OUR LOCAL CHURCH HISTORY

The Norwood Church of the Nazarene was organized in August 1935 under the leadership of Rev. William Sells, following a series of tent and prayer meetings in this community.   Collins and Aikman granted the church use of a 7 ½-acre plot of land on Flynn Road, which included a house for use as a parsonage.  Sunday School and worship services began in September of 1935.  The land was subsequently donated and deeded to the church in 1967 and a parsonage was built on the corner of Shinn and Flynn Streets.

 In February of 1974 the congregation voted to build a new sanctuary and classroom unit.  The groundbreaking service took place on March 3, 1974 and construction began the following week.  The new building was dedicated on August 25, 1974, and the original building served as a fellowship hall.

 In 1987 the decision was made to erect a new fellowship hall.   Construction began soon afterward as the old fellowship hall was sold and removed, with completion of the new facility in November 1987.  The official dedication was held on May 22, 1988.

 In 1998, the church purchased the property of the Exie Surratt family, which consisted of a home and 2+ acres of land.  It was dedicated in October of 1998, as a part of the Homecoming celebration that year.

Fourteen ministers have served the church over the past years.  Prior pastors were William Sells, Paul Ridenhour, W.W. Rose, Rufus Essary, Allen Richardson, Carlee W. Bost, Roland Jones, Edgar Masencup, Bill Johnson, Marshall Taylor, Carrol Edge, Carroll Moffitt and Lamar Brantley.  Kenneth Myers currently serves as pastor.

  During these past years, we as a church have undertaken a number of ministries and ministered to a variety of people and situations.  We have assisted the poor, the sick, the weak, the needy, the feeble, the housebound and the young and old alike with love, Christian service, and charity.  We have faithfully shared the Word of God in our community and attempted to be the Lighthouse on this Hill.  We continue these ministries today. 

Our Purpose statement is:  "We as brothers and sisters together through Christ are committed to glorifying God through worship, fellowship, equipping, and evangelizing."

The History of Our Denomination – Church of the Nazarene

The Holiness revival that began under the ministry of John and Charles Wesley in 18th-century England  reaffirmed the testimony and experience of the Early Church that God is able to forgive man’s sins and cleanse his heart from all unrighteousness (I John 1:9; II Thessalonians 5:23-24).  A revival of this preaching and doctrine in the United States toward the close of the 19th century led to the formation of independent holiness churches (one of them the  first Church of the Nazarene begun in Los Angeles, CA in 1895 by Phineas F. Bresee) that banded together in October 1908 as the Church of the Nazarene.    The denomination has continued to grow and flourish due to the strength and power of its gospel message and emphasis upon holiness of heart and life as a definite second work of God in a believer.  .The Church of the Nazarene has grown until now there are over 1.2 million members in 11,500 congregations.  The Church ministers in more than 150areas around the world.