Carol Cockerham, a member of Flat Rock Baptist Church hangs a wreath on the door of the sanctuary in preparation for the Christmas tour of homes.
Church member Carol Cockerham is in charge of decorating the church for the tour. She said the church will be filled with greenery featuring an advent wreath with candles and a live Christmas tree that will be decorated by the children of the church during the hanging of the greens.
Members Jane McMillian and Joey Martin have provided the church with two handmade nativity scenes.
The history of the church dates back to the mid 1800s when John Brower built a large log church on the Marsall Farm about one and a half miles northeast of the Flat Rock crossroads. The structure was built for the use of different denominations and was named Laurel Hill Church for the abundant laurels which grew nearby.
It was on Jan. 15, 1899, that the church was named Flat Rock. In February of 1899 the tiny congregation elected its first pastor, J.H. Powers. By the summer of 1905 Flat Rock was a member of the Pilot Mountain Baptist Association and on July 23 of that year collected $12,31 for association expenses and state and foreign missions. The pastor’s salary was $50 for that year.
In 1937 the church bought and remodeled the old Flat Rock School and for 37 years the building, along with an educational facility added in 1954, was home for Flat Rock Baptist Church.
The sanctuary that is used today was completed in 1974.
The church is located at 1335 East Pine Street. The tour will feature eight homes and one church, in addition to the Moore house and the Gertrude-Smith house. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased on the days of the tour at any of the homes or at the church.
Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.
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