Early History

Of

Grace Lutheran Church

Hendersonville N.C. 

Compiled by

Bert J. Sitton

Prior to the year 1910, the Lutheran Church was unknown in Hendersonville, and practically in the whole of Western North Carolina. This beautiful country, with its wonderful and healthful climate, began to attract visitors from all over the United States, so a few Lutheran families from central North Carolina and South Carolina found their way to Hendersonville.

During the year 1914, the Rev. J. H. Wannemacher, of Hickory, North Carolina, then Chairman of the Executive Committee of Missions of the E. L. Tennessee Synod of North Carolina, visited Hendersonville to canvass the Lutherans living here as to the prospects for beginning a mission. He preached, as did Rev. Dr. Patterson and others, in the County Courthouse on Sunday afternoons several times during the winter of 1914‑1915. From January to May, 1915, Rev. Professor Martin L. Stirewalt, of Lenoir College, Hickory, North Carolina, had charge of the monthly services, being assisted by other members of the faculty. During this time the offer of the Methodist Church for afternoon services was readily accepted.

During the summer of 1915, June to September, inclusive, services were conducted by Student Michael M. Kipps of the Mt. Airy Seminary. Student Muller Wingard from the Theological Seminary at Columbia, South Carolina, was the next pastor in charge. During his time of service a very active Sunday School was begun. Later, Rev. Professor F. Grover Morgan of Lenoir College took charge of the monthly services and continued them until June, 1916, when he located here for the summer months. Seeing the need for definite organization, a Lutheran Church Visitor Club of ten members was formed during the summer of 1916 and services were changed to morning, being held in the Community Club building (later the Jewish Synagogue).

On Sunday morning, July 30, 1916, after an inspiring sermon by Rev. C. L. Miller, of Greenville, South Carolina, the congregation voted that it was their opinion that a Lutheran congregation should be organized in Hendersonville. The first Lord's Supper was administered at this service to the following communicants: Mr. J. H. Dittmer, Miss Maude Schaeffer, Mrs. E. W. Ewbank, Mr. And Mrs. L. E. Thompson, Mrs. W. H. Spence, Mr. E. A. Spence, Mrs. J. S. Brown, Mrs. C. Bradburn, Miss Gena Bradburn, Mr. G. W. Lentz and Mr. A. W. Rusher, of Hendersonville; Mrs. Linsebrink. Mrs. E. Sindorf, Mr. O. D. Ohlandt, Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Gilbert, and Mrs. Dolg, of Charleston, South Carolina: Mr. and Mrs. T. A. Boyne, Miss Elizabeth Allworden, Mr. J. W. Robinson, and Mrs. H. T. Lindefors, of Columbia, South Carolina: Rev. C. L. Miller, of Greenville, South Carolina, and Rev. F. G. Morgan, of Hickory, North Carolina.

On September 3, 1916, the Lutherans of Hendersonville met as by adjournment to complete the business organization of their congregation, by adopting a constitution and electing officers. At 10:30 A.M. they assembled and heard the reading of a model constitution for congregations and then adjourned for divine worship. Rev. Dr. R. S. Patterson of Charlotte, North Carolina, Secretary of the United Synod Board of Home Missions and Church Extension, was present by invitation and preached a sermon for the beginning of a Church from Mathew 6:33. After services, the business meeting was resumed. The following Lutheran residents in and near Hendersonville were enrolled as charter members of the new organization: Mrs. C. Bradburn, Miss Gena Bradburn, Mr. Frank W. Bradburn, from Greenville, South Carolina; Mr. J. H. Dittmer. from Meriden, Connecticut; Dr. A. B. Drafts, from Lexington, South Carolina; Mrs. E. W. Ewbank, from Greeneville, Tennessee: Mr. L. E. Fisher, from Grace, Rowan County, North Carolina; Mrs. E. J. Francis by baptism; Mr. G. W. Lentz, from Prosperity, Cabarrus County, North Carolina: Mrs. G. W. Lentz, from Concord, North Carolina; Mr. W. Grady Lyerly, from St. Luke's, Rowan County, North Carolina; Miss Mollie Spence, from Rural Retreat, Virginia; Mr. E. Alden Spence. by confirmation; Mr. L. E. Thompson, from Stanley, North Carolina; Mrs. L. E. Thompson, by baptism.

