The Presbyterian Church in Wilkesboro

In my newly released novel, Sown in Dark Soil in the Appalacian Roots series, the Presbyterian Church in Wilkesboro appears twice. The first time, Luke is showing Ivy, Leah, and Patsy the town for the first time, as they make their way to the mountain farm. They meet Reverend Pharr, who was actually one of the early pastors there. He gives them information about the churches and town and invites them to attend the Presbyterian services anytime they can.

The second time, Leah, Luke, and Clifton are returning to the mountains, when a group of criminals take their wagon. Luke accompanies the sheriff to try to get it back, while Leah and Clifton return to Wilkesboro. Since it's Sunday, they decide to attend the Presbyterian Church service. (As with all my books, all my profits from Sown in Dark Soil will go to a scholarship fund for missionary children.)

The Presbyterian Church was founded in Wilkesboro in 1837 and was the first Presbyterian church in Wilkes County and one of the first in the western North Carolina region. At first, the congregation met in homes until they could afford to purchase land and raise a building.

The builder is listed as simply "Dameron," and he also built St. Paul's Episcopal Church on a hill behind the courthouse to the west of the Presbyterian Church. But the two churches are very different in style. The Presbyterian is Greek Revival and is more in the style of a Greek temple. St. Paul's Presbyterian is Gothic in style. The Presbyterian Church still owns the original pulpit Bible donated by Ellen Tate Finley in 1851. I enjoyed visits to both churches.

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