located at 1108 Luper Street.  In 2003, we would enter the our current location, our first new church at 637 Cleveland Street.

 

The Red Budd United Holy Church has been organized for 56 years.  For 52 years, Bishop Dr. F. C. Barnes served as pastor.  In 2013, Bishop Warren C. Lynch would become pastor and is currently serving and continuing the legacy of sound teaching and living kingdom principles.