The following officers were elected: Elders, J. H. Dittmer and L. E. Fisher; Deacons, Dr. A. B. Drafts and L. E. Thompson Treasurer, G. W. Lentz­A property Committee was appointed consisting of members of the Council and Mrs. E. W. Ewbank and W. Frank Bradburn.

Mr. E. Alden Spence was the first person confirmed. July 29. 1916.

Years of waiting and disappointments followed during 1917, 1918, 1919 and 1920. In 1918, the Community Club building was sold, causing the members to seek other quarters. During the time of waiting for a permanent place of worship, services were shifted from the Public Library to the Woodman's Hall, then to Stepp's Undertaking Parlor, the Mayor's Courtroom in the old City Hall that stood on Main Street, and finally in the auditorium of the old High School building that stood on the property now known as Boyd Park. Services were held there until the completion of the new Church Building.

In April, 1921, Rev. John D. Mauney, with his family, came to serve the congregation from Augusta, Georgia. The enrolled membership at that time was 14. Having been driven from place to place for worship, the congregation was eager for a church home. On August 8, 1921, the property on the corner of Church Street and Seventh Avenue West was bought for $5,000. Since there was no money available, Pastor Mauney borrowed the first payment without interest. Then the Mission Board loaned $2,000 and the liberal gifts of members and friends cared for this obligation.

The church edifice that was to be built was a memorial to David and Fannie Carpenter Mauney, and was made possible through the solicitation of Pastor Mauney and the liberal gifts of the following families, their children and grand‑children: Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Mauney, Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Mauney, Mr. and Mrs. M. L. Rudisill, and Mr. and Mrs. S. A. Mauney. Suitable bronze tablets were placed in the Church vestibule in recognition of this splendid gift, for which Grace congregation owes a debt of gratitude to the Mauney family especially to Pastor Mauney.

The cornerstone of the Church was laid August 17, 1924. Copies of papers and documents placed in the cornerstone will be listed elsewhere in this booklet. The name GRACE was suggested by Mr. L. E. Fisher and adopted by the congregation, the name being that of the old home church of Mr. Fisher in Rowan County, North 43 Carolina.

Furnishings of the Church were now up to the members ‑ buying the pews, the Altar furnishings, wiring, lights, and a heating plant. Through generous contributions, the heating plant was installed and the pews were placed in the church early in June, 1925. The pulpit, lectern, chancel and altar were built and installed by K. G. Justus and his son D. K. Justus. Following the completion of this work, the first services were held in the new Church building.

The Sunday School was organized on June 12, 1921, soon after Pastor Mauney came to serve Grace congregation.

The first Communion after Pastor Mauney came to the feld was observed June 19, 1921, in Stepp's Funeral Home, then over Gregg Brothers Hardware store. (Present site of Mast General store).

A small organ belonging to Pastor Mauney was brought in his car each Sunday for services. Later, Mr. And Mrs. Philip Holz presented the congregation with a piano.

The Women's Missionary Society was organized November 16, 1921, and the Men's Brotherhood was organized in 1925. An active Luther League begin serving the younger people for a number of years.

The first young people confirmed in the new Church were Elizabeth Mauney, Oscar Meyer, Jr., and Fred Lentz.

On May 15, 1927, Pastor Mauney tendered his resignation, and was followed by Student John F. Futchs, of Wilmington, North Carolina, from June 1 through September 16, 1928. During the winter of 1928‑1929, students from the Theological Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina, supplied. On June 1, 1929, Rev. A. W. Lippard, of Statesville, North Carolina, who was a graduate of the Seminary in the Spring of 1929, accepted a call to Grace Church.

