About

Jumping Run Church was founded in the late 1800’s by a group of Christian men and women of the Institute Community in Lenoir County.  These men and women were determined to establish a place of worship.

The name of the church was derived from an early custom that required worshippers to actually run and jump to cross the run, which is a creek, to get to the sanctuary.

Worship services were originally conducted under a bush shelter in the Rabbit Town section.  Land for the sanctuary was donated by Sac Hines Creech and Hattie Hines.  The first structure was a 10 foot by 8 foot building in LaGrange, and services were held monthly for nearly 100 years.  Sunday school was held every Sunday.

Some of the early leaders were Olive Aldridge, Lawrence Arthur, William Reid, Ingram Patterson, Sills Suggs and Ellis Dixon.  Ministers were R. H. Harper, McCrea Lanier, Peter Holloway, G. P. Suggs and Cullen Suggs.