Tours

Since 1967 the North Carolina Presbyterian Historical Society has offered tours of historic churches and sites almost every year. During this time we have visited areas of North Carolina from the mountains to the coast and have extended beyond our geographic boundaries into South Carolina and Virginia.

Our tours are normally held on Friday and Saturday, the weekend after Easter. For each tour we produce a Tour Book that contains histories of the churches we visit during that tour. For more information about upcoming tours, please check our latest newsletters or contact us.

List of Past Tours

1967 - Mecklenburg and Cabarrus Counties Sugaw Creek, Charlotte • Rocky River, Concord

1968 - Guilford County Buffalo Church, Greensboro • Alamance Church, Greensboro

1969 - Cumberland and Lee Counties (Speaker: Dr. Harold Dudley) First Church, Fayetteville • Cross Creek Cemetery • Cool Spring Tavern, Fayetteville • Old Bluff Church • Averasboro Battlefield • Longstreet Church, Ft. Bragg • Barbecue Church, Sanford • Buffalo, Sanford

1970 - Salisbury (Rowan Co.) (Speaker: James S. Brawley)

1971 - Statesville (Iredell County) (Speaker: Mrs. M. R. Long) First Church, Statesville • Mitchell College, Statesville • Concord Church, Statesville • Bethesda Church, Statesville • Fifth Creek Church, Statesville • Bethany Church, Statesville

1972 - New Hanover, Pender, Duplin, Sampson, Bladen (Speaker: Rev. Jack Dail) First Church, Wilmington • Hopewell Church, Burgaw • Grove Church, Kenansville • Liberty Hall, Kenansville • Rockfish Church, Wallace • Black River Church, Ivanhoe • Brown Marsh Church, Clarkton

1973 - Rockingham and Caswell Counties (Speaker: H. W. Anderson) First Church, Reidsville • Bethesda Church, Ruffin • Yanceyville Church, Yanceyville • Milton Church, Milton • Red House Church, Semora • Speedwell Church, Reidsville • Wentworth Church, Wentworth • Chinqua Penn House, Wentworth

1974 - Mecklenburg County (Speaker: Neil R. McGeachy) Sugaw Creek Church, Charlotte • Hopewell Church, Huntersville • Steele Creek Church, Charlotte • Providence Church, Charlotte • Philadelphia Church, Charlotte • Queens College, Charlotte

1975 - Buncombe County (Speaker: B. Hoyt Evans) Montreat Complex, including Montreat-Anderson College and Montreat Presbyterian Church • Friendship Church (PCA), Black Mountain • Black Mountain Church, Black Mountain • Lakey Gap Church, Black Mountain • First Church, Swannanoa • Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa • Warren Wilson Church (UPUSA), Swannanoa • First Church, Asheville • Weaverville Church, Weaverville • Reems Creek Church (UPUSA) • Riceville Church, Asheville • Zeb Vance birthplace, Weaverville

1976 - Scotland, Hoke, Robeson Counties (Speaker: Dr. Frontis W. Johnston) St. Andrews College, Laurinburg • Laurel Hill Church, Laurinburg • Ashpole Church, Rowland • Philadelphus Church, Red Springs • Centre Church, Maxton • Antioch Church, Red Springs • Bethel Church, Raeford • Flora Macdonald campus, Red Springs • Presbyterian Junior College, Maxton • Richmond Temperance and Literary Society Hall, Wagram • John Charles McNeill home, Wagram

1977 - Craven and Beaufort Counties (Speaker: Dr. Harold J. Dudley) First Church, New Bern • New Bern tour • Historic Bath • First Church, Washington

1978 - Gaston Co. and York Co., SC (Speaker: Wilma R. Craig) New Hope Church, Gastonia • Goshen Church, North Belmont • First Church, Gastonia • Long Creek Church, Bessemer City • Olney Church, Gastonia • Bethel Church, York County, SC

1979 - Moore and Lee Counties (Speaker: H. Clifton Blue) Bethesda Church and Old Bethesda, Aberdeen • Union, Carthage • Euphronia, Sanford • Buffalo Church, Sanford • House in the Horseshoe • Cypress Church, Cameron • Old Shaw House, Southern Pines

1980 - Guilford County (Speaker: W. H. M. Tucker, Sr.) Buffalo Church, Greensboro • Bethel Church, McLeansville • Alamance Church, Greensboro • First Church, Greensboro • Greensboro Historical Museum • David Caldwell Log College Site, Greensboro • Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, Greensboro

