The Robbinsville Episcopal Mission began as an outreach of
Grace Church in the Mountains, Waynesville in the 1970's and
was officially listed as a preaching station in 1977. The Rev.
John Reid, Deacon, was in charge of services under the
supervision of Rev. William P. Austin, missionary priest to
Cherokee, Bryson City and Robbinsville.

Rev. Reid served until November, 1977, when the Rev. Christopher
Nichols, a retired priest, briefly became available to lead worship.
In late 1978, Rev. George Johnson began serving Grace Mission to
Robbinsville. By 1980 all deanery clergy were taking turns
celebrating Eucharist in Robbinsville twice a month. Mr. Larry
Raines, lay reader, officiated Morning Prayer other Sundays.

On March 22, 1981, a small group of Lutherans were gathered together
by the Rev. Dr. Reuben J. Swanson, a professor at Western Carolina
University in Cullowhee, N.C., and held their first service in the
home of Mr. & Mrs. Alfred Larson. The group called themselves
Mountainside Lutheran Church. Sixteen persons placed membership
in Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Sylva, pending formal
organization. Rev. Dr. Swanson retired from WCU in June and moved
to California. Laymembers of the congregation conducted Lutheran
services in various homes welcoming the occasional guest pastor.

In December, 1981, members of the Lutheran and Episcopalian
congregation began considering worshipping together while
maintaining their separate denominational identity and affiliation.
Mountainside Lutheran was near the point of disbanding. Grace
Episcopal was too small to financially afford the services of
a two supply priests a month. Informal discussions led to a desire
to begin worshipping together, primarily to insure mutual
survival and pool resources for "supply" clergy.

The synodical and diocesan leadership was approached with the
idea, which, understandably at first, was met with more skepticism
than enthusiasm. After a realization that it would be, in the words of
Rev. Ron Haines, Bishop's deputy, "easier to obtain forgiveness than
obtain permission", joint services began in a rented apartment in
February, 1982, with each congregation responsible for two services
a month. Grace Episcopal Mission maintained their Vestry and
Mountainside Lutheran Church maintained their Council.

Episcopal Bishop William G. Weinhauer, Diocese of WNC, and his deputy,
Rev. Ron Haines, urged the congregations to proceed despite the lack
of precedents. The May, 1982, Diocese of WNC Convention adopted a
resolution commending "the pioneering work in ecumenical relations
underway in the town of Robbinsville."

A Mountainside Lutheran application to the North Carolina Synod of the
Lutheran Church in America (LCA) had to be turned down because of an
inter-Lutheran comity agreement. Mountainside Lutheran Church was
formally organized and received into the American Lutheran Church (ALC)
Southeast District by Bishop David Wolber in Robbinsville on Sunday,
June 27, 1982, who was joined by the Episcopal Bishop's deputy,
the Rev. Ron Haines in worship at the church. Though the people had been
worshipping together since February, June 27, 1982 is considered
the first official Sunday worship of Grace Mountainside Church, a Lutheran
and Episcopal Fellowship recognized and sanctioned by the Episcopal
diocese and Lutheran synod. Lutherans and Episcopalians have been
worshipping together in Graham County from that date on.

The Rev. Terry R. Cobb, vicar, St. Cyprian's, Franklin was designated
priest-in-charge of Grace Episcopal Mission. Pastor Harold B. Kildahl,
retired ALC pastor and summer resident in Murphy, began pastoral care
for Mountainside Lutheran. The congregation held services in rented
quarters on U.S.Highway 129. The organist was Charlotte Raines

In October, 1982, the formal agreement, constitution and by-laws
were written and approved. Separate denominational identity and
affiliation was established with a Lutheran Council handling
synodical matters and an Episcopal Vestry handling diocesan matters.
Matters affecting the whole congregation were handled in joint meetings
of the Vestry and Council.

However, it soon became obvious that the practical conduct of
business in a joint meeting required its own leadership. A Governing
Board composed of four Vestry members and four members of the
Council was organized with its own bylaws. The congregation elected
Governing Board officers. This model of governance when approved by the
diocese and the synod made Grace Mountainside the first formally and
officially organized joint Lutheran & Episcopal Church in the United States.
The model of governance, constitution and bylaws developed to meet
diocesan and synodical requirements and practical local needs by the
congregation of Grace Mountainside Church have served, and continue
to serve, as a model for other joint Lutheran and Episcopal congregations.

