St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church (Jefferson, North Carolina)

In 1962 Bishop Vincent Waters of Raleigh instructed for the Diocese to purchase the former Jefferson Presbyterian Church building on Main Street, which had been built in 1899,[1][2] for $12,000 in order to create a new church for the growing Catholic community in Ashe County.

[3] The parish began as a mission of Saint Elizabeth of the Hill Country Catholic Church of Boone, North Carolina.

In September 1994, renovation work on the church was completed, including a new main altar, blessed sacrament table, and stained glass windows which were all made by parishioners.

[2] Bishop Peter Joseph Jugis and Congresswoman Virginia Foxx attended the September 29, 2012, groundbreaking.

[3] St. Francis has been active in assisting needy migrant workers who began coming to the County in the late 20th century as seasonal laborers in the Christmas tree farms, and became permanent residents in growing numbers over the decades.