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��ɫ��’s Walker Top Mountain Baptist Church was built out of logs in 1845 and is the oldest survivor of the original log structure still being used for annual church services each year, according to information acquired by historian J. Randall Cotton in his research, according to a press release from Sam Bridges, whose daughter Ivy helped get the church on the national register.

The church and property were donated by Joseph A Walker, who was the founder.

The filing of the application was done by Ivy Bridges, who was 15 at the time of the project. She lives in Greensboro but is the granddaughter of Eddie C. Bridges, who was born and raised in ��ɫ��, the release said.

“It was a privilege to come alongside my extended family to help them complete the process of getting the church added to the National Register. They have been working on this for a long time, and it is very well deserved,” Ivy said.

From the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, Sarah Woodard, Deans Eatman and Darin J. Waters all came alongside the Bridges family while completing the application process.

Ivy thanked her cousins, Mark Elton Walker and Ralph Adlophus Walker, who are both in ��ɫ��.

North Carolina Sen. Warren Daniel and Rep. Hugh Blackwell from Burke County assisted in negotiations with South Mountain State Park representatives for cutting back trees to provide a firebreak from the church and the picnic area, as well as negotiating the usage of adjacent land for church services, the release said.

Blackwell’s assistant, Isaiah Garner, helped bring closure with finalizing documents, the release said.

The Walker Top Mountain Baptist church, located at 7442 Burkemont Road, is hosting its annual homecoming on July 27, 2025. This will be the 88th year in a row the reunion has been held. Pastor Rodney Walker from Florida will be holding the service at 11 a.m. Rudy’s Bluegrass Revue will be providing mountain Gospel music this year. All are welcome, the release said. Bring a covered dish and join them as they celebrate.