In the spring, 1985, Mr. & Mrs. Ernie Manierre, members of Grace
Episcopal Mission, purchased the old First Baptist Church building
on South Main Street to provide space for Mrs. Manierre's antique
shop. The building had been used as a skating rink, furniture store,
and auto parts store and was in need of considerable renovation.
The Manierre's offered the congregation the use of the building
for $1 a year if the congregation would assist in the renovation.
When the congregation accepted the offer, Mr. Manierre told the
group that he would give the entire building to the congregation
after the 5-year lease was up! The first service in the
incompletely renovated church was held July 28, 1985.

On January 1, 1988, the merger of the LCA and ALC formed the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America. Mountainside Lutheran Church became a
member of the ELCA - North Carolina Synod. In December, 1988,
the Rev. Donald R. Fauble began conducting Lutheran services while
Pastor Kildahl was in Florida.

Pastor Kildahl re-retired September, 1990, and moved to Orlando, Fla.
The Rev. Don Fauble, who had been appointed Vice Pastor of
Mountainside Lutheran Church, Robbinsville, NC, in March by
Bishop Michael McDaniel, assumed full pastoral ministry.

In January, 1997, Father Brad re-retired after a decade of spiritual
leadership and guidance to Lutherans as well as Episcopalians.
Deacon Holcomb led most Episcopal services with the occasional supply priest.
In 1998, the Rev. William Turner, a retired priest from Asheville,
accepted the call and was appointed priest-in-charge, Grace Episcopal
Church, Robbinsville, NC, by Bishop Robert H. Johnson.

On September 14, 2000, the Rev. Don Fauble passed away leaving behind over
a decade of faithful spiritual leadership and pastoral care to both sides
of the congregation. The Rev. Frank Meleschnig, retired pastor from
Hendersonville, accepted the call and was appointed pastor with the
approval of Bishop Bolick.

On June 30, 2001, Deacon Holcomb retired from a 31-year career in education.
It became possible to have a clergy presence during the week in Robbinsville
without having to rely on "supply" clergy. Pastor Meleschnig moved to
Connecticut at the end of June, 2001. Father Bill re-retired in July 15, 2001,
after almost three years of leadership and care to the whole congregation.
The Rev. Steve Holcomb, who had faithfully served the congregation for
since 1984 was called and appointed minister-in-charge for both Grace
Episcopal Church and Mountainside Lutheran Church by the Governing
Board and Bishops Johnson and Bolick starting August 1, 2001.

Rev. Holcomb helped initiate and foster ecumenical cooperation in
Graham County that led to the first Community Thanksgiving Service
at the First Baptist Church in Robbinsville in 2001. Continued efforts
led to the formation of the Graham County Churches in Ministry that
seeks to coordinate church outreach programs throughout the county and
the community. Deacon Steve invited the Prince of Peace Catholic Church
Thrift Shop, selling quality clothes and household items to the needy for
pennies, to operate from Grace Mountainside Church's ground floor shop.
An active jail ministry, shut-in visitation ministry, home visitation ministry
and nursing home visitation ministry have developed. Hope for Familes, a
shelter for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, opened October, 2003.
Steve serves on the Hope for Families Board and has helped take this from a
idea to reality in less than a year. Since its opening there has been at least one
client in the shelter each night. In 2004 Steve became one of the chaplains for
the Graham County Angel Hospice and continued until economics forced Angel
Hospice to close.

On April 11, Easter Day, 2004, the Rev. Jane Smith, Canon to the Bishop
of the Diocese of Western North Carolina, made a special announcement
to Grace Mountainside Church on behalf of the Bishop. God willing, the
Rt. Rev. Robert H. Johnson will ordain Rev. Steve Holcomb, Deacon,
to the Sacred Order of Priests.

At 5:00 p.m., on July 14, 2004, the Rt. Rev. Robert H. Johnson, Bishop,
Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina ordained Steve A. Holcomb
to the Sacred Order of Priests at Grace Mountainside Church. The Rev.
Doctor Leonard Bolick, Bishop of the North Carolina Synod, ELCA,
was the preacher. Lutheran and Episcopal clergy representing the western
counties of North Carolina participated in the laying on of hands. The Rev.
Steve Holcomb was named Pastor and Priest-in-Charge of Grace Mountainside
Church, Robbinsville, North Carolina.

