Oriental has enjoyed an interesting and special relationship with Duke University. Formerly Trinity College, it was established in 1841 as Union Institute Academy, renamed Trinity in 1857 in Randolph County before moving to Durham in 1892 and becoming Duke University in 1924. In 1920 and for several years a summer school program directed by Duke was held in Oriental. Duke faculty and students became close friends of the people of Oriental. And Oriental Methodist Church has felt a much closer relationship to Duke because for many summers since the 1930s ministerial students through the Duke Endowment have served as Summer Interns in Oriental. In 1986 the Duke Endowment contributed 23% of the construction costs of the long-awaited fellowship hall and educational wing to the church.
On June 11, 1989 the note burning and dedication of the new fellowship hall, education, and office complex was celebrated. An exciting new ministry began in January of 1989 with the inception of P.E.A.C.E. (Preschool Enrichment and Christian Education). This preschool began with a program for four year olds and was later expanded to include three year olds. The P.E.A.C.E. School was closed in 2009.
Growth in membership and expansion of its ministry became more real in the early 1970s when in 1973 Oriental was made a Charge with its own pastor, the Reverend David Lupton. In 1980 Oriental made a leap of faith in accepting a full-time pastor and becoming self-supporting. Other “firsts” were the visit of a Bishop, Bishop William R. Cannon, and Chairperson of the Executive Committee of the World Methodist Council on May 23, 1982. In the same year the first ordained woman, the Reverend Carol Coehring, came here to preach. Bishop Cannon came again to preach for the July 4th program in 1983. Bishop C. P. Minnick was our guest February 1, 1986. Outstanding growth in membership and expansion in ministries of the church have been seen since 1980 during the pastorates of the Reverends David O. Jenkins and H. Gray Southern. In God’s grace Oriental is prepared to move out courageously and faithfully into its second century.