FLAT ROCK, N.C. \u2013 One of the oldest churches in the mountains, St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock, will soon share its wooded acreage with hikers and nature lovers. The church will open a new trail system called The Trails of St. John the weekend of September 6 -7 at 1895 Greenville Highway, approximately two miles south of downtown Hendersonville.<\/p>\n
All are invited to celebrate this special event. The ribbon cutting for the Grand Opening of The Trails of St. John will take place Sunday, September 7, at 1:00 p.m. Members of Holy Hikes WNC are expected to attend as the national chapter salutes five years of monthly hikes across North and South Carolina mountain trails.<\/p>\n
The expansive wooded setting in the heart of Flat Rock recently revealed long hidden historical and archeological secrets. The new trails meander along the west side of Greenville Highway intersecting the nearly disappeared \u201cOld Jerusalem Path\u201d which connected the parsonage with the church in the 1800s. <\/p>\n
These discoveries and the proximity to nearby Carl Sandburg National Historic Site suggested a ripe opportunity for a new trail system featuring the \u201cNew Jerusalem Path\u201d at the Trails of St. John, now available to church and community members for recreation and contemplation. Reverend Joshua Stephens, church Rector, prays that \u201cour community will find inspiration as well as rest and renewal here on this holy ground.\u201d <\/p>\n
Long before the railroad opened up Western North Carolina, Charlestonians endured a week-long carriage ride on rough dirt roads to escape the heat and disease of low country summers. They made Flat Rock their \u201cLittle Charleston of the Mountains\u201d each May through September. In 1827, Charles and Susan Baring built their summer home and a chapel which became St. John in the Wilderness, the first Episcopal church in WNC, now on the National Register of Historic Sites. The church witnessed the tribulations of slavery and the Civil War as well as the joys and sorrows of the last two centuries while growing and serving Flat Rock and the larger community. <\/p>\n
The Trails of St. John will be open to the public from dawn to dusk each day with information posted at kiosks on the property. Special events highlight the opening weekend. A children\u2019s mountain bike race will be held Saturday, September 6 from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm. To register, visit www.stjohnflatrock.org\/sjw-mtb. After the 11:00 am church service on Sunday, refreshments will be served at 12:30 pm before the ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:00 pm. <\/p>\n
For more information, visit the website: www.stjohnflatrock.org\/trails. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
FLAT ROCK, N.C. \u2013 One of the oldest churches in the mountains, St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock, will soon share its wooded acreage with hikers and nature […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":82460,"template":"","meta":{"_tribe_events_status":"","_tribe_events_status_reason":"","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"tribe_events_cat":[],"class_list":["post-82458","tribe_events","type-tribe_events","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n