In November, 2005, the Church Mouse Thrift Store began operation
in the ground floor shop under the management of church member Anne Longbrake.
Donated household items, furniture and clothing are sold for pennies and are often
freely given to needy families. Ms. Longbrake was the Office of Economic Opportunities
2006 Community Service to Families award recipient. Needing more floor
space, the Church Mouse moved to a larger building on North Main Street
in 2007.

The primary outreach committee of Grace Mountainside Church is the
Good Samaritans of Robbinsville chaired by Emily Hohenschutz. This committee
of hard working volunteers provides for a variety of needs to individuals and
families that cannot be met by and are referred by the Graham County DSS.
Ms. Hohenschutz was the Office of Economic Opportunities 2007 Community
Service to Families award recipient and the Good Samaritans of Robbinsville
was recognized for it's service to the community and awarded a grant.
A desire to coordinate various church and agency charitible giving to
needy individuals and families throughout Graham County led to Grace
Mountainside Church Good Samaritan participation in Graham Help.

Amelia "IdaMae" Holcomb served as organist playing a new Rodger's Insignia 537 organ.

Growing participation and limited seating space in the room behind the
sanctuary created the need remodel the downstairs to a Fellowship Room.
In 2009, the worsening economic crisis found Graham County ranked as having
the highest unemployment level in North Carolina. The Rev. Steve Holcomb, Chairperson Mike Kelly,
Paul Morgan, and Deacon Helen Thompson envisioned using the Fellowship Room
during the as a Soup Kitchen.

In March, 2010, the Soup Kitchen ministry began serving free lunch every
Thursday to anyone who came. In August, 2011, Deacon Thompson began
distributing free bread to those in need each Saturday. The Rev. Deacon
Helen Thompson re-retired Easter, April 8, 2012, having served
The Episcopal Church for many years, mostly in the Diocese of Atlanta.

Continuing until November 20, 2014, when Graham County's economic
situation finally improved, the Soup Kitchen served not only thousands
of hot meals but much needed warm fellowship.

Doug Rogers served as church organist. We are convinced this is God's doing
because Doug's first visit to Grace Mountainside Church was IdaMae's
retirement and final day as organist. Doug began playin the very next Sunday.
Doug performed an outstanding Service of Organ Music during Easter Season.
Doug served until he moved to Florida. Linda Holcomb began playing organ.

On November 30, 2014, after 31 years ordained ministry, most of it serving
God's people at Grace Mountainside Lutheran & Episcopal Church and Graham
County, The Rev. Steve Holcomb retired.

Grace Mountainside Lutheran and Episcopal Church worship services were led
by The Rev. George Simmons, retired Lutheran pastor, and other supply clergy.
Anne Longbrake became "organ operator" using the organ's self-playing capabilities.

Pastor Simmons faithfuly served Grace Mountainside Church until
August 2, 2015, when he moved to Conover, NC.

Understanding the urgent needs of Grace Mountainside Church, The Rev. Steve Holcomb,
with diocesan blessing, came out of retirement to lead worship services
beginning August 9, 2015. Rev. Holcomb began writing midi files "read" by the organ
of most Lutheran and Episcopal hymns and service music we normally sang.
On August 23, 2015, retired Lutheran Pastor David G. Webb
began alternating leading worship services at Grace Mountainside Church with
Rev. Holcomb. Isabella Keenan became the "organ operator"
Pastor Webb served until October 2, 2016 when he accepted a full-time
position as an interim pastor.

On June 5, 2016, as a way to honor his continuing presence and service
and to better communicate to newer members that the former pastor is among us
the Governing Board conferred the official title Pastor Emeritus to Rev. Steve Holcomb.

Grace Mountainside Lutheran & Episcopal Fellowship continues
to serve the spiritual and pastoral needs of year-round, seasonal
and visiting Lutherans and Episcopalians in Robbinsville and Graham
County, North Carolina. Our beautiful mountains nestled under the
Great Smoky Mountains, numerous lakes and streams, low population
and mild climate make this one of God's beauty spots. A visitor to the
church once proclaimed she was from "God's country, the great State of
Texas." "That may be true," came the reply, "but God vacations here!"
If you should ever find yourself near us on Sunday morning, we hope
you will remember us and come worship and fellowship with us.