About

According to church documents, the congregation traces its roots to a prayer meetings organized over a century ago in the community by Laura Hylton and Nancy Harmon, both of Pulaski.

Later, the meetings moved to the old Linkous store, which was located less than a mile north of today’s church. Eventually 16 charter members organize a congregation and services were held in the repurposed “mine shanty,” according to congregational documents.

Since then the church has gone through a handful of building phases and today encompasses a brick sanctuary and a fellowship hall.

“The mine was still open when the church started, and you know the mines and the church really brought the community together,” said Leah Tate, a member of the centennial planning committee. “There were several accidents in the mines, and the church was there to minister to the people.”

The Mines operate for generations and was famous for producing the coal that powered the ironclad CSS Virginia, a warship of the Confederacy that did battle with the USS Monitor in the Battle of Hampton Roads in 1862. The mine operated until the 1930″s

“They are an extremely friendly group of people,” according the Pastor Hall. The are very hard-working people.”

The congregation celebrates more than its long history. It is rejoicing in its resilience and staying true to the Great Commission. We recognize God’s favor upon this church.

Like most churches 100 years old, they have had some awesome, wonderful days of huge attendance, and then they’ve had some heartbreaking times along the way that left scars a wounds,” Pastor Hall said. “That’s life cycle. Right now we’re looking at revitalization. We’ve got another hundred years to go.” We have some wonderful people to this with. The best days of the church are still ahead of us as we work together.”

Being locate only one and one-tenth miles from the hospital, the church has had wide influence on the community an even the world. Leah Tate said its members have helped plant other Pentecostal Holiness church in the area and at least 34 foreign missions and ministries have been established by former members of the congregation- one as far away as South Africa.

The church itself has always been very evangelistic and very mission minded,” Leah Tate said.

Merrimac Church family has a warm and open heart to all that come. You can expect a warm greeting and personal touch.