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The parcel of property where Yopp’s Meeting House is located today was granted and conveyed on October 27, 1813. It is believed that the original meeting house was built of logs and was established for the use of all denominations. Each denomination had a designated day of the month to hold meetings. Some slaves even attended services with their owners. With permission of his/her owner, a slave could join the church and many did. A separate section of land, currently occupied by the Little Zion AME Zion Church on Sneads Ferry Road, and still tended by black residents of Sneads Ferry, was set aside for their graves.
The Yopp’s Primitive Baptist Church was instituted August 8, 1835, with 33 charter members. For the next 64 years, both races and a number of denominations would continue to meet there.
In the spring term of Superior Court in 1877, a judge would hear conflicting stories regarding ownership of the meeting house. It seems the Primitive Baptist had locked the doors and refused entrance to other denominations, claiming they were not contributing their fair share of the upkeep. The primitive Baptist were the obvious victors.
The original building is reported to have burned, although, at this time we are still unable to determine the date of the fire. Many older residents of the area remember stories being told about a fire and other events concerning the church. One such story tells of a member of the church being put out because he was insane. His insanity was evidenced by the fact that he chose to go boar hunting instead of attending Sunday meeting.
The present building has been dated around 1892 by state archives and is built in the Primitive Baptist fashion with separate doors for men and women and in years past the sexes were seated separately. Pete Sandbeck, restoration specialist for the North Carolina State Department of Cultural Resources, has visited the church and agrees that it was built around 1890. “The pews are original. They are very sparse and lean, but they were never meant to be comfortable. The framing timbers are hand hewn. The log pier foundation of heart pine is remarkably sound and the support beams under the church were pit sawn, a grueling technique that pre-dates the Civil War.” The country gothic type vents are noted over the doors.
Since the Primitive Baptist stopped having services there about 1980, the building has once again been used by other denominations and the boy scouts and cub scouts.
Because of neglect, age and storm damages the building now needs many repairs before it becomes the museum and historical site we are striving to accomplish.
As you can see, we need your donations and support to continue the work that has begun. We invite you to become a friend of Yopp’s meeting house. Monthly meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 7:30 PM. Anyone desiring to make a contribution may contact; Faye Midgett, 327-5151
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Last Revised: November 21, 2008 09:01 PM.
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Town of Sneads Ferry
