Preface

I was working on this post in late September when the world stopped for all of us in Western North Carolina with the arrival of Hurricane Helene. It has been described as destruction of biblical proportions and it sure seems so to me.

The folks who live in Western Carolina are a resolute group and I have been moved by the stories of neighbor helping neighbor, which has been the primary lifeline for so many.

Churches are important here and they have become centers for assistance throughout the region. I don’t know the status of the lovely buildings featured in this post, but do know their spirit will prevail. I am posting as a tribute and with a prayer.

The Legacy of Little Churches

No matter your religious background, you can’t help but be charmed by the beautiful little churches that dot the landscape throughout our country. And nowhere is more lovely than the hills and valleys of the Blue Ridge mountains.

For more than 100 years, these small houses of worship have played a significant role in the history, legend, and lore of the rural communities they serve(d).

In this post, I’d like to share a few of my neighborhood treasures in the High Country of Western North Carolina.

St Mathews

Traveling along a rural road from Boone NC to Todd you could pass by the tiny St Mathews Church and might not give it a second look. At this point abandoned, the church played an important role in this community 100 years ago. As transportation options allowed families to spread and people to go farther and join larger congregations, the small Episcopal church saw a declining enrollment. In 2018, a group of dedicated residents, led by the efforts of a retired Episcopal minister, worked to restore the church and give it a new life as a community center. I can only think that the pandemic played a role leading to its current state of abandonment.

Pineola Presbyterian

I’ve driven by this church dozens of times, located at the junction of NC Highways 181 and 221 just outside Linville. No one can seem to tell me much about its history except that it was organized in 1898 and this church built in 1927. At the moment it seems to have a temporary pastor, with no obvious phone or website. They are holding Sunday services. It is a small building with absolutely beautiful stained-glass windows and I would love to know more about their origin and if they were part of the original building. My quest continues . . .

St Johns

I wrote about this little gem a few years ago. Feel free to follow the link to read more about the “Little Church in the Woods.” In Valle Crucis, it’s owned by the Trinity Episcopal Church and like several others in the area, only operates during summer months.

All Saints Episcopal Mission

Likely the most famous of the little churches in this area, this Episcopal church in Linville has been featured nationally in magazines and newspapers. Another church with a summer schedule, they bring in an impressive array of guest Episcopal clergy, active and retired, from around the state and other parts of the country.

The building is storybook charming and maintained impeccably. Kneelers and alter fixtures feature gorgeous handmade needlework of local landscape scenes. Dating from 1910, the chapel was built in memory of Mary Savage MacRae, sister of the MacRae brothers who founded Linville. Mary’s half-sister Agnes MacRae Parsley started the building fund with proceeds from the sale of a lot to her by her black childhood nurse.

The church was designed by Henry Bacon, a New York architect famous for designing the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC. He also designed several of the “cottages” in the area. Construction is of chestnut timber with chestnut bark shingles, inside and out.  Sadly, the chestnut trees are long gone having died out from disease years ago. The stained glass over the front door is original.

Crossnore Presbyterian

 Known as “The Miracle in the Hills” church, it owes its heritage to a small group of worshipers who began meeting in the early 1900s. by 1916, a small chapel was built on donated property, and in 1918 became an official Presbyterian church. Work on the current church building began 100 years ago in 1924 and was completed in spring 1926. Linville River rock was used throughout – with 200 loads hauled up the hills by horse and wagon. Work was done by Will Franklin, a local stonemason and carpenter who could neither read nor write, but was able to follow the architectural plans from an architect located hours away in Greensboro. Known as Uncle Will, Mr. Franklin’s folk art touches and craftsmanship is very evident in the details. His beautiful rock seating and columns are “topped off” by an impressive herringbone pattern of chestnut bark used in the ceiling.  My photos don’t do any of it justice. At this time, the church is undergoing a major and careful restoration. Because the site is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, rules are strict and have proved challenging. The stone originally used as roof material is no longer available in the United States and current work includes retrofitting for climate control, lighting, and ADA requirements. Replacing the roof alone will cost about $500,000. But solutions have been worked out, and restoration progress is underway.

The Reverend Kathy Campbell has been paster since 2009 and proudly leads a robust congregation with a very healthy agenda of community involvement and

My Crossnore Chapter of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution for my non-US readers) meets at the church and that is how I was privileged to tour the interior and meet the delightful Pastor Campbell. I was also fortunate to visit the adjacent charming cemetery, nestled in the woods. It’s a beautiful final resting place for many local notable citizens, including Dr. Mary Martin Sloop a founder of the church and the nearby Crossnore school.

Edgemont Baptist Church in Collettsville

When I saw this church, in the Wilson Creek area, it was still active. It has appeared in photos dating from the early 1900s making it over 100 years old. I don’t have more info and fear for the area which was devastated by flooding in 1916 and now, sadly, again. It survived the 1916 catastrophe, so I am ever hopeful.