Churches have played many roles in western North Carolina. During the week, they once drew children from miles around to attend school. On Saturdays, they became community centers for potlucks and dances. And on Sundays, parishioners still gather to worship, answering the call of the church bell’s peal.
For nearly two centuries, pilgrims have traveled from across the state to a 50-acre plot of land in Lincoln County for prayer and fellowship at what some say is the oldest camp meeting in the country.
Contemporary murals adorn the exteriors of buildings throughout West Jefferson and the High Country. But the walls inside a handful of churches offer stunning displays of an ancient technique.