During the years immediately following 1929, the country was faced with the worst depression in the history of our country and caused what was probably the most trying time in the history of the congregation. In spite of this handicap, under the capable leadership of Pastor Lippard, the congregation grew from a membership of 36 in 1929 to 74 in 1936.

On November 26, 1937, Pastor Lippard, who for almost nine of the most difficult years in the congregation's history, resigned this work to accept a call to Maiden, North Carolina.

After several months of being without a pastor, a call was issued

to the Rev. J. Arthur Linn. Rev. Linn accepted our call and it became effective on April 3, 1938. Rev. Linn was a graduate of Roanoke College, and of the Mt. Airy Lutheran Theological Seminary of Philadelphia, finishing in the spring of 1922, and in the fall of that year was assigned Missionary duty in Mop, Fukuoko district of Japan, where he continued this work until 1933, when he and his family returned to America. His son Hubert Linn was born in Tokyo.

Upon arriving in the United States, the Linn family spent six months in Tucson, Arizona, and later he became pastor at Bear Poplar, near Mooresville, North Carolina.

In the way of material improvements there was considerable encouragement. In 1939 through the employment of WPA labor, the sidewalk on Church Street was paved, resulting in a considerable enhancement of the Church property. The gracious gift of Dr. Joseph R. Sevier, a friend of the congregation, made this possible.

In 1940, the development of the Church basement, for which the congregation had longed for years, was begun through the urgent promotion of the Brotherhood and Women's Missionary Society. Through the inspiration of Mrs. L. D. Kernkamp, a fund was begun in a very small way through the sale of stamps, representing bricks, which were placed on cardboard churches. Each representing $10.00. Over a period of several years ten churches were completed. The fund grew and the congregation in various ways added to it until in the spring of 1938, a total of $482.00 had been set aside for this purpose. In that year, the Sunday School began to set apart its first Sunday offerings for this project. The ladies of the Church also carried on special projects to raise money for this purpose.

Finally, in the Spring of 1940, work was begun on the development of the concrete floor, the plumbing, and the outside entrance. The work involved various points where technical skill and knowledge were needed and the congregation entrusted this addition to our building to the capable leadership of Mr. K. G. Justus.

In the late winter of 1940, the most urgently needed wiring of the basement was done and then in the Spring, the kitchen and rest rooms were finished and enclosed with brick walls. Work parties in the evenings were held for the construction of tables and benches. This entire development cost more than $1,000, but would have cost considerable more had it not been for the free labor so generously  given by members of the Church.

The efforts of the young people of the congregation in developing the Sunday School library and in doing other practical tasks for the building of the Sunday School and Church were commendable.

In August of 1943, the final payment on a $2,000 note, issued by The Board of Home Missions and Church Extension of the United Lutheran Church in America, dated August 23, 1922, was made. With the liquidation of this debt, Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hendersonville, was officially dedicated on August 22, 1943, by Pastor Linn and the Rev. J. L. Morgan, D. D., president of the North Carolina Synod, United Lutheran Church in America.

In January, 1946. Pastor Linn resigned as pastor of Grace Church to become pastor of Mount Olive Lutheran Church at Hickory, North Carolina.

The congregation was notified that Rev. John D. Barringer had just been discharged as an army chaplain and was available. A congregational meeting was held and by a unanimous vote, Rev. Barringer was called to fill the pastorate of Grace Church. Rev. Barringer accepted the call and assumed the duties as of March 1. 1946. Rev. Barringer was a native of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina where he graduated from high school in 1932. He was graduated from Phieffer Junior College, Misenheimer, North Carolina in 1935, and graduated in 1937 from Lenoir Rhyne College at Hickory with an AB degree. His theological training was received at the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary at Columbia, South Carolina, where he received his B.D. degree in 1940 and was ordained, May 29, 1940 by the Rev. J. L. Morgan, D. D., president of the United Evangelical Lutheran Synod of North Carolina, in session at Hickory.

