History

Candler Church

As recorded in Christine Joyner’s diaries, has a rich history of growth and resilience. It began on September 15, 1974, when a group left Hill Street Church of God due to a management dispute. They eventually gathered in Margaret Smather’s log cabin off Hookers Gap Road. On October 22, 1974, Bob Jackson became the church’s first pastor, and the church was named Candler House of Prayer. Bob Jackson was also responsible for starting the bond program to build a church. On November 28, 1974, services were moved to Hayes Lovingood’s basement, and by December 12, 1975, they relocated to their first building on Highway 19 & 23 in Candler. Between September 4, 1977, and February 25, 1979, Wayne Smith served as pastor, followed by Billy Pressley in March of 1979. On April 29, 1979, Chuck Waldrup preached for Pastor Billy, with the support of Gary Burnette, Ron Pittman, Arnold Vess, and Billy Stiles, alongside Gwen Pressley and others. The church witnessed miraculous events, including healings, and a woman raised from the dead. On May 4, 1986, the church expanded to two morning services, and by June 14, 1987, they completed a new building extension. Wayne Smith passed away in 1985, though his obituary was not found. Hard time hit the church in the late 1980s, with the departure of Billy Pressley on April 17, 1988. Libby Waldrup begun to lead praise and worship on April 29, 1988. On December 4, 1988, Chuck Waldrup was instated as interim pastor and eventually became pastor after two 90 day periods. On September 24, 1989, tragedy struck when Pastor Billy Pressley died in a car crash while racing at the speedway. The church saw Chuck resign on August 31, 2008, after serving 20 years, instating Malcolm and Debbie McCarson as interim pastors. Malcolm became the official pastor on November 1, 2009, having served as youth pastor for seven years. In 2010, the church organized a trip to Pigeon Forge to see “The Miracles” and visited the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte. On January 25, 2016, the church was flooded due to a burst water pipe in the men’s bathroom, but they persevered. On November 4, 2018, Brother Malcolm announced the official name change to Candler Church, marking a new chapter in its ongoing legacy.