United Holy Church of America

The United Holy Church of America, Inc. (UHCA) is the oldest

United Holy Church of
African-American Holiness-Pentecostal body in the world. It was
established in 1886. It is a predominantly black Holiness America
Pentecostal Christian denomination, and the International Classification Protestant
Headquarters is located at 5104 Dunstan Road in Greensboro, Orientation Holiness-
North Carolina.[1] The UHCA consists of an estimated 516 Pentecostal
churches, 17 districts, and 8 territories. The largest and the oldest
district of the connectional body is the Southern District Polity Episcopal
Convocation (Goldsboro, NC). Presiding Prelate The Most
Reverend
History Harry
Leonard
This church was organized as the outgrowth of what was called a Cohen
"holiness revival", sparked by the meetings held by Isaac Cheshier Vice President The Right
at Method, North Carolina a suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina), Reverend
in 1886. It began as a regional body. On October 13, 1894, in the
Kenneth
city of Durham, North Carolina, the first convocation was
White
organized. Those present were G.A. Mials, H.C. Snipes and S.S.
Freeman, all of Raleigh, North Carolina; present also was G.W. 2nd Vice President The Right
Roberts of Durham, North Carolina, and L.M. Mason of Method, Reverend
North Carolina. On October 15, 1900, a convention was called by Greg K.
the Rev. C.C. Craig to meet at Durham, North Carolina, to prepare Hargrave
a discipline for the government of the churches. Those present
Associations Mount Sinai
were H.C. Pettiford, H.C. Snipes, L.M. Mason, G.W. Roberts,
Mrs. Emma E. Craig, and Mrs. L.J. Roberts. In the early 1900s, Holy Church
the church added a Pentecostal understanding. In 1900 this body of America,
called itself Holy Church of North Carolina, and later, as it grew, Mount
the Holy Church of North Carolina and Virginia. In 1916 the name Calvary Holy
United Holy Church of America was adopted, and the church Church of
was incorporated on September 15, 1918. America
Region United States,
Church Anthem Caribbean,
Africa
The Right Reverend Thomas E. Talley wrote the lyrics to the Headquarters Greensboro,
United Holy Church Anthem, which is sung to the tune of "We're
North
Marching To Zion".
Carolina, U.S.
Founder Bishop LM
Beliefs Mason

The beliefs of the United Holy Church of America are written in Origin 1886
its Affirmation of Faith.[2] It is structured in a call and response (founded),
format (the leader of the reading is bolded). It is often recited in 1918
various churches as part of the order of worship and all national (incorporated)
and international gatherings. Method,
 We believe in the Father, who is God Almighty. North
Carolina
The Creator of all things and the preserver of light
and life. Congregations est. 516
Members 50,000+
We believe in the Son, who is Jesus Christ, God’s
only begotten Son. Official website uhcainc.org
(http://uhcain
He was human and divine, truly lived, suffered and
died, rose again from the dead, ascended on high, c.org)
and is coming again.

We believe that Jesus was sent by God to reveal God to man.

That whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

We believe in the Holy Ghost, who was sent from God the Father and the Son.
That the Holy Spirit convicts and converts sinners, dwells in the believer, keeps the
believer from the power of sin and leads him to the Father through His son, Jesus Christ.

We believe the Bible is the Word of God, given by inspiration through holy men.
That in the Bible, God seeks to reveal His will to man and man seeks to respond to
God’s revelation.

We believe that the union of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost is revealed through His
Church.
That all believers are united into one body, the Church.

We believe that Christ is coming back for His Holy Church with out spot or wrinkle.
That without Holiness in spirit, soul and body, no man shall see the Lord.

Annual gatherings
There are many gatherings that occur annually in the United Holy Church of America. Majority of the
national gatherings are called "General" gatherings, and are typically hosted at the headquarters in
Greensboro, North Carolina.

General Holy Convocation

General Youth Convention
General Home & Foreign Missions Convention
General Ushers Convention
General Education Department Conference

Every district and sub-district also have their own annual gatherings. These gatherings consist of local
convocations, local conventions, unions, etc.