Pastor Barringer accepted a call to the Zion Lutheran Church in Hickory and served in this capacity until entering the armed forces as a chaplain (First Lieutenant) in October 1942. Pastor Barringer was discharged from the armed services in December 1945 with the rank of Major.

During Pastor Barringer's first year at Grace Church, a gift of $500 was received from H. E. Erickson, a member of Grace Church to establish a permanent memorial to honor the memory of his mother, Mrs. Louise Erickson. At the church council meeting on January 6, 1947, the council voted to use the $500 gift to start a fund to purchase an organ for the church. Special Organ Fund pledge cards were sent to the members with payment to be made by December 31, 1947.

A called congregational meeting was held July 27, 1947 to consider the purchase of an organ. Rev. Barringer explained the purchase proposal as recommended by the church council to the congregation. The purchase price was $3,688.50. A motion was made by Elizabeth Mauney that the organ be purchased, was seconded and passed unanimously. Motion by Mrs. O. A. Meyer that financing be left to the church council, seconded and passed. It was found in the church council minutes of November 1947, that it was voted to move the organ to the choir loft in the rear of the church. During the balance of Pastor Barringer's pastorate at Grace Church, much discussion was made as to building Sunday School class rooms in the Church basement, but the project never began.

In October of 1948, Pastor Barringer announced that he was leaving Grace Church, as he had received orders to report as a Chaplain in the Army of the United States on the 9`" day of November 1948, his resignation as pastor to become effective on November 7, 1948.

During the next several months, Grace Church was supplied by senior students of the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Columbia South Carolina, except for communion Sundays, when faculty members from Lenoir Rhyne College in Hickory filled the pulpit. At a March 1949 meeting of the congregation, it was voted unanimously to issue a call to Wade F. Hook, one of the students that had been supplying at Grace Church. Mr. Hook accepted our call, to become effective July 15, 1949, after his graduation from the Seminary and his ordination.

Rev. Hook arrived and immediately got things going at Grace Church. He took in 50 new members during his first year as pastor, and the average attendance increased to over 90 per Sunday.

During Pastor Hook's pastorate, the dream of the new church basement, providing adequate Sunday School facilities was realized in 1950. Plans presented by Mr. Harry E. Katzenmoyer, chairman of the Church Basement Building Committee were approved at a congregational meeting, February 5, 1950. The plans called for Sunday School rooms to be constructed with folding doors, so that they could be opened to create an auditorium and also have room for church gatherings and suppers. "In‑gathering Sunday" was set for March 12, to receive contribution cards for the basement project. The new Sunday School unit was opened for Sunday School July 16, 1950. The total cost of construction and furnishings and also a new heating system for the Church was $19, 706.31. By the end of the year of 1950, the unpaid debt was $7,800.00.

In May of 1951, Pastor Hook announced that he was resigning as pastor of Grace Church to be effective June 1, 1950, so that he may accept a call to become Lutheran Student Pastor and a graduate student at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Again, Grace Church was without a pastor, and students from the Seminary were used. At a specially called meeting of the congregation, it was voted unanimously to call student John D. Linder to become pastor of Grace Church. Mr. Lindler accepted the call to become effective June 1, 1952. The new pastor was a native of Little Mountain, South Carolina, a graduate of the Little Mountain high school, Newberry College at Newberry, South Carolina and will graduate from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary on May 28, 1952.

During the early pastorate of Pastor Lindler, Rev. Dr. Fred W. Schaefer, a retired Lutheran Pastor, and his wife joined Grace Church. Dr. Schaefer was a very important part of Grace Church for the next few years. His teaching and preaching will long be remembered by the members of Grace Church.

No records can be found of any special projects that occurred during the pastorate of Pastor Lindler. On December 6, 1953, Pastor Lindler tendered his resignation to become effective December 31, 1953.

