Fishery Church was started in the early 1900's by a group of men from the Fishery Community wanting to erect a structure for the whole community to use as a place of worship. Two brothers (Thomas & Robert Tapp) donated a piece of property adjacent to the National Fish Hatchery located in the Fishery Community of Erwin, Tennessee. James Ambrose and his son Wade began to cut and haul timber from the
Dark Hollow section of Unaka Mountain. The 1st recorded trustee's were: Alexander Jones, Jacob Woodward, Henry Banner, Robert Tapp and Thomas Tapp. Originally the building was one room with a wood stove in the middle of the room used for heat in the winter and for air condition, they raised the windows. Kerosene lanterns adorned the walls and ceiling for light. In the beginning the church was also a School House, Community Center and a Polling Place. Reverend Frank Tittle preached the 1st service which was a funeral, Caroline Huskins. Services for the first 62-years of the church were preached by circuit rider pastors, meaning the pastors preached at a different church each week. One of those pastors went by the name J.W. Colbert (Preacher Colbert) who preached every Wednesday night service for over 40-years. In 1910, 17-year old Wade Ambrose took Alexander Jones place on the board of trustee's. In 1934, 25-years after the church had been built Wade along with his Sunday School Class undertook a major project. They needed more classroom space due to an expanding community and church. They hand dug the basement that is still there to this day. While digging this basement they hit a large piece of limestone. It is said Wade convinced the others that he could use dynamite to blast the rocks out of the way. It is also said that when he used a large charge, the church was lifted completely of it's foundation and fell right back into place, Praise God! Some of the other trustee's influential in keeping the small church going for over 100-years were: Harley Allen, H.A. Jones, Ike Tapp, Clyde Brown, Alvin Haun, Larry Title, Doug Allen, Bobby Knight, Larry Norris and Sye Lyle. In the early 1960's the church was pastored by Bill Booth, Bob Ambler and Bob Hinkle. On October 11th, 1967 Bill Booth was elected the 1st full time Pastor of Fishery Church. On September 23rd, 1970 pastor Booth resigned and just one day later Pastor Bob Ambler took over as full time Pastorship of Fishery Church. Better known as "Uncle Bob" Ambler; he is still very influential with the church to this very day. It's funny looking back at all the improvements made through the years, none more important than indoor plumbing installed on May 5th, 1968. In 1988 yet another milestone was reached when it was decided to build a choir loft and baptistery in memory of Harley Allen who passed away July 27th, 1987. In the summer of 2009 yet another improvement was made when a new sound room and hard wood flooring was installed in honor and memory of Uncle Bob Ambler and Louis Allen. This was accomplished by members: Mike Allen, Doug Allen, Butch Allen, Marvin Kegley, Ralph Bryan, Harry Chaney, Bobby Knight, Harold Rice, Elwood Lyle, Richard Lyle, Gary Swinehart, Pastor Bryan Kent and many other members of Fishery Church. Some of the Sunday School Superintendents through the years are: Wade Ambrose, Mr. Keesecker, Albert Jackson, Frank Lyle, William Bill Hensley, Maude Lyle, Harley Allen, Terry Tapp, Steve Williams, Dan Phillips and Marvin Kegley. Fishery has always been a believer in the mission field. We send and/or support missions all over the world, including but not limited too: New Guinea, Spain, Japan, England, Italy, Israel, Lithuania, Russia and all over the United States. To date, Fishery Church continues in its strong tradition of the worship of God, ministering to the community, and support of missionaries. Striving to be authentic servants of God, the membership has developed a reputation for being a loving, caring, dedicated, and friendly membership of believers. It would only seem fitting to end this brief summery of our church history with a statement made by Uncle Bob Ambler in the church directory that was published in 1978. "It is our hope and prayer that this little white church on the hill will continue to radiate the warmth of God's love in Christ, until he comes again, God Bless".