Districts
Africa-Ghana District
Barbados District
Bermuda District
 Central Western District*
Central Pacific District
Kentucky District
New England District
Northern District
Northwestern District
South Carolina District
Southeastern District
Southern District Goldsboro
Southern District Henderson
Virginia District
Western District
Western North Carolina District
Central Western District
West Virginia District
St. Lucia-West Indies District

The Southern District of the United Holy Church of America came into being in the year 1894 in the city of
Durham, North Carolina. This was the first and the largest of all the districts in the connection. It was
organized by Elders C.C. Craig, L.M. Mason, George W. Roberts, H.C. Snipes, and H.C. Pettiford, along
with Mother E.E. Craig, and Mrs. L.J. Roberts. Elder L.M. Mason was chosen as its first president. The
Virginia District was organized by Bishop W.N. Strobhar. Bishop Thomas E. Talley was appointed the first
president, and Bishop S. G. McCoy served as vice president. The first convocation was held in August
1969 in Portsmouth, Virginia, and Mrs. Elsie Harris served as its first secretary. The Southeastern District,
originally known as the Florida-Georgia District, was organized in 1948 by Bishop G.J. Branch. On
December 10, 1969, at Fisher Memorial United Holy Church in Durham, North Carolina, the Western
North Carolina District was organized by Bishop W.N. Strobhar and other General officers. Bishop A.W.
Lawson was appointed the first president, and Bishop N.M. Midgett was chosen to serve as vice president.

In June 1920, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, bishops H.L. Fisher and G.J. Branch and other general
officers met at a call-meeting of the independent group of Holy Churches in this city and nearby towns, and
organized the churches into a district known as the Northern District Convocation of the United Holy
Church of America, Inc. Bishop G.J. Branch of Goldsboro, North Carolina was chosen as the president of
the district embracing the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and the
District of Columbia. Following this, in 1924, in the city of Columbus, Ohio, at the Gospel Tabernacle
Church, whose pastor was Elder John E. Harris, the Northwestern District was organized into a District
Convocation by Bishop G.J. Branch, Bishop H.L. Fisher, and Bishop J.D. Diggs, along with other General
officers of the Church. Bishop J.D. Diggs of Winston-Salem, North Carolina was chosen as its first
president. Other officers were Bishop H.H. Hairston and Bishop S.G. McCoy. The states comprising this
district were Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Eastern Illinois.
The West Virginia District was organized in 1935 through the work of Bishop J.D. Diggs after being
separated from the Northwestern District the previous year. The New England District, embracing the states
of the New England area, was organized in August 1925. Bishop J.W. Houston was chosen as the first
president of this district. The Central Western District was organized in 1930. The organizers were Bishop
J.W. Houston, Elder Otis E. Evans, Mother Addie Houston, and Mother Susie Evans.

The United Holy Church district on the Pacific Coast was originally known, in 1924, as the Union of
California United Holy Churches. In 1936 this district was named the Pacific Coast District, and later the
Western District. The first headquarters for the district was in Los Angeles, and later in San Francisco.
Bishop Henry Lee Fisher was the chief organizer of this district. The Central Pacific District was founded
in March 2005 with Bishop Rafael Fortier, Jr., as its first president. The district began with its headquarters
in San Francisco, California.

Internationally, the Bermuda District, covering the entire island of Bermuda, was organized in 1921 by
Bishop Henry Lee Fisher. Associated with him in this effort were Elders Thomas Trott, C. H. Caisey and
Patrick Mills, and Miss Majorie Trott. In the early history of the Barbados District, Evangelist Rosa B.
Hawkins of San Francisco, California, organized five churches on the island of Barbados; however, these
churches later joined with another Pentecostal body. The churches in Barbados that are presently a part of
The United Holy Church of America were organized by the late Bishop Harry Townsend Gentles. He
founded Mt. Olive United Holy Church in 1949, and it later became the headquarters church for the
District. Bishop Gentles brought together some independent churches and organized new ones as well.
These churches grew into the present-day Barbados District.

