Life in Southport, like life in so many small and medium size towns, revolves around the churches, service organizations and local government. To the left of the Methodist Church in this panorama is the Masonic Lodge. Down the street from the Masonic Lodge is the local fire department and rescue squad. The post office is build where the high school once stood. The school burned in January of 1969 and all that remains is the school bell.

The Trinity United Methodist Church sanctuary was built in 1889-93. The congregations history begins much early when Southport was know as Smithville. The Bishop Francis Asbury's journal entry for February 8th, 1804 reads,"We rode to Smihville 33 miles through the rain and stayed at the Widow Dozier's. I preach at a house in the town. Old Fort Johnston, at the mouth of the Cape Fear River,is partly rebuilt." One particularly interesting moment in Trinity's long history involved the conversion of Charles Soong in the 1880. Mr. Soong, a young Chinese man who happen to be the steward on board the Revenue Cutter "Colfax" then anchored in the river, was brought to the church on Sunday night October 31,1880 by the cutter's boatswain. Mr. Ricard was conducting revival that night and the young Mr. Soong taken by the Holy Spirit step to the alter to pray. He later went on to study at Trinity College and Vanderbilt University and became an ordained Minister. He would return to China marry and father 6 children who would influence Chinese history. His daughters would marry heroes of the Chinese Revolution:Chiang Kai-Shek first president of Taiwan, Sun Yat-Sen, and H.H. Kung. a wealthy industrialist.

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