Our History
"As the new century dawned on January 1, 1900, Plumtree was a very small village nestled in the Toe River Valley along the river that divides the valley in two. Bounded on the north by the big Blad Mountain and the Yellow Mountain range, it was closed in on the south by Spear Top Mountain. The open valley was fairly narrow with only room in some places for the "Big Road", later 19E, and the North Toe River to move along together. There was no bridge over the river at that time. Wagons and travelers had to ford the water to cross from one side to the other.
"Intro this area in 1903 there came a young minister who would leave a lasting imprint on Plumtree and its people. His name was Rev. Joseph Porter Hall, a descendant of Dr. Samuel Davies, a great pioneer preacher and founder of Princeton University. In 1989 Hall had come into Avery County with his brother-in-law, Rev. Edgar Tufts, where together they started the work of the Presbyterian Church in Banner Elk. Their efforts led to the development of Lees-McRae College, the Grandfather Home for Children, the Church, and the Hospital."
In 1899 the Concord Presbytery adopted a Constitution from Presbyterian Schools. A charter of incorporation was secured from the General Assembly of the State of North Carolina. The incorporators are listed as Edgar Tufts, George Banner, Harper Beall, W.C. Brown, Issac T. Avery, A.M. Ingold, T.B. Vance, Robert M. Burleson, S.L. Morrison, and J.P. Hall. Tufts, Brown, and Hall were ministers and Morrison was the secretary of Home Missions in the Presbyterian Church in the United States. Section 3 of the charter states, "That said corporation is hereby authorized to carry on a Christian and Manual Training School for Boys in Plumtree."
In 1903, Hall was sent to Plumtree to begin work on establishing a school that would serve as the boy's department of Lees-McRae. The Plumtree School for Boys was a vigorous "School of Opportunity" until a fire in 1927 necessitated moving the boy's campus to Banner Elk and consolidating with Les-McRae into a coed institution.
Rev. Hall’s second charge from the Presbytery was to develop a Presbyterian Church in Plumtree. His work began in the little “Blue Bonnet” schoolhouse which was located on the “Big Road” near the present site of Plumtree Presbyterian. His efforts bore much fruit. On July 26, 1905, Rev. Colin Alexander Munroe, then Chairman of the Home Mission Committee of the Concord Presbytery, and Hall officially organized Plumtree Presbyterian Church. Charter members were Rev. Hall, his mother Mrs. M.L. Hall, R.M. Burleson, Dr. E.H. Sloop, Marrie May Phillips, John G. Phillips, Mrs. L.M. Phillips, Mrs. Ora A. Burleson, and Mobbie Estelle Phillips. Robert Burleson was voted ruling Elder to be baptized and ordained. Within just a short time the nucleus of the new church included Mr. & Mrs T.B. Vance, Judy Vance, Dr. William Burleson, Fred L. Burleson, Ira Vance, Jake Burleson, Lister Jones, Henry, Milton & Jeanette Burleson, and Eugene Loven. Dr. Sloop and Fred Burleson were also elected elders. Fred Burleson was elected Clerk of Session and served until his passing in 1959. The deacons were Dr. Burleson and T.B. Vance. Rev. Henry F. Beaty served as the first pastor until October 1907. The church continued to grow as “many came by letter from other churches, but most came on professions of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”
In April 1908 Rev. T.E.P. Woods became pastor, and much evangelistic work followed. Sunday School was begun at Buck Hill, Phillips Chapel, and Pineola; preaching at Buck Hill, Walnut Grove, Phillips Chapel, Hughes, and Linville Falls. Rev. Woods served as pastor to all! Plumtree also began its long tradition of missionary support. The church pledged to the following causes: “home and foreign missions, colored evangelism, Christian education, ministerial relief, Bible causes, and pastor’s salary.”
The building of a new church became a major topic in 1910. In March, Dr. Sloop and Henry Burleson were appointed as a committee to solicit funds for the construction. In April, T. B. Vance was appointed chairman of the Building Committee. By April 1911 prospects of building the new church were “found to be encouraging.” Construction soon followed next to the Blue Bonnet as the old photograph shows.