United Holy Church of America Governance

Presiding Prelate (also known as the General President), General Vice President, and General 2nd Vice
President, Bishops' Council, General Board of Bishops, Board of Elders (district and general church
levels), District Board of Presbytery, District Presidents, District Elders, District & General Departments of
Evangelism & Extension, Home & Foreign Missions, Ushers, Music, YPHA (Young Peoples' Holy
Association), BCS (Bible Church School), Publications, and the Holiness Union. The United Holy Church
is broken down into districts, sub-districts and then local churches.

Divisions and Reunion

From January 1927 to March 1975, the Church experienced a breach in its Certificate of Incorporation.
Through a Certificate of Rescission and a resolution passed at a General meeting, the Certificate of
Incorporation was amended to allow the Church to exist as a perpetual institution. The Church's corporate
status as a non-profit religious organization now exists in perpetuity. The Tenth Article of the 1918
Certificate of Incorporation was amended to reflect this change.

In 1977, the Church divided when the Southern District Convocation, located in Goldsboro, North
Carolina, withdrew from fellowship with the parent body. However, in May 2000 in the city of
Greensboro, North Carolina, the Southern District Convocation was reunited with the connectional body.[3]

Mount Calvary Holy Church of America split from the United Holy Church in 1929 to form their own
holiness Pentecostal body. Mount Sinai Holy Church of America separated from the mother church in 1924
to form an organization to create gender equality in episcopal ordination.

Former general presidents and presiding prelates

1. Rt. Rev. L.M. Mason 1894-1901
2. Rt. Rev. W.H. Fulford 1901-1916
3. Rt. Rev. Henry L. Fisher 1916-1947
4. Rt. Rev. G.J. Branch 1947-1949
5. Rt. Rev. Henry H. Hairiston 1949-1963
6. Rt. Rev. Walter N. Strobahr 1963-1980
7. Rt. Rev. Joseph T. Bowens 1980-1992
8. Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Talley 1992-1996
 9. Rt. Rev. Odell McCollum 1996-2005
10. Rt. Rev. Elijah Williams 2005–2016
11. Rt. Rev. Harry L Cohen 2016–Present

References
Handbook of Denominations in the United States, by Frank S. Mead, Samuel S. Hill, and
Craig D. Atwood
The History of the United Holy Church of America, Inc., by Chester W. Gregory, Sr.

1. "Our History" (https://www.cwduhca.org/our-history). The United Holy Church of America.

Retrieved 12 June 2021. "The United Holy Church of America holds the distinct honor of
being the oldest African American Holiness Pentecostal body in the World."
2. "What we believe – United Holy Church of America, Inc" (http://www.uhcainc.org/what-we-be
lieve/). Retrieved 2023-07-13.
3. "Southern District Convocation - Designed by Judah Enterprise" (http://sdcgnc.com//sdchisto
ry.html). sdcgnc.com. Retrieved 2023-07-13.

External links
The Official Web Site of the United Holy Church Of America (http://uhcainc.org/)
The Southern District Convocation (http://sdcgnc.com//)
The Northern District Convocation (https://nd.unitedholy.church//)
The Virginia District Convocation (https://www.vaconuhc.com//)
The Bermuda District Convocation (http://www.uhc.bm//)
The Central Western District Convocation (https://www.cwduhca.org/)
The Western District Convocation (https://www.wncdconvocation.org/)
True Glory Ministries UHC (https://www.truegloryministries.com/)
Littles Memorial Temple UHC (https://www.littlesmemorialtempleuhc.org/)
Gospel Tabernacle UHC (http://gospeltabernacleuhc.org/index.html)
Jerusalem UHC, Reidsville, NC (http://www.jerusalemuhc.org/)
New Stoney Hill UHC, Goldsboro, NC (https://www.new-stoney-hill-united-holy-church.com/)

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