Centre Presbyterian Church, Session House and Cemeteries
Why it's listed
Centre Presbyterian Church sits on both sides of a country road just outside Mount Mourne in southern Iredell County. The complex includes an 1854 brick church, a tiny frame session house of the same period, and an old cemetery enclosed by a dry-laid stone wall with wrought-iron gates. Baker Cemetery, moved in 1961 from a site now under Lake Norman, lies in the southeastern corner. The congregation was established in 1765 and served Scotch-Irish settlers; it became known as the "Mother of Churches" because several other congregations drew their original members from it. The Synod of the Carolinas was formed here in 1788, and Concord Presbytery held its first regular meeting here in 1798. The church is a temple-like Greek Revival building with a pedimented gable front, large triple-hung windows and a granite foundation. The cemetery holds several hundred stones, the oldest dated 1776, and graves of Revolutionary War patriots. The church remains active.
Significance in brief: The congregation, established in 1765, is one of the oldest in the county, and the Synod of the Carolinas was formed here in 1788. The 1854 brick church and matching session house are well-preserved examples of Piedmont Greek Revival church architecture. The walled cemetery has carved tombstones and ironwork gates similar to those at two other nearby churches.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80002863, listed November 24, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1245, Mount Mourne |
|---|