The first Sunday in May 1911 was set as the date for reorganizing the Sunday School. The matter of supplying mission points with services during the summer was discussed and decided as follows: “Plumtree, Phillips Chapel, Buck Hill, and Walnut Grove to be in one group, and Powder Mill, Slippery Hill (Frank), Hughes and Horse Creek in the other group.” Rev. Woods was followed in 1914 by Rev. John McSween who was assisted by Rev. W.L. Latham. They were assigned and “Sundays for preaching at the different places were to be arranged to suit with the people.”
From 1915 until 1921 Plumtree was served by a group of dedicated supply Pastors who were also professors at Lees-McRae. They included V.H. Starbuck, J.C. Wade, T.C. Guy, and Edgar Tufts. During this period the church was moved from the Concord Presbytery to the Holston Presbytery located in Johnson City, TN. Then the man responsible for organizing Plumtree Presbyterian some 16 years earlier became the Pastor, Rev. J.P. Hall. His vision for evangelistic outreach and the need for each person to receive Jesus as personal Lord and Savior still burns as the heart cry of the Plumtree Church. Even after his retirement for health reasons, Rev. Hall continued a close relationship with Plumtree Presbyterian. In a letter to Rev. Clapp dated May 5, 1949, and written in response to an invitation to come to a service of dedication at the church, he wrote pertaining to “the church at Plumtree”, I always looked upon her as the probable keystone to the surrounding Christian enterprises. I love her walls. The Rev. Hall died in 1953. He and his mother are buried in the Plumtree churchyard.
A teacher at Plumtree School for Boys, the Rev. T.W. Clapp was “invited to preach monthly in 1923 if willing.” In 1928 the congregation unanimously called the Rev Clapp as Pastor. He stayed for a total of 40 years continuing in the traditions set by Rev. Hall. In 1948 trustees were elected for the care of church property given by Mr. and Mrs. Frank Phillips as a site for the manse. A small house was built on the site as a home for Rev. and Mrs. Clapp. After Rev. Clapp’s death, the deed to this property was given to Mrs. Clapp by the trustees, who were Waites Avery, William Burleson, and Frank Phillips. An interesting entry from an Elder meeting in January 1950 stated that “delinquent members are to be visited and admonished.”
Significant improvements were made to the church in 1952 including “painting the outside of the church building, floors sanded, carpet installed, blinds to separate the classrooms, and the inside painted.” At this time Mrs. E.P. Bedenbough “gave a window of colored glass in memory of her husband.” Many updates were made to the furnishings including “a new piano by Janet Brooks, an organ by Rock Hall and Lila Burleson Beck, offering plates by James Clapp, pulpit Bible and reading lamp by Bill and Kay Burleson Wilkins, baptismal bowl by the McKinney’s, lights by the Rose’s, a hymn board by Judge Avery, a beautiful tithe box made by Tabor Greene for use in the church, and the Senior High class taught by Kay Wilkins gave the memorial cross, vases, candle holders, and collection plates all in honor of Fred Burleson who served as Sunday School super intendant, Elder and teacher.” “On October 26, 1952, a dedication service was held in the church to express deep gratitude to God for His blessings and to members of the congregation and friends who have made the work possible so that the auditorium of the church was more beautiful and more comfortable.”
“Bill King became Clerk of Session after the death of Fred Burleson in May 1959, and also served as Sunday School super intendant for many years and continued to teach the Men’s Bible Class.” “New Elders and Deacons were elected as follows: Lewie Aldridge, Howard Franklin, Rock Hall, Bill King, and Bill Wilkins as Elders; Waites Avery, Judge Avery, Donely Aldridge, Henry Burleson, and Claude Pittman as Deacons. They were ordained and installed on July 12, 1959.” The church continued to grow and in 1960 membership was listed at 136. In failing health, Rev. Clapp retired in 1963. “The Rev. A.P. Dickson filled the pulpit and services were worked out.”
