The congregation, formed in 1845, was the first established church in Durham.

[1] They held services at Piney Grove schoolhouse located one mile south of West Durham.

[1] In 1878, the church purchased a lot on Mangum Street in Durham's downtown and began constructing a new building.

[1] The new Neoclassical building was designed by the architect Reuben H.

[6] In 2001, deacons and church committee chairs tried to remove Davis for preaching conservative theology regarding gender roles and authority, but they were unsuccessful.