Several events led to the formation of Emory Heights Baptist Church. James and Nelson (Foot) Wyrick were brothers who moved here from the Laurel Bluff area. There was no church here at the time, so Nelson and James cleared some land below where the church is now; with friends from the Laurel Bluff area, and some holiness people from the hollow below. They began holding Brush Arbor Meetings in 1914. Wooden planks were used on blocks, or tree stumps, for the seating of the congregation, when they weren’t shouting and praising the Lord. The article goes on to say that the setting was rustic, but the beliefs were of the same strength that has carried the church through those early days to the active church it is today. Within a fairly short time, the folks that gathered in the clearing decided they wanted to build a church, to add a physical security to the spiritual bond they already shared. Everyone in the community worked to establish the new church. Area residents often worked way into the night on building the church, while many of the women folk were busy gathering the furnishings they would need. Nelson Wyrick was the first Pastor of Emory Heights. James Wyrick his brother helped him the first couple of years. James was the first Pastor of South Harriman Baptist Church in 1907.
Emory Heights was dedicated September 23, 1915 and recently celebrated it’s 100th anniversary. The first church was finished in 1915 and the church today was finished in the late 60’s. Our current church was completed in 2015. It was built on the old school property where we are currently having services. We have been blessed so much. Preacher Wayne Nelson is our current Pastor.
For a 30 page detailed account of our church history, download this PDF.