In 1966 the Session called Lonnie Priest as Pastor of the church and chapels. “He was to use a house at Hughes as the manse until one could be built by the churches. A committee was appointed, namely, Addie Barrier, Edna Aldridge, Dr. Dickson, and Anderson Greene. The building was to be placed on the property on Plumtree Creek given by Dr. and Mrs. A. P. Dickson. The Session decided to borrow a lump sum from Avery County Bank with trustees and officers to sign the note with the congregation to pay it off.” Today this same building is used by the church as its manse. In 1969 “Waightstill Avery, Jr., who had returned home, was elected Elder and succeeded Bill King as Sunday School super intendant.” “Other teachers for many years were Lucy Avery, Linda Avery, Carl Bridges, Addie Barrier, B.G. Franklin, and Bernice King.”
Rev. Adger McKay, a former missionary to Mexico, came as Pastor in 1971 and 1972. “He added greatly to the spiritual growth of the church through the anointing of the Holy Spirit.” Still a young man, he died on Easter 1978, several weeks after returning from a mission trip to Africa. In 1973 “the Lord intervened in the plans of a Baptist preacher on his way to Ohio. Wallace Wise was invited to preach for a month.” He stayed 20 great years! His wife, Janice Avery, became in charge of the music. “She has conducted several cantatas, provided special music at worship services, and sung with Lucy Avery at many services and funerals.” “At her invitation, the Misfits, a musical group from Berea First Baptist in Greenville, SC, have come before Christmas each year since 1976.” “Many individuals and groups have blessed the church with vocal and instrumental music.”
In 1978 “Evangelist Carlton Pearson, a former associate of Oral Roberts requested the church to sponsor him and the Higher Dimensions team in services in the county. The officers voted to do so and God has honored the church’s obedience with many additions, many of whom have been young couples from throughout the county. There has been a God-given unity and love in the church over the years. Sixty new members have been added since Rev. Wise became Pastor and the spiritual life enriched.”
A new interest in foreign missions was launched in 1978 when Dan Mielke, presently in Alaska, and Richard Steele, presently in Peru, came from JAARS to speak and show the Wycliffe Bible Translators film, “Mountain of Light.” This led to a much broader and regular mission effort by the church. It also marked the beginning of the church sponsoring its members in summer mission trips. Anne Avery to the Dominican Republic, Mary McKay to Scotland, and Julia Dickson to the US Midwest are just three examples.
Since that time “Plumtree has been growing from a denominational church into a church led and empowered by the Holy Spirit. A church where all people can come and hear the full gospel proclaimed and meet Jesus as Lord, Savior, Healer, and Worker of miracles.” In 1983 the church “asked for a release from the PCUS and became a part of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.” The church was greatly blessed by Rev. Wise’s tenure as Pastor. He resigned in 1993.
Then in 1994 fresh out of seminary and with a beautiful family came Rev. Bruce Anderson. As an encourager to all, he both continued and increased the strengths of Plumtree. Rev. Anderson resigned in 2000 to take a position at another church in Virginia Beach, VA.
For several years the church enjoyed the Godly services of two retired men as interim Pastors: Rev. Dick Little followed by Rev. George R. Callahan.
Then in 2002-2005 Rev. J. Gordon Williams, the son of Presbyterian missionaries to Brazil, was called as Pastor. He continued in the traditions of Plumtree Presbyterian Church with an emphasis on Christ, the Bible, and missionaries.
In November 2006, the church hired Ryan Bridgeo to be our Youth Pastor. He and his wife Holly previously worked at Crossnore School Inc.
That same year Wally Wise returned to serve as our Family Life Director. He shared the pulpit ministry with Adger McKay and youth Ryan Bridgeo.
In February 2010, we called Adger McKay to be our Stated Supply Pastor. He comes to us from the Mid-Atlantic Presbytery. His father was our Pastor from 1971-72.
In May 2011, we called Ryan Bridgeo to be our Pastor. Ryan’s heart for the people of this area is for them to hear and experience the full gospel of God’s unconditional love and grace.
