793 Old NC 226 Hwy • Spruce Pine • North Carolina • 28777

In 1818 these mountains were scarcely populated with little or no organized Christian witness.  Roan Mountain had a Baptist Church, but it was too far to travel on foot, or by horse and buggy.  So God burdened his people in the Caney River Baptist Church in Yancey County to share the gospel with this community and form a mission church in Burke County (present day Mitchell County), known as the Grassy Creek Community.

While the exact dates for the formation of this mission are not known, there are two fixed dates that stand out in our history.  The first date is April 27, 1822.  On that date the following petition was sent to the Caney River Baptist Baptist Church at Jacks Creek …

To Caney River Church

Part of Caney River Church setting at Grassy Creek, Burke County, April 27^th 1822.  Sendeth to our mother the Caney River Church …

 Greetings Dear Brethren & Sisters. 

We a part of your body who have sat a long time as your arm do now desire to become a Constitution to ourselves provided it meets with your approbation.  We therefore appoint our beloved Brethren R. Burchfield and William Hill to bear this our petition in which we, whose names are underneath, do humbly crave that you would signify us to become a Constitution to ourselves.  Dear Brethren please to grant this our earnest request for which we your poor little sister do humble prayer ye.

Males                                                   Females

Moses Washburn                                 Polly Lowrie

Robert Burchfield                                 Polly Green

                                                            Elizabeth Burchfield

On 27 May 1822, the mission was formally constituted as a church.

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The earliest congregational profile on record shows that in 1823 Grassy Creek Baptist Church had 34 members, baptized 3, received 4, excluded 1, and had contributions of $1.50. 

This church has endured some difficult days. Through some of the hardest days this nation and this mountain community has ever known, God has preserved this Church as a testimony to His greatness. 

And from this church have come many preachers, many missionaries, and many churches.  Even though the devil has waged one war after another against this body of believers, this church has maintained a witness all over the world. We thank God for the faith and heritage our forefathers have passed on to us.  May God continue to bless and honor this great body of believers!

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Pastor History

1.         STEVEN MORGAN, 1817-1847

2.         ISSAC WASHBURN, 1848-1858

3.         STEVEN M.  COLLIS, 1859-1860

4.         J.  P.  DICKSON, 1861-1872

5.                  A.  BRINKLY, 1872-

6.                  STEVEN M.  COLLIS, 1886-1888

7.         EMPHRAIM BUCHANAN, 1889-1894

8.         LANDON H.  GREENE, 1895-1897

9.         J.  R.  WAYCASTER, 1900-1902

10.       ANDERSON SPARKS, 1903

11.       S.  D.  TIPTON, 1905-1907

12.       STEVEN M.  GREENE, 1908-1923

13.       CHARLES G.  ELLIS, 1924-1934

14.       REV.  JULIUS HENLINE, 1935

15.       J.  A.  HUDSON, 1936-1938

16.       W.  F.  MCMAHAN, 1939-1947

17.       CARL MCKINNEY, 1948-1949

18.       R.  H.  WEAVER, 1950-1952

19.       JOE PITTMAN, 1954-1959

20.       BEN LEE RAY, 1960-1968

21.       ERNEST WELCHEL, 1970-1972

22.       R.  M.  CASSITY, 1973-1979

23.       FRANK D.  BLEVINS, 1981-1986

24.       SIBBALD LAMBERT, 1987- 1999

25.       B.  G.  MCMAHAN 2000 -2001

26.       Matthew Mills 2002 - present

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The Old bell

The history of this bell dates back to around 1925. The women of the church worked hard digging roots and pulling tanning bark to raise money and Arthur Woody acquired the bell from a mail order firm. The bell hung in the old wooden church for about five years until a new brick structure was erected around 1930 whereby the bell tolled for the next 36 years to announce worship and to alert the community of a death in the church. After the construction of the present sanctuary in 1966 the bell sat unused until the women of the Dolly Lawrence Sunday School class raised enough money to preserve the bell for future generations.