Hickory Stand United Methodist Church

"Loved this church and cemetery...found my great grandmothers grave, cemetery was well kept!"

"I always enjoy visiting Hickory Stand. It's a country church on a windy, pastoral road. It's easily one of the most uniquely handsome historic country churches in the region. The sanctuary is built from orange fieldstone with a red shingle roof. Inside are marbled blue windows, wood-paneled walls, carmine carpeting, and 13 wooden pews. There’s no lobby, no playground. The parking lot is gravel with some shade trees. Sunday services start at 9 a.m. with the ringing of the church bell. There’s an offering plate and hand-sanitizer available near the door. The plate was not passed. During my most recent Sunday morn visit, there were 10 folks in attendance. What this church lacks in attendance, however, it more than makes up for in spirit. Every single person was friendly and welcoming from the get-go. Even the pastor, Tim Lee, personally welcomed me multiple times. Some of the members have been here all their lives and can tell stories about growing up walking to church. Rev. Lee is the youngest person here. For being a small church, Hickory Stand is unique in a few ways beyond its beautiful construction: there are bulletins, there is a single screen where lyrics are projected, and two candles are lit for the service. Another distinctive thing about this church is that on the 2nd Sunday of each month the congregation meets in the fellowship hall for a birthday breakfast. I imagine each member would need to have been born in a different month to make this possible, but it’s still a fun, community-building event. The pastor’s sermon is held during the meal, so you get to be fed physically and spiritually simultaneously. Bulletins include the pastor’s cell number on the front, so you can easily contact him if needed. The inside lists the order of worship, prayer requests and announcements. (The church also offers Bible study Wednesday nights at 7 p.m.) On the most recent Sunday I attended, the projectionist was away, so instead we sang from hymnals, which I think better fits the feel of this church anyway. An elderly woman in a wheelchair played the piano and chose three hymns we stood to sing. The church celebrated communion, which involved congregants coming forward to dip a piece of bread in a communal cup. Rev. Lee allowed plenty of time for prayer requests and folks were not shy about sharing needs they knew and praising God for the good He’s done. The pastor preached about how important it is to be an inviting church, encouraging people you know to attend with you. One of the wonderful benefits of a church this small is that it allows the pastor to be very interactive, and Rev. Lee does this well. He knows everyone by name, asks questions during his sermon, and listens as congregants share anecdotes or even joke around a little. All in all, the service felt like a social experience. The people here really know each other; they like to chat and be together. This is a fellowship. The service finished in an hour and 18 minutes; it felt like it flew by. Like prior pastors of this church, Rev. Lee also serves as minister at the larger Oak Forest United Methodist in Hayesville. Therefore, he has to depart quickly after this service to drive there for a 10:30 service. Adjacent to Hickory Stand’s historic sanctuary is an annex built in the last few decades – a lovely, spacious stucco-and-stone fellowship hall with wooden floors, comfortable restrooms, and an industrial kitchen. In its basement are a nursery, office and 3 classrooms. It seems to me that the basement is rarely used now. While the addition is nice for the church to have, it appears to have been built during a period of higher attendance and more families. Over the decades this church has been home to many people. A sprawling cemetery in the backyard testifies to that. Nowadays it may be easy to dismiss a tiny church like this for larger congregations with more amenities, but there’s something beautiful about an intimate group on an Appalachian hilltop. Don’t discount Hickory Stand. Come and see for yourself – and bring a few others, too."