        During the search for a new pastor at Grace Church, the Church was very ably supplied by Dr. Schaefer. The pulpit committee, consisting of Hoyt M. Lippard and Bert J. Sitton, was given a lead by Mr. Lippard's brother, Rev. A. W. Lippard, former pastor of Grace Church. He thought we should visit Rev. Corley R. Lineberger at Saint Martin's Lutheran Church in Maiden, North Carolina. In February of 1954. we traveled to Maiden, and heard Rev. Lineberger preach and then met with him at the parsonage. A specially called meeting of Grace congregation was held on February 14, 1954, and it was voted unanimously to call Rev. Lineberger to become pastor of Grace Church. On March 8, 1954, Rev. Lineberger accepted the call to become effective May 2, 1954.

Pastor Lineberger was born in Detroit, Michigan, was the son of a Lutheran minister, Missouri Synod. He received his education at Concordia College, Atlantic Christian College, Wilson, North Carolina, and Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Columbia, South Carolina.

Pastor Lineberger served for five years in the U. S. Army, three years overseas, where he met his future wife, Pina, in Italy. He was a solo trumpet player in the U. S. Army Band.

During his three years in Hendersonville, he received 160 new members into the church by baptism, confirmation, and transfer, and the membership reached 265. He directed the adult choir, and built a large musical library for the church. Two youth choirs were started during his pastorate, a Christian fellowship Club was formed, and a new circle of the United Lutheran Churchwomen, named in his honor, was organized. The church was completely renovated and painted, and a hi‑fidelity speaking system, donated by John P. Voight, was installed. Plans for a parsonage were drawn up, and a beautiful lot was bought in Brooklyn Manor.

He was active in civic and community affairs as well during his ministry at Grace. He served as chaplain for the Hedrick‑Rhodes Post 5206 of the VFW for three years. He was also chairman of the relief committee of this organization. He organized a band at the Edneyville high school in 1955. He was an active member of the Hendersonville Ministerial Association and served as president of the group in 1956. He was also on the board of the Teenage Canteen and on the board of the American Red Cross.

On August 18, 1956, Pastor Lineberger shocked the congregation when he had the secretary of the congregation come forward and read his letter of resignation, so he could continue his studies at Columbia University. A Church council meeting was held that night, and the council members instructed the vice chairman to write Pastor Lineberger and ask that he reconsider his resignation. After several days of prayerful consideration, Pastor Lineberger rescinded his resignation and stayed at Grace Church for another year. On July 7, 1957, he read his resignation, to be effective August 15, 1957.

Again, Dr. Fred W. Schaefer kept the church together while it searched for a new pastor. The pulpit committee reported at a specially called meeting of the congregation on October 6, 1957, that they had agreed upon a candidate for pastor. The congregation voted unanimously to extend a call to Rev. Jeff L. Norris, D. D., of Macedonia Lutheran Church of Burlington, North Carolina to become our pastor. Dr. Norris accepted the call to become pastor of Grace Church, effective December 1, 1957.

During the pastorate of Dr. Norris, another dream of the congregation was realized in the form of a new parsonage for our ministers. A handsome structure on Balsam Road was completed with open house and a formal service of blessing held on December 6, 1959.

The one thing I remember most about Pastor Norris was that early in his ministry at Grace Church, he came to preach one Sunday morning and when he went to read the scripture, he had a lot of difficulty in seeing the print, and finally had to call on someone to help. The next day he went to his Optometrist who sent him to the hospital for X‑rays and test. It was found that he had a large brain tumor which was found to be malignant. Dr. Norris made weekly trips to Duke University hospital for radiation treatments. After a number of treatments, the tumor was shrunk, and his eyesight was restored.

Pastor Norris served as pastor of Grace Church for two and a half years, and resigned July 18, 1960 to take a position with the North Carolina Lutheran Homes.

