Cove Creek Church celebrates its 100th anniversary

Published 12:41 pm Thursday, October 20, 2022

The Cove Creek Community recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. Reece Hughes, an elder at the church, shared that the small community church was originally started by the Presbyterians as a mission. “They were big on missions and schools,” he said.

However, the church went independent six years later.

“The 100th anniversary is a great event for our church. God has blessed this community, our families, and this little church. We owe a great debt to those who came before us,” he said.

Hughes said there were two earlier buildings, both one-room and wooden and located near the site of the present church in Roan Mountain. “Times were hard. Earlier members went through the Depression, World II, and Korea. Jobs and food were scarce. Their faith was strong,” he shared.

The Cove Creek Church was instrumental in the organization and building of the Tiger Creek Church, Grey’s Chapel, and Magill in Roan Mountain and the Burbank church.

The Cove Creek church started with 25 members, two elders, and one deacon. Elder J.L. Gray took charge of the church in 1922 according to an old session/ledger book. The property for the church was donated by Washie Hughes, and the church building basically stayed the same until 1970 when Dr. D.R. Benson helped the congregation build two new classrooms, bathrooms, and a fellowship hall downstairs.

Later on, John Forbes, preacher and teacher, helped the church buy the rock schoolhouse for one dollar to be used as a fellowship hall.

According to Hughes, the Cove Creek School was built in 1934, 15 years after the church was built. It was a two-room school with two teachers; however, the county only paid for one teacher. The church paid the second teacher’s salary.

By 1948 the Cove Creek Church was averaging 74 members. According to church records in December 1943, 26 young people joined the church and were baptized.

Peak years for the church were 1949-1955 when average attendance at the church ranged from 100 to 160. Offerings were $10 to $15 weekly. The preacher at the time was Bert Styles.

From 1955 to 1960, attendance averaged 85 to 100 people

From 1962-67, Atty. Clyde Street and his wife helped tremendously with the church. She played the piano.

“This church has been blessed with more than 26 preachers over time. Robert Young served the church as a preacher, teacher, and song leader for several years,” said Hughes, who is still active in the church.

Among those who have served the church as pastor were Elder J.L. Gray, Rev. Walter Keys, Rev. R.D. Carson, Dr. D.J. Brenner, Rev. T.J. Hutchinson, Rev. D.B. McLaughlin, Rev. J.W. Clapp, Rev. John Young, Rev. Den Grehem, Rev. Al Berdette, Rev. Bert Styles, Rev. J.A. Aldridge, Rev. John Yelton, Rev. Donald Swicord, Rev. Stuart McLean, Dr. Gibbs of the Holston Presbytery, Rev. Raymond Huff, Rev. Charles West, John Hartley, Bob Potter, Crockett Greer, Jamie Stimpson, John Forbes, Preacher Blackburn, Preacher Wilson, Dan Blevins, Tim Hughes, and the present leader, Lucas Hitechew, who began his ministry to the church in July.

The church is located at 371 Cove Creek Road in Roan Mountain.