Rev. Duncan Cameron Murchison

was instrumental in organizing Bethany Baptist Church, and he served as its first pastor.

Around 1770 his Scottish ancestors began to settle in Moore County, NC,  where Duncan was born on March 27, 1825.  His parents, Alexander and Nancy Murchison, moved to Chatham County during his childhood, where he spent the remainder of his life.  During his adolescence he professed faith in Jesus Christ and joined Love's Creek Church in Siler City, NC.

On December 22, 1847, he married Martha W. Hackney.  Martha died on January 12, 1863, leaving five children aged 13, 11, 9, 7 and 4: Eudora Serena, Robert Alexander, Sarah Ann (Sallie), Gustavus Adolphus , and Rev. Claudius Murat.   Could this be a picture of Duncan and Martha?  We think that it probably is.

On June 2, 1863, he married Lydia Ann Smith.  Lydia died on October 10, 1882, leaving three children aged 17, 15 and 10: Nancy Jane (Nannie), John Colin and Marietta (Etta).  (A fourth child, Willie, lived only one day.)

On February 17, 1885, he married Thena McManus.  Thena died of pneumonia on January 23, 1920, in Rocky Mount, NC, leaving three children: Lester Lynn, Alma Robena, and Ernest Edwin. 

Rev. Murchison served a number of Chatham County churches, including Rocky River, Bear Creek and Bethlehem, but it is for his service to Bethany Baptist Church that he is remembered.  On Saturday, March 14, 1868, a small group of men and women gathered at McLeod's Creek School to join themselves in covenant with God and each other.  Professing the gospel of Jesus Christ, they entered into a covenant for the purpose of promoting their own spiritual interests and advancing the Redeemers Kingdom on Earth.  Signers of the covenant included DC Murchison, his wife Lydia and his daughter Eudora.  The next day the Baptist Church of Christ at McLeod's Creek held its first worship service in the school building, which was located between the present communities of Gulf and Goldston.  DC Murchison served as the church's first pastor while pursuing his trade as a miller.  In 1869 the church decided to relocate to "the Gulf" along the plank road, with a change of name to Bethany Baptist.

Rev.  Murchsion served as pastor of Bethany Baptist Church until the close of the year 1875, when his health failed and he gave up all pastoral duties.  Following fervent prayers for his recovery, his health was restored and he lived over twenty more years.  Although he preached very little after resigning the pastorate of Bethany Church, his ministry continued through acts of Christian charity that stemmed from a simple love of God and neighbor.  He served his community as postmaster from 1883 to1889, and he was reappointed in 1893.      

Several letters written by Rev. Murchison survive.  In two letters dated July, 1890, he writes to loved ones in Gulf about traveling by rail to Penelope, NC, to visit son Claud, and Claud's progress in establishing an academy for educating the children of local farmers.  Four letters were written in the last 10 weeks of his life, two to daughter Alma (age 8) and two to daughter Nannie Merrell, whom Alma was visiting in Troy, NC.  The letters to Alma mention a summer storm in "Bear Creek country" on June 13, 1896, and trying to get fat on summer vegetables.  In the letters to Nannie, Rev. Murchison writes about the debilitating effects of fever and his worsening condition, wishing that Alma were there to hand him a glass of iced water.  His letters reveal a gracious man of deep piety and devotion to his family, with a humble sense of thankfulness for each of them.  Each of his letters ends with the words, "May the Lord bless you."  

DC Murchison died of typhoid fever on Sunday, August 23, 1896.  Funeral services were conducted from Bethany Baptist Church by LR Dixon, who preached from Philippians 1:21 (For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.)  An article from the Sanford Express quoted the Chatham Record:  "We greatly regret to hear of the death of the Rev. DC Murchsion, who died at his residence at Gulf last Saturday night, age 71 years.  He had been a Baptist minister for many years, and was one of the best men we have ever known." 

Bethany Baptist Church was rebuilt in 1901 following a fire that destroyed the church building in February, 1900.  Later, this one-room church of pine lumber was converted into classrooms, and a new sanctuary was built adjacent to it.  The present church also includes an educational plant and a fellowship hall. 

DC Murchison, his second and third wives, and four of his children were buried in the cemetery on the grounds of Bethany Baptist Church.  A census of the cemetery from 1990 includes DC  Murchison's first wife, Martha.  Since there was no Bethany Baptist Church at the time of her death in 1863, Martha was buried on the grounds of an unidentified church in Chatham County.  Later, her tombstone was moved to the Bethany cemetery.  There is some question about whether her remains were also moved to Gulf.  Her tombstone has subsequently disappeared.