Tabernacle United Methodist Church celebrates 181 years

Tabernacle United Methodist Church was founded in 1837, or before, and will observe its 181st birthday with a homecoming service on Sunday, Aug. 26. 

The morning service will be at 11 a.m. and the church's new minister, Rev. Lisa Beth White, will deliver the sermon. A lawn picnic will follow. 

In the early years the church served as a church, school and community building and was known as "The Meeting House." The church cemetery served as the major burial grounds for the Black Mountain area until the mid-1920s. The cemetery contains about 560 identified burials and about 250 unmarked graves. 

The church continues today in active ministry with services every Sunday. 

The community is invited to attend the homecoming event.