Our much traveled pulpit committee was in action again. After visiting several prospects, a call was made to Rev. Earl H. Loadholt of Faith Lutheran Church, Batesburg, South Carolina to become our pastor on October 2, 1960. No word was heard from Rev. Loadholt until November 2, 1960, when he answered that he did not feel directed to accept the call at this time. A second call was issued a few days later and on November 18, 1960, Rev. Loadholt replied that now he did feel that the Lord had led him to become pastor of Grace Lutheran Church of Hendersonville. His ministry at Grace Church began January 1, 1961.

Pastor Loadholt was a native of Fairfax, South Carolina, graduated from Newberry College, Newberry, South Carolina and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, S. C. Pastor Loadholt served as pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Batesburg, South Carolina for six and one half years before accepting the call to Grace Church.

Pastor Loadholt served as pastor of Grace Church for one and a half years, and accepted a call to become pastor of a Mount Horeb Lutheran Church in Chapin, South Carolina, in the summer of 1962.

Once again, as in the past, Grace Church was supplied with seniors from the Seminary in Columbia, and once again one of these students was selected to become the next pastor of Grace Church.

On January 17, 1963, a call was issued to John M. Hawn, with the provision that if he accepted, he would take charge immediately after his graduation from the Seminary. On February 5, 1963, John M. Hawn accepted the call to Grace Church, and would assume the duties as its pastor on June 2, 1963. He was a native of Charlotte, North Carolina and attended public schools there. He graduated from Lenoir Rhyne College before entering the Lutheran Theologicval Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina.

On July 19, 1967, a Piedmont commercial airliner and a private plane crashed over Four Seasons Boulevard on the east side of Hendersonville. The explosion from the crash was heard in down town Hendersonville, and some 67 passengers were killed. Pastor Hawn was President of the Hendersonville Ministerial Association and he spent countless hours at a make shift morgue at the Armory at East Flat Rock, where he counseled and comforted grief stricken families that came to Hendersonville to identify the dead.

While Pastor Hawn was at Grace Church, the fiftieth anniversary of the Church was observed. At 6:30 P.M., September 3, 1966. a dinner was served in the cafeteria of East Henderson High School, with Dan C. Gibson as the toastmaster. After the hymn, "Now Thank We All Our God", the invocation was given by Rev. Jeff Norris, a former pastor. After the dinner, the members and guest adjourned to the school auditorium The welcome was given by Pastor Hawn, and special guest were introduced. After the hymn, "Faith Of Our Fathers", a historical dramatic presentation, "Our Glorious Heritage", written by Mr. Tom Milligan, of Charlotte, and adapted by Mrs. Jo Kuykendall for use by Grace Lutheran Church, was presented. Mr. William E. McGee was narrator, and men and women of the church comprised the cast. Special music featured the youth choir. The benediction was given by the Rev. A. W. Lippard, who was the second pastor of Grace Church.

The following day, the Anniversary Service was conducted by the Rev. George R. Whittecar, President of the North Carolina Synod, Lutheran Church in America. This was followed by a fellowship period in the Fellowship Hall of the Church.

It was during the pastorate of Pastor Hawn that the congregation realized that the church building needed major repairs and that there was no room for parking or expansion. The members began to think in terms of finding a new location. This was a significant step for such a small membership. Several sites were considered, and finally the church came to the decision to buy three acres at the corner of Blythe Street and U. S. 64 West.

Pastor Hawn resigned as pastor of Grace Church in December of 1968 to accept a call to St. Marks Lutheran Church in Asheville, North Carolina.

Many years and many members have come and gone but Grace Church still stands as an enduring witness of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to the faith, love and sacrifices of the sturdy pioneers who have gone before, and who have given expression to their devotion these past 50 years. The Grace Church of the future will be an even greater and more efficient Church in fulfilling its mission of bringing hope and salvation to mankind, and in demonstrating a greater devotion, a victorious faith and a passion for making Christ known to the nations.

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