Early memories of the New Hope Church portray it as both a spiritual and educational institution for the community. Its first structure was known as "brush arbor." Records reveal that on March 1, 1904, John H. Hundley and his wife executed a deed for one acre of the Patton Place to William (Bill) Johnson, Shadrick Woodroof, Frank Ice, and Samuel Miller, trustees of the New Hope Presbyterian (Colored) Church. A church was constructed on this property.

In July 1917, trustees of the Grand Benevolent Association of the New Hope Church, Deacon William (Bill) Johnson and Elder Starling Ervin, purchased one acre of cemetery property from T. T. Ashford and wife Susie. This cemetery site is located across the road west of the church.

Three years later, March 1920, one acre of the Old Peebles-Nelson Place was purchased by trustees William (Bill) Johnson, Albert Hobbs and Frank Ice for another cemetery site. This property is located east of the church.

Church Session
By recollection of the present membership, Rev. Johnnie Jones was the first known pastor. The first known clerks of the Church Session were Elders Frank Ice and Charlie Ice. Other deceased members of the session included Elders Robert Irving, Horace Rogers, Ananise Bailey, Eddy Mosley, Fate Jones, James Love, Melvin Rogers, George Malone, and Timothy Ervin.

Board of Deacons
The first known Deacon was Brother William (Bill) Johnson. Other deceased deacons included Deacons Charlie Gamble, Clemon Austin, Tom Robinson, Johnny Brim and Rufus Kidd.

Mothers Board (The Godly Women)
Among the first mothers remembered are Sisters Hag Ward, Anna Ward and Eva Fullendwider. Other deceased mothers included Sisters May Woodroof, Mary Ice, Paralee Miller, Rosie Lee Bynum, Ella Fullendwider, Sallie Langford, Georgia Mosley, Mary Irvin and Patience Rainey, Lillie Gordon, Patsy Brim, Eddy Rogers, and Cora Waddle.

Sunday School
Brother Robert Irving was recalled as being the first superintendent of the Sunday School and Sister Mary as the secretary. Sisters Eva Fullendwider, Rebecca Ward, Florida Bailey, Betty Kidd, Lillie Gordon, Mattie Toney, Janie Collier, Brothers Charlie Ice and James Love Sr. Others gave many years of faithful service as teachers in the Sunday School.

Ministers
During the history of the church we have had a number of ministers to serve as pastors prior to Rev. Terry L. Ragland. They were Rev. Fred Toney, Rev. Johnnie Jones, Rev. T. S. Blackmon, Rev. Pearl Dancy, Rev. R. O. Sandifer and Rev. E. E. Morton.

Pioneer Families
Some of the pioneer families who have been associated with the church from the very earliest years of its existence are the Johnsons, Woodroofs, Ices, Millers, Walkers, Dents, Loves, Smiths, Baileys, Hobbs, Wards, Irvings, Langfords, Polks, Fullendwiders and Rogers. These families have been represented by various members throughout our eighty-year church history, and descendants of these families are still associated with the church as members or supporters in some way. The oldest living members are Brother Lloyd Douglas, Sister Eliza Fletcher, Sister Pearl Fletcher, Sister Lula Fullenwider, Sister Mary Gideon, Brother Columbus Love, Sister Irene Minor, and Deacon Tom Rainey. The congregation consists of 275 members.

Choirs
The first choir of New Hope (currently referred to as Choir No. 1) was organized through the Church Session under the pastorate of Rev. R. O. Sandifer in November 1950. Serving as president was Sister Mary Ice; vice president was Elder Joe Ward; secretary was Sister Alice Caudle; treasurer was Elder Timothy Iving; chaplain was Sister Mamie Rogers. The advisors were Elders Charlie Ice and Horace Rogers. Choir No. 2 was organized in October 1967 under the pastorate of Rev. Fred Toney. The No. 3 Choir was organized in June 1974 also under the pastorate of Rev. Fred Toney. The New Hope Male Chorus was organized in 1988 under the leadership of Rev. Terry Ragland.

Usher Board
Records reveal that our Usher Board was also organized in 1950. Some of the first members whose names can be recalled were Sisters Jeanne Strain, Lula Fullendwider, Rebecca Ward and Brother Rufus Kidd. Today, we are proud to say that our membership has increased tremendously.

New Hope Church as a Cultural Center
New Hope Church housed the first school in this area of Limestone County. The first known teachers were Mr. Murphy and Ms. Susie Ervin. The State of Alabama made little or no funds available for Black public education. Therefore, the elders and members of New Hope Church, along with the members of the community interested in the education of their children, paid the salary of the teachers with funds collected and donated. Later, the State of Alabama provided for the salary of one teacher. However, this allocation did not include a building for the education of its pupils during the week. This arrangement continued until the early 1930's, when in conjunction with President Roosevelt's "New Deal," the WPA provided for the labor to construct school buildings. While the Rosenwald Fund provided the material for its construction. This marked the beginning of a "School" of the New Hope Church sanctuary. New Hope became the first Black Junior High School and later Senior High (for a short time) in the southeast section of rural Limestone County. The New Hope School continued its existence until the early 1970's when both county and city schools in north Alabama were integrated causing the closing of many traditionally Black schools. As reflected in the chronology below, the 1975 the trustees of New Hope Church acquired the school and property through public auction. Our church history continued with the merger of the old New Hope School building with the New Hope Church (June 1984), and the naming of the school building, "The Ice-Mosley Educational Unit" after two past and very dedicated shepherds of this flock, Elders Charlie Ice and Eddy Mosley.

Additional Chronology
In 1968, Rev. Fred Toney joined as as pastor. Under his leadership the Church advanced greatly in both spiritual and physical aspects.

In June 1975, trustees Charlie Ice, George R. Malone and James Love Sr., purchased through public auction, two acres and the old New Hope School from the County of Limestone.

In 1978, the Church Session appointed two permanent committees. They are the Finance and the Worship Committees.

In June 1984, we were blessed to build and dedicate a new church structure.

In December 1986, Rev. Terry L. Ragland joined us as a committed and dedicated pastor.

In May 1991, the church celebrated its "Note Burning" for the final mortgage payment.

In October 1992, we constructed a paved parking lot.

In March 1998, the Church Session unveiled the Mission Plan for the Church.

Through the efforts of the Church Session, (February 1999), to acquire adjoining property, Mr. Thomas McCrary, a New Hope Community property owner, donated 1.1 acres of land to the church as a gift.

We rejoice that our Church has four functioning choirs, an active Sunday School, Usher Board, Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Fellowship (CPYF), Missionary Society, and Mission Board. Our Church session plays the vital role of leadership in the Church.

Faith is a mover of mountains. There is nothing that God cannot do. We started out with faith. We will climb with His grace and guidance, until our dreams come true. God is showering the Church family with blessings and with His continued guidance.
[Source: Built by the Hands: An Historical Account of Love, Faith and Determination in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America 1869-2002. Written by Nancy J. Fuqua. Huntsville, Alabama: Executive Committee of the General Assembly, 2002, pages 231-234]