Chronology

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1. Colonial and Regulator years · 1680–1774

2. by April 1767
   Hillsborough George Micklejohn is sent to St. Matthew's Parish in Hillsborough

   Governor William Tryon sent the Rev. George Micklejohn, a Society for the Propagation of the Gospel missionary first assigned to Rowan County, to St. Matthew's Parish in Orange County.

3. Revolution and early republic · 1775–1799

4. 1776
   Halifax Loyalist rector George Micklejohn is taken into custody

   With the outbreak of the Revolution Micklejohn remained loyal to the Crown and was held among the Loyalist prisoners; on May 3, 1776 the Provincial Congress at Halifax paroled him to Perquimans County. St. Matthew's Parish had no Episcopal rector again until 1825.

5. Antebellum and Civil War · 1800–1865

6. May 21, 1826
   Construction or physical change · Hillsborough, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church St. Matthew's Church in Hillsborough is consecrated under its first rector, William Mercer Green

   William Mercer Green became first rector of the reorganized St. Matthew's parish in 1825, the year work began on its brick church; state architect William Nichols and brickmaker John Berry were among the builders. Bishop John Stark Ravenscroft consecrated the church on May 21, 1826, during the diocesan convention it hosted.

7. 1835
   Construction or physical change · Hillsborough, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church St. Matthew's adds a gallery for Black worshippers under William Mercer Green

   In 1835, during William Mercer Green's rectorship, a gallery was added to St. Matthew's Church in Hillsborough to seat Black worshippers. Green also held monthly services at Duncan Cameron's Salem Chapel, where he gave instruction to enslaved people.

8. Early twentieth century · 1900–1944

9. 1908 to 1957
   St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Hillsborough Paul C. Collins serves on the vestry of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church

   Paul C. Collins sat on the vestry of St. Matthew's Church in Hillsborough from 1908 and retired as senior warden in 1957, one of the small group of families from whom the vestry was long drawn.

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Compiled and maintained by the Friends of the Orange County Public Library from county records, the sources named on each card, and the index’s event pages. Last updated October 4, 2026.