1981 - Alamance County (Speaker: Dr. Durward T. Stokes) Hawfields Church, Mebane • Cross Roads Church, Mebane • Stony Creek Church Burlington • Graham Church, Graham • Alamance Battleground

1982 - Mecklenburg, Cabarrus, Rowan, Iredell (Speakers: Mary Beaty, Dr. Chalmers Davidson) Davidson College Church, Davidson • Davidson College Campus • Poplar Tent, Concord • Rocky River Church, Concord • Prospect Church, Mooresville • Centre Church, Mount Mourne • Calvary Church, Davidson • Davidson United Presbyterian, Davidson

1983 - Orange, Caswell, Person Counties (Speaker: Dr. James Smiley) Hillsborough Church, Hillsborough • Little River Church, Hurdle Mills • Griers Church, Leasburg • Eno Church, Cedar Grove

1984 - Burke and Rutherford Counties (Speaker: Paul Felker) Valdese Church, Valdese • Quaker Meadows Church, Morganton • Brittain Church, Rutherfordton

1985 - Iredell and Rowan Counties (Speaker: Dr. Frontis Johnston) First Church, Statesville • Fourth Creek Cemetery, Statesville • Bethany Church, Statesville • Bethesda Church, Statesville • Back Creek Church, Mt. Ulla • Thyatira Church, Salisbury

1986 - Duplin, Bladen, Sampson Counties Video on Grove Church • Grove Church, Kenansville • South River Church, Garland • Black River Church, Ivanhoe • Rockfish Church, Wallace

1987 - Robeson and Hoke Counties (Speaker: Charles Johnson) Flora Macdonald Academy, Red Springs • First Church, Red Springs • Antioch Church, Red Springs • Lumber Bridge Church, Lumber Bridge • Panthersford Church, Red Springs • Philadelphus Church, Red Springs

1988 - Vance and Granville Counties (Speakers: Henderson Institute Museum staff) Henderson Institute Museum • Cotton Memorial Church, Henderson • First Church, Henderson • St. Johns Church (Episcopal), Williamsboro • Nutbush Church, Townsville • Grassy Creek Church, Stovall • Oak Hill Church, RFD, Oxford • First Church, Oxford • Timothy Darling Church, Oxford

1989 - Cumberland, Lee, Harnett, Hoke, Robeson (Speakers: Dr. Harold J. Dudley, Rev. Peter Youngson) Museum of the Cape Fear, Fayetteville • Old Bluff Church • Barbecue Church, Sanford • Longstreet Church, Fort Bragg Reservation • Mill Prong House, Raeford • Highland Games, Red Springs • Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan, Red Springs

1990 - Watauga and Ashe Counties (Speakers: Dr. Donald B. Saunders, Dr. Rogers Whitener) Rumple Memorial, Blowing Rock • Appalachian Cultural Museum, Boone • Laurel Fork Church, Laurel Springs • Glendale Springs Church, Glendale Springs • Frescoes in West Jefferson and Glendale Springs

1991 - Tour was cancelled [Providence, Sharon, Morning Star, and Hopewell churches in Charlotte; Queens College; Johnson C. Smith University. Dr. Norris Preyer was to be the speaker.]

1992 - Buncombe and Macon Counties (Speaker: Michelle Francis) Department of History, Montreat • Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa • First Church, Highlands • First Church, Franklin

1993 - New Hanover County (Speaker: Michael H. Hall) Little Chapel on the Boardwalk, Wrightsville Beach • First Church, Wilmington • St. James Church (Episcopal), Wilmington • Temple of Israel (Jewish), Wilmington • Chestnut Street Church, Wilmington • Old St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Wilmington

1994 - Alamance and Orange Counties (Speaker: Cornelia Kneedler Hudson) Hawfields Church, Mebane • New Hope Church, Chapel Hill • Cane Creek Friends Meeting House, Snow Camp • Snow Camp Museum • Alamance Battleground

1995 - Mitchell, Avery, Yancey Counties (Mayland Fellowship) Lees-McRae College, Banner Elk • Banner Elk Church, Banner Elk • Crossnore Church, Crossnore • First Church, Spruce Pine • Plumtree Church (Evangelical Presbyterian), Plumtree • Frank Church (PCA), Newland • Hughes Memorial Chapel (formerly Hughes Presbyterian Church), Newland • Pineola Church, Pineola

