United Church Homes and Services is a not-for-profit Corporation, originally chartered in 1961 for the primary purpose of constructing and managing retirement communities across the geographical region of the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ.

As the result of a tremendous support among the churches and individuals of the Southern Conference a rest home with accommodations for 68 persons was constructed in Newton and dedicated in 1971. The land and a generous portion of the capital funds were contributed by Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Abernethy.

Through a generous gift from Maye Morrison Abernethy, a corporate office building was constructed and dedicated in 1982. The facility, which was constructed on the site of her parents' original farm house, is located on the campus of Abernethy Laurels.

In 1978, 49 acres of land near Thomasville, N.C. were contributed to United Church Homes and Services through the will of Mrs. Anise Shuler. After nearly ten years of planning and fund raising Piedmont Crossing was constructed and dedicated on this Thomasville site in 1986.

In 1989, a 172 acre site was purchased in Suffolk, Va. Many years of planning and dedication to the effort resulted in the construction of a continuing care retirement community in Eastern Virginia. Now known as Lake Prince Woods, this community opened in 2002.

In 1998, UCHS sponsored its first HUD 202 affordable housing community known as Covenant Place in Chapel Hill. Additional HUD communities followed including NOAH, New Bern Older Adult Housing opened in 2001 and Emmanuel's place, opened in Statesville in 2002. St. Joseph's Place in Durham and Matthew's Place in Albemarle were opened in 2003 and 2004. Over 150 low income seniors are served through this ministry. Centerclair, our Nursing Community in Lexington was purchased in 2000. Today, UCHS serves over 1250 residents in over 9 communities in North Carolina and Virginia.