History of the Sacred Heart Church

At the turn of the 20th century, Catholics in North Carolina were a very small minority living in widely scattered communities throughout the state. In order to reach this community, a “priest on horseback” traveled from town to town and sometimes farmhouse to farmhouse to bring sacraments to the people.

One of the first pastors in this area, Father William J. Dillon, came to the Sandhills in 1911 and raised funds to build the Old English Gothic style church. In 1919, the cornerstone was laid and shortly after began serving the seasonal needs of the Irish Catholic employees of the Carolina Hotel. These maids, servants and chauffeurs would work and worship here in the fall and spring and move to New England hotels for the summer months. For 75 years, the Sacred Heart Church served the community of Pinehurst.

In 1994, the church was sold and converted into a private residence. Today, we are pleased to open our home to visitors of Pinehurst and allow others to gather and enjoy the “Old Church of Pinehurst.”

For more information, visit www.sacredheartpinehurst.org/history