Back Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery

Back Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery is a historic Presbyterian church and cemetery in Mount Ulla, North Carolina currently affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA).[2][3]

Back Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemeterey
Back Creek Presbyterian Church, September 2012
Location2145 Back Creek Church Road (SR 1763), Mount Ulla, North Carolina
Coordinates35°39′3″N 80°42′24″W
Area5.8 acres (2.3 ha)
Built1856
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No.83003998[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 29, 1983


In the late 18th century disagreements about the worship style at Thyatira Presbyterian Church culminated in the splitting of its congregation. Thirty families, including all five of Thyatira elders - Thomas King, John Barr, William Bell, Abraham Lowrance, and Thomas Gillespie, Jr. (son of Thomas Gillespie, Sr.) - left the church. They worshipped without a pastor for several years until their request to form a new church was granted by Concord Presbytery. The official birth date of the Church of Back Creek was September 5, 1805.[4]

In 1807 the first pastor, Rev. Joseph D.Kirkpatrick of Poplar Tent Presbytery, accepted the call to lead the new congregation. Four year later the congregation built a little log house of worship on the land donated by John Barr, one of the ruling elders.[5] This was replaced by the congregations present Greek Revival sanctuary built in 1857. In 1869 the congregation lost their African-American members, nearly half of the congregation. The entire region suffered economic depression. Many members left to the West. In 1952 a religious educational building was added. The current manse was built in 1968. Over the years Back Creek Presbyterian belonged to five different Presbyterian denomination. In 1991 the congregation joined the Presbyterian Church in America. In 1993 classrooms and kitchen were expanded.[6][7]

In 1824 some members of Back Creek Church congregation organized Prospect Presbyterian Church in southwestern corner of Rowan County.[8]

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[1]

Back Creek adheres to the Westminster Confession of Faith, Westminster Larger Catechism and Westminster Shorter Catechism.[7]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. "Presbyterian Church website". Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  3. Lingle, Walter Lee (2013). Thyatira Presbyterian Church Rowan County, North Carolina (1753-1948). Forgotten Books., ISBN 152779248X
  4. Alexander, Samuel; Goodman, John (1905). History of Back Creek Presbyterian Church, Rowan County, N.C., for 100 years (PDF). Mooresville, N.C.: Enterprise Steam Job Print. pp. 5–9.
  5. Goodman, M.Emma (1955). Back Creek Presbyterian Church 150th anniversary, 1805-1955. Mount Ulla, N.C.: Back Creek Presbyterian Church.
  6. Davyd Foard Hood and Michael Hill (July 1983). "Back Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery" (pdf). National Register of Historic Places - Nomination and Inventory. North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  7. "Back Creek Presbyterian Church website". Retrieved June 24, 2019.
  8. Rumple, Jethro (1916). History of Rowan County North Carolina. Charlotte, N.C.: Observer Printing House. p. 369.


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