History

Starting in 1886…

Rumple gets its name from the Reverend Dr. Jethro Rumple, pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Salisbury. He was a frequent missionary preacher in the mountains, a summer resident of Blowing Rock toward the end of his life, and one of the most remarkable North Carolinians of his generation.

Blowing Rock’s spectacular setting, cool breezes, and natural wonders began attracting summer visitors after the Civil War. Presbyterians were the first to build a house of worship in town. Among the founders were Col. William J. Martin, Sr., and his son and namesake, both professors at Davidson College. Others included Mrs. Emma Stewart, who ran a boarding house in Davidson during the academic year and one in Blowing Rock during the summer. Local and summer people quickly joined in the effort. A small frame structure was built in 1886, and the church was organized with eight members the following year. Rumple has been growing ever since!

Planning for a vibrant future

Rumple is excited to announce expansion plans for its campus. We are in the process of restoring the Rumple House—the house to the right of the sanctuary as you look from Main Street. We will restore it back as close as possible to its original 1886 footprint. Once complete, the Rumple House will serve as offices for the pastor and staff.

We also plan to renovate the existing Education building, which will enable us to expand space for Blowing Rock Cares, a community food pantry housed here at Rumple, and improve our nursery space and classrooms. We will also add a new Fellowship building—complete with an updated kitchen, large gathering space, and even showers for overnight programs and conferences. We’ve outgrown our existing space, and this new building will give us much-needed room to house youth activities and allow larger groups to gather together in one space. Learn more about the campus expansion.