pocket presbyterian church

Pocket Presbyterian Church was organized May 2nd, 1890 by the Presbytery of Fayetteville. There were 57 charter members; 52 from Buffalo and 5 from Euphronia Churches. For seven years the Church worshiped in the Pocket Academy where Allen Jones was principal. The present Sanctuary was built on lots donated by Evander McGilvary in 1896-98 and dedicated in 1907. The Rev. D. N. Lauchlin served as pastor from March 1891 to 1892. Pocket was grouped with Buffalo, Sanford and White Hill. Other pastors were K. A. McLeod, 1899-1906, and S. H. Williamson, 1906-18.

Euphronia and Gulf Churches were grouped with Pocket in 1918. C. L. Wicker served as pastor from 1918-23.

In 1923 Pocket was transferred from Fayetteville Presbytery to Orange Presbytery and grouped with Euphronia, Buffalo, and White Hill. Dr. R. C. Gilmore was supply minister in 1923-24; other ministers were R. L. Wilson, 1924-25; L. T. Edgerton 1927-29; J. T. Barham, 1930-34; C. N. Morrison, 1934-38; A. D. Carswell 1939-48.

In 1948 Pocket was regrouped with White Hill and Euphronia. The three churches purchased a manse which was located at White Hill. Rev. Gaston Boyle, Jr. served as pastor from 1949-51. Four Sunday schools rooms were added to the original church during this period.

The Rev. J. B. Garrett served from 1952-53; Rev. Olin M. Whitener from 1954 until his death on July 4, 1956.

On November 11, 1955, Pocket Church became self supporting and independent of Home Mission sustentation.

Rev. Woodson Booth was pastor from 1957-61. The McIver Fellowship Building was built in 1953 on land donated by Mrs. Pauline McIver of Bristol, Tenn. The Fellowship Building was dedicated in 1958. Mrs. Edna Gladden Hartness gave a donation which was used to build Sunday school rooms.

In 1960, Mrs. Mattie Carter and Miss Ada Gilliam were presented Honorary Life Memberships in the Women of the Church. They were first to be so honored by Pocket.

Rev. James Watkins was pastor 1962-65.

On Dec 16, 1962, the rotation system for deacons was adopted.

On April 4, 1963, our Church was threatened by a huge forest fire. The old Evander McGilvary home was burned at that time.

In September 1964, Orange Presbytery voted to change White Hill, Pocket and Euphronia from a three church field to a two church one. Pocket was to call a full-time pastor. Rev. Fred Bremer accepted the call on August 15, 1965 and served until 1968. His family was the first to occupy the new manse which was built on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. James Johnson.

In March 1969 Rev. C. W. Kimbrough accepted a call and served until 1973. In 1971 the sanctuary was remodeled. New windows, carpet, choir loft, porch, bathrooms, roof, heating and air conditioning were added.

In 1972 Pocket was transferred to Fayetteville Presbytery.

On January 29, 1973, there was a fire in the McIver Fellowship Building caused by the malfunction of the floor furnace. Following the fire the building was remodeled and refurbished.

In September 1973, the rotation system for elders was adopted.

Rev. Charles Wright, Jr. served from 1974-79 and Rev. A. Richard Bolls from 1979 to 1985. Rev. Ladd Brearly served from 1986 to 1988. Rev. Burnwell Shore served from 1989 until his retirement December 31, 2001. Rev. Doctor Jerry Vuncannon became our interim pastor on April 1, 2002, and left at the end of December 2004. For several months during 2005 we had supply preachers and on August 1, 2005, Rev. Richard (Dick) Rodda became our part-time interim minister until August 13, 2006. Rev. David Dudley become our called pastor on August 7, 2006.

Our clerks of the Session have been: A. M. Wicker, J. P. Gilliam who served for 41 years, E. Q. Matthews, Frank Gilliam, Fred Watson, James Paschal, Boyce Cox, Lib Thomas, and Doris Simpson. In 1981 the church library was organized. In 1982 the outside of the Church was covered with aluminum siding.

In 1989 we renovated and enlarged our McIver Fellowship Building.

In 1990 we celebrated our centennial with special programs and gathering.

In 1992 we began construction of a new Fellowship Building. The building was dedicated at Homecoming on October 9, 1994. The mortgage note was burned at a special service on March 9, 1997.

In 1998 we reached our goal of $25,000 for the purchase of a new organ. An Ahlborn-Galanti Chronicler II organ was ordered in December 1999. The organ was installed and dedicated in January 2000.

During 2000 and 2001 the McIver Fellowship Building was renovated and made into Sunday school rooms and renamed McIver Building.

Pocket is the center of the community and an inspiration to the people who have served God through the opportunities the Church has offered.