A Brief History and Description

  Located in the foothills of the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains, North Wilkesboro Presbyterian Church is a church steeped, but not locked, in tradition.  Founded in 1893 with 14 original members, we have grown to the present membership of about 550 and have had six able and dedicated ministers.  Christian education, Bible study, and spiritual development of our members are highly valued.  Inspirational worship—sermons, Scripture reading, music, and observance of the Sacraments—is a focal point of our community life. 

On an average Sunday morning, 225-275 people attend worship.  Our congregation is composed of all ages, with no great predominance in any one age group.  Many children are present, as one notes by their large number when they leave the Sanctuary for Children’s Worship.  A significant asset to worship, our choir has a membership of 25-30.  Our congregation warmly welcomes visitors. 

The majority of members are in business, professional, and educational fields, with some clerical workers and laborers.  Retired persons are active and well represented.  There are presently about 30 college and post-graduate students in the membership.  Educational levels are varied, with almost all adults having a high school diploma and the majority holding college degrees.  About 95% of the members live within a 7-mile radius of the church, in the two Wilkesboros and outlying developments. 

The stone, Gothic design sanctuary was built in 1949 and seats 350. The old fellowship hall in the basement of the sanctuary was remodeled in 1988 and houses a weekday preschool and Sunday school classes for nursery, toddlers and preschoolers.  The old education building, built in 1940, is attached to the Sanctuary and houses the church offices, pastor, DCE, and youth director offices, library, choir room, and the youth suite for grades 6-12.   

The new education building and fellowship hall, complete with elevator, was dedicated in 1988 and roughly doubled the size of our facilities.  An enclosed walkway links the old and new buildings.  The fellowship hall seats 300 and has a fully equipped, modern kitchen.  Classrooms for elementary age children and all adult Sunday school classes are in the building, and Boy Scout Troop 336, sponsored by the Men’s Bible Class, uses the 3000 square-foot basement area.

 Wanting to be good stewards of the facilities with which we are so richly blessed, we make our buildings available to a number of organizations and groups during the week as an outreach to our community.  We are thankful to God that we were able to retire in full the debt on the new building in 1991. 

Highlights of our church year include:

• Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service, with the Sanctuary filled to overflowing
• Church Family covered dish supper and picnic at Doughton Park on the Blue Ridge Parkway in late summer
• Maundy Thursday Communion Service
• Informal Thanksgiving morning service
• Church Family weekend retreat at Montreat, usually on Labor Day weekend
• July Sunday School series, with Senior High and all adult classes meeting together
• Stewardship Commitment and Dedication Sunday, with celebration of Communion
• Easter Worship, including receiving of Confirmation Class into full membership and celebration of Communion

  

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