St. Luke CME Church

Church History

St. Luke Partial History

Similar to many black churches, St. Luke members gathered in homes and meeting rooms prior to an official building being dedicated to church fellowship and worship. The first recording of an official church building dates back to the Old St. Paul’s Methodist Church founded in Columbus, North Carolina, around the year 1893. Old St. Paul’s Methodist Church was established to serve the black residents of the county seat and the surrounding communities. Presiding Elder, Rev. J. W. Roberts is credited with founding the church, which was the forerunner of Tryon’s present day St. Luke’s CME Church.

As the Columbus black population began to decline after the turn of the century, members began leaving the church and the decision was made to relocate the church closer to a greater membership base. Likewise, a decision was made to establish the church on Huckleberry Hill in Tryon, North Carolina. The membership built a log house daubed with mud to serve as the church. However, a local resident, Mr. Erskine, wanted to buy the Huckleberry Hill property, and donated property near Wilderness Road for a new church location. Mr. Erskine assisted members in building a nice wooden building and a six room parsonage. However, as the church membership continued to grow and prosper, the location was once again moved to a property closer to Tryon. The fourth and last move was to the present location on Markham Road. Pastor, Rev. F. N. Nution, and Presiding Elder, H.A. Washington, purchased the AME Church, and Rev. C.R. White became its pastor. The church membership continued to grow and the current building ground breaking occurred on May 21, 1967. The church became a member of the Christian Methodist Episcopal denomination at some point in its early history.



St. Luke CME Church
Church History St. Luke Partial History Similar to many black churches, St. Luke members gathered in homes and meeting rooms prior to an official building being dedicated to church fellowship and worship. The first recording of an official church building dates back to the Old St. Paul’s Methodist Church founded in Columbus, North Carolina, around the year 1893. Old St. Paul’s Methodist Church was established to serve the black residents of the county seat and the surrounding communities. Presiding Elder, Rev. J. W. Roberts is credited with founding the church, which was the forerunner of Tryon’s present day St. Luke’s CME Church. As the Columbus black population began to decline after the turn of the century, members began leaving the church and the decision was made to relocate the church closer to a greater membership base. Likewise, a decision was made to establish the church on Huckleberry Hill in Tryon, North Carolina. The membership built a log house daubed with mud to serve as the church. However, a local resident, Mr. Erskine, wanted to buy the Huckleberry Hill property, and donated property near Wilderness Road for a new church location. Mr. Erskine assisted members in building a nice wooden building and a six room parsonage. However, as the church membership continued to grow and prosper, the location was once again moved to a property closer to Tryon. The fourth and last move was to the present location on Markham Road. Pastor, Rev. F. N. Nution, and Presiding Elder, H.A. Washington, purchased the AME Church, and Rev. C.R. White became its pastor. The church membership continued to grow and the current building ground breaking occurred on May 21, 1967. The church became a member of the Christian Methodist Episcopal denomination at some point in its early history.
St. Luke CME Church 462 Markham Road Post Office Box 1137 Tryon, NC Church Phone: (828) 859-5376 Parsonage Telephone Number: (828) 859-9903 Email: stlukechurch@alltel.net