1996 - Raleigh (Wake County) (Speaker: William P. McPherson, Shape-note singing) First Church, Raleigh • Davie Street Church, Raleigh • Oakwood Cemetery • Second Church, Raleigh (defunct) • Christ Episcopal Church, Raleigh • White Memorial Church, Raleigh • Mordecai House Historical Park, Raleigh

1997 - Mecklenburg/Union (Speaker: Dr. Curtis Wood) Providence Church, Charlotte • Old Waxhaw, Lancaster Co., S.C. • Rehobeth Church, RFD, Waxhaw • Tirzah Church, RFD, Waxhaw • First Church, Waxhaw • Museum of the Waxhaws

1998 - New Bern (Craven Co.) (Speakers: Rev. St. Paul Epps, Donald Taylor) First Church, New Bern • Ebenezer Church, New Bern • Old St. Paul’s (a house of prayer for all people, formerly Roman Catholic), New Bern • Centenary Church (United Methodist), New Bern • Christ Church (Episcopal), New Bern • First Church (Baptist), New Bern • Neuse Forest Church, New Bern • Croatan Church, New Bern • Attmore-Oliver House, New Bern

1999 - Lincoln County (Speaker: Dr. Richard Rankin) First Church, Lincolnton • Old White Church cemetery • Pine Street Church, Lincolnton • Ironton Church, Iron Station • Machpelah Church (inactive) • Tucker’s Grove Campground • Unity Church, Denver • Rock Spring Campground, Denver • Lincoln County Historical Museum, Lincolnton

2000 - Moore and Lee Counties (Speaker: Douglas F. Kelly) Old Bethesda Church, Aberdeen • Bethesda Church, Aberdeen • Faith Church, Aberdeen • Brownson Church, Southern Pines • Manly Church, Manly • John Hall Church, Carthage • Union Church, Carthage • Buffalo Church, Sanford

2001 - Shenandoah Valley, Virginia (Speaker: Dr. Katherine L. Brown) Augusta Stone Church (Fort Defiance) • Mossy Creek Church, Mt. Solon • Union Church, Churchville • Loch Willow Church, Churchville • Bethel Church, Staunton • Timber Ridge Church, Lexington • Windy Cove Church, Millboro • The Gristmill, Warm Springs • Frontier Culture Museum, Staunton • Tinkling Spring Church, Fisherville • Trinity Church (Episcopal), Staunton

2002 - Mecklenburg and Cabarrus (Speaker: Dr. Norris W. Preyer) Sugaw Creek Church, Charlotte • Settlers’ Cemetery, Charlotte • First United Presbyterian, Charlotte • First Presbyterian, Charlotte • Hopewell Church, Huntersville • Catawba Church, Huntersville • Poplar Tent Church, Concord • Rocky River Church, Concord • Back Creek Church (ARP), Charlotte • Mallard Creek Church, Charlotte

2003 - Duplin, Pender, Sampson Counties (Speaker: Dr. Robert J. Cain) Grove Church, Kenansville • Rockfish Church, Wallace • Hopewell Church, Burgaw • Burgaw Church, Burgaw • Moore’s Creek National Battlefield, Currie • Caswell Church, Atkinson • Black River Church, Ivanhoe

2004 - Winston-Salem (Forsyth Co.) (Speaker: Rod Meyer, Historic Bethabara) Historic Bethabara Park • First Church, Winston-Salem • Lloyd Church, Winston-Salem • Reynolda Church (EPC), Winston-Salem • The Shallow Ford, Yadkin River • Old Salem, Winston-Salem • Home Moravian Church • St. Phillips African Moravian Church

2005 - Rowan and Iredell Counties (Speaker: Rev. S. David Carricker) First Church, Salisbury • Third Creek Church, Cleveland • Thyatira Church, Salisbury • Back Creek Church (PCA), Mount Ulla • Centre Church, Mount Mourne • Cameron Church, Elmwood • Unity Church, Woodleaf

2006 - Bladen County (one-day tour, Spring) Elizabethtown Church, Elizabethtown • Brown Marsh Church, Clarkton • Beth Car Church, Tarheel • Harmony Hall Plantation, White Oak

2007 - Orange and Alamance Counties (Speaker: Dr. George Troxler) Burwell School, Hillsborough • Tour of Hillsborough, Orange Co. Museum • Hillsborough Church, Hillsborough • New Hope Church, Chapel Hill • Alamance Battleground, Burlington • Hawfields Church, Mebane • Cross Roads Church, Mebane

2008 - New Bern, Craven County (Speaker: Victor Jones) First Presbyterian Church, New Bern • Ebenezer Presbyterian, New Bern • Croatan Presbyterian, Croatan • Temple B’Nai Sholem, New Bern • Old St. Paul’s Catholic Church, New Bern • Centenary Methodist Church, New Bern • Christ Episcopal Church, New Bern • First Baptist Church, New Bern

2009 - Cumberland County (Speaker: Bruce Daws) Princeville Visitors Center and Museum • Nahalah Church, Roseneath • William and Mary Hart Church, Leggett • Cobb Memorial Church, Tarboro • Walking tour, Tarboro Historic District • Howard Memorial Church

2010 - Buncombe County (Speaker: Ron Vinson) Montreat Conference Center, Montreat • The Nancy Holland Sibley Memorial Garden, Montreat • Montreat Presbyterian Church (PCUSA), Montreat • Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, Black Mountain • Warren Wilson College, Swannanoa • First Presbyterian Church, Swannanoa • Presbyterian Heritage Center, Montreat

2011 - Anson and Montgomery Counties (Speakers: Mr. John J. Dunlap, Hon. Foyle Hightower, Jr.) First Church, Wadesboro • Tour of Downtown Wadesboro • Town Creek Indian Mound • PeeDee Church, Mt. Gilead • First Church, Mt. Gilead

2012 - Mecklenburg County Billy Graham Library • Pleasant Hill Church, Charlotte • Steele Creek Church, Charlotte • James K. Polk House • Providence Church, Charlotte • Philadelphia Church, Mint Hill

2013 - Edgecombe and Halifax Counties Princeville Visitors Center and Museum • Nahalah Church, Roseneath • William and Mary Hart Church, Leggett • Cobb Memorial Church, Tarboro • Walking tour, Tarboro Historic District • Howard Memorial Church

2014 - Eastern Guilford and Alamance counties (newsletter) Peacehaven Community Farm, Whitsett • Bethel Church, McLeansville • Charlotte Hawkins Brown Historic Site, Sedalia • Springwood Church, Whitsett • Stony Creek Church, Burlington • First Church, Burlington

2015 - Edenton (Chowan County) (newsletter) Penelope Barker House • Roanoke River Lighthouse • Trolley Tour of Edenton • First Presbyterian Church, Edenton • Harriet Jacobs House • St. Paul’s Episcopal Church • Cupola House • Chowan County Courthouse • James Iredell House

2016 - Hendersonville (Henderson County) (newsletter) “Connemara”, home of Carl Sandburg • Mills River Presbyterian Church • Trinity Presbyterian Church • St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church • Pinecrest Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church

2017 - Moore and Richmond Counties (newsletter) Jackson Springs Presbyterian Church, Jackson Springs • Mt. Carmel Presbyterian Church, Ellerbe • Old Bostick School House, Ellerbe • First Presbyterian Church, Hamlet • Hamlet Depot, and the National Railroad Museum, Hamlet • Marks Creek Presbyterian Church, Hamlet

2018 - Wilmington (New Hanover County) Airlie Gardens • Thalian Hall • Temple of Israel • First Presbyterian Church • Bellamy Mansion • St. James Episcopal Church

2019 - Charlotte (Mecklenburg County) Johnson C. Smith University • Queens University • Myers Park Presbyterian Church • Sharon Presbyterian Church • Union Presbyterian Seminary, Charlotte Campus • Covenant Presbyterian Church • Caldwell Presbyterian Church • Old Settlers’ Cemetery

2020 - Cancelled

2021 - Cancelled

2022 - Granville and Vance Counties (newsletter) Oxford Presbyterian Church • George Shaw Museum • Timothy Darling Presbyterian Church • Nutbush Presbyterian Church • Old St. John’s Episcopal Church, Williamsboro

2023 - Raleigh (Wake County) (newsletter) West Raleigh Presbyterian Church, Raleigh • Historic Oberlin Village Turner House Museum

2024 - Scotland, Hoke, and Robeson Counties (Speaker: Dr. Douglas Kelly) (newsletter) Antioch Presbyterian Church, Red Springs • Philadelphus Presbyterian Church, Red Springs • Centre Presbyterian Church, Maxton • Old Laurel Hill Church, Laurinburg

2025 - Rowan and Iredell Counties (Speakers: Don McLeod, Jeff Gray) (newsletter) Thyatira Presbyterian Church, Salisbury • Third Creek Presbyterian Church, Cleveland • Bethany Presbyterian Church, Statesville • Fort Dobbs State Historic Site, Statesville • First Presbyterian Church, Statesville