Downings Creek

Baptist Church

Hayesville, North Carolina

History

Downings Creek Baptist Church traces its organizational roots back to 1884 when the deed was signed by the Hendricks family for the land to be used as a school and a church.

According to an 1886 edition of the Cherokee Scout newspaper, a Baptist minister held revival services in a log building that served as a church and schoolhouse.  The one-room school, Downings Creek Grammar School System was closed in 1927 when the building and land was purchased from the Board of Education for one dollar for use exclusively as a church facility.  Downings Creek Church joined the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) on July 21, 1929 with nineteen members, listed as C.L. Smith, G.A. Sellers, Margaret Sellers, Dora Sellers, J.P. Hendrix, M.V. York, Carrie Hendrix, Lenard Hendrix, Mayme Hendrix, Nancy Phillips, L.A. Smith, Mila Smith, J.O. Smith, Lommie Smith, Ralph Smith, Sam Adkins, M.A. Adkins, Mrs. J.A. Maxwell, and Lloyd Smith.

Rev. Sim Martin served as the first pastor after the church joined the SBC.  Some time after 1927 the log structure was replaced with a larger one-room church building, and additional Sunday school rooms were later added to the back of the building.  The site of the structure is located on the south side of the current parking lot.

By 1973 the need for a bigger and more functional building was on the mind of many members, and a building fund was initiated.  The present church worship center was dedicated on May 6, 1979 with Rev. Steve Armstrong serving as the pastor.