Major Benjamin May, born in Scotland, came to this area in 1750. He was granted
thousands of acres of land by the State of North Carolina. Part of the grant included land
on which Farmville was developed.

In the mid 1800’s, James William May, grandson of Benjamin, inherited and bought land
in this area, eventually becoming Farmville. There was one resident at that time, Miss
Sallie Williams. Miss Williams lived in a log cabin where J & D Loan and Pawn Shop are
located today. She walked four miles each Sunday to Church at Tyson’s Meeting House
on Stantonsburg Road. This was a Primitive Baptist Church and when dissention occurred
over the Temperance Movement, several members sought land to build a new Church.
James May was instrumental in building Antioch Church on some land he owned, now the
corner of Main and Church Streets. It was the second building in the area, the first being
Miss Sallie Williams’ log cabin. On December 12, 1854, James May deeded an acre of
land to Antioch Church. The deed indicated that the church was already on the property
when it was recorded. Mr. May later built his own residence adjacent to the church which
is now the May Museum and Park.

Upon completion in 1854, 96 members from Tyson’s Meeting House, and eventually the
entire congregation from Corinth Church at Lang’s Crossroads, came to Antioch bringing
many of the founding fathers to Farmville. These people built homes and started
businesses. The community grew up around Antioch Church, later renamed First Christian
Church. Historical records indicate that the boundaries of the Town of Farmville were set
around First Christian Church, and that one acre of land.

As the town grew, so did the congregation. In 1908, when the primitive frame building
became too small, it was moved to another part of town and continued in its use as a
church. It had served the community well for 54 years. The present facility was
completed in 1910. The Church majestically sat in the very same place as the original
structure, corner of Main and Church Streets.

The 256 members of First Christian Church in Farmville have long served their community
and will continue to do so. There has been a viable, thriving Church on that property for
154 years, even before the Town of Farmville existed. The members pride themselves on
their history, their contribution to Farmville’s beginning, Farmville’s present, and the
continued growth of our town in the future.

TWENTY-NINE MINISTERS 
Josephus Latham (1854-55, 1858-61, 1864-80, and 1888) 
George Joyner (1856-57, and 1862-63) 
Issac Lamar Chestnutt ( 1881-87, 1889-90, and 1892-95) 
John J. Harper (1891) 
Jesse T. Davis (1896) 
Moses Tyson Moye (1897-1898) 
J.B. Greenwade (1899) 
John W. Tyndall (1900) 
David Wilbur Arnold (1901-03) 
A.F. Leighton (1904) 
I.W. Rogers ( 1905) 
James Thomas Moore (1906-07) 
C. Manly Morton (1908-09) 
Cleophas Bowen Mashburn (1910-15, and 1931-45) 
W.P. Jordan (1916-19) 
Olin E. Fox (1920-24) 
Dunbar C. Gordon (1925-26) 
Russell S. Tandy (1927-30) 
Zesley B. Thaddeus Cox (1946-58) 
Jack M. Daniell (1959-72) 
Joseph G. Shelton (1972-73) 
James Robert Parvin (1973-79) 
George Lee Parker (1980-86) 
S. Gene Wake (1986-87) 
Thomas A. Tunstall (1987-1999) 
Dan Hensley, Jr. (2000-2001) 
Paul Allen, IV (2001-2010) 
John B. Ledford (2010-2011 
John Dunstan (2011-present) 





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