A Burlington Congregation with Roots in 1815 and 1870
Union Chapel United Church of Christ sits on Union Ridge Road in Burlington, North Carolina, in the same community where its earliest members built a small log structure more than a century and a half ago. The congregation is recognized as the oldest church in the Lincoln Christian Conference. Its vision is summed up in its own words: "A Church that loves all, is open to all, nurtures faith, and does service for the Kingdom of God." Members describe the church as one that serves with open arms and joyful hearts, gathering to worship, build community, and aspire to make a difference in the world for the Glory of God.
The Origins on Union Ridge
The story begins in 1815, when the families of the Union Ridge Community built a meeting house they called the Old Union Meeting House and constructed a bush arbor nearby where they invited African Americans to worship alongside them. Those same families later built a frame church with a balcony, and the African American worshipers were invited up into that balcony, where everyone shared days of fellowship singing, praying, shouting, and preaching together. By mutual agreement in 1870, the people of Union Ridge helped the formerly enslaved people build a church of their own, which they named Union Chapel. A member of Union Ridge Christian Church donated the tract of land the congregation still occupies, and Union Ridge members hauled trees to local saw mills so that timber could be cut for the building. African Americans built a small log church of roughly hewn logs with peg-legged benches and stovepipes hanging from the windows. Different preachers took turns in the pulpit one Sunday each month, including the Rev. Moses Fyke, the Rev. Rufus Whitaker, and the Rev. W. D. Dunn, with the Rev. Charlie Ray as the congregation's first pastor. For a time the building served both as a church and as a schoolhouse.
Four Buildings on the Same Land
A second frame church was built in 1894 under the leadership of the Rev. Charlie W. Ray. In 1934, during the depths of the Depression, a third church was completed. Money was scarce, but with about $300 in hand, free labor, and donations from members and friends, the building went up and was paid for, with pews made on site, at a total cost of around $6,000. A brick sanctuary followed in 1955 and 1956 under the Rev. Cleatus G. Lee, who also organized the Junior Choir. The Willing Workers Club built a "hut" for fellowshipping and homecomings, and the sanctuary received a communion table, a pulpit set, flower stands, and chairs. In later years the pews were covered.
Becoming the United Church of Christ
The Rev. John H. Jones became the congregation's pastor in 1971 and led the construction of two fellowship buildings, the purchase of the church's first van and adjoining land, and the installation of a heating and air conditioning system. During his tenure the mortgage was burned in 1973, a Missionary Circle was formed, women were seated on the Trustee Board, and a night Bible Study began. It was also under Rev. Jones that the congregation voted to affiliate with the United Church of Christ, and the name changed from Union Chapel Christian Church to Union Chapel United Church of Christ.
The Rev. Ervin E. Milton Years
The Rev. Ervin E. Milton became pastor in 1994 and retired after twenty-nine years of service. During his tenure the parking lot was paved, stained glass windows and a steeple were added, a second church van was purchased, and the downstairs of the fellowship building was remodeled into a choir room, a business office, an all-purpose room, and the pastor's office. The baptism pool was moved inside, commercial appliances were bought for the kitchen, a state-of-the-art sound system was installed, and the vestibule and choir stand were rebuilt. The Male Chorus, the Second Generation Choir (now the Gospel Choir), the Little Christian Choir (now the Young People for Christ Choir), the UC Missionaries, a morning Bible Study, and the Junior Usher Board all began during these years, along with the church's first directory. Active membership doubled and the budget tripled.
Howard Vaughn and the Senior Choir
Mr. Howard Vaughn, a World War II veteran and one of the few remaining from his generation in North Carolina, is the founder of the Senior Choir at Union Chapel. That choir is regarded as one of the oldest African American choirs in Alamance County and one of the area's original choirs, even as many others have come and gone since. Mr. Vaughn, who marked his 103rd birthday in 2025, is still fond of singing in the choir on Sundays. His long memory of the church and his gift for conversation have kept him active in the community for decades.
Sunday Worship at Eleven
Worship is held on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. at 5087 Union Ridge Road in Burlington. Services are livestreamed on Facebook Live for those who cannot attend in person. The sanctuary is the brick building completed in 1956, with stained glass windows and a steeple added later, and the sound system installed during the Milton era.
Choirs, Deacons, and Trustees
Music is woven into nearly every part of congregational life. The Senior Choir, the Male Chorus, the Gospel Choir, and the Young People for Christ Choir are joined by a Junior Usher Board, a Missionary Circle, and a Pastor's Aid group. Trustees and Deacons share the work of governance. The Trustees are led by Chair Cynthia Blackwell and include Thurmon Leath, Annie Walton, Madeline Faucette, Betty Yellock, Susan Pitre, Ervin Sellars, Grant Royster, and Wilbert Miles. The Deacons are led by Chair Shelton Miles and include Derrick (Bernard) Miles, Dorothy Corbett, Ricky Turner, Willard Freeman, John Turner Jr., and David Miles. The board's roster closes with a verse from 1 Corinthians 15:58: "be ye stedfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."
Youth Bible Study and Sunday Formation
A regular gathering called "Calling All Students - Let's Talk!" meets on the second and fourth Sunday of each month from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. The program welcomes high school graduates and young adults in their twenties to share what they have learned in their younger years. A recurring Zoom link is published for participants. A morning Bible Study and the Junior Usher Board round out the church's ongoing formation work.
A New Chapter with Rev. Calvin Brooks
Following Rev. Milton's retirement, the Rev. Belinda Sledge served as the church's interim pastor from May 2024 through September 2025. Rev. Calvin Brooks, with his wife Porsha Brooks, began as the settled pastor in October 2025.
Joining and Giving
Visitors who want to officially join the Union Chapel family can complete an online connection form. Online giving is available for those who wish to contribute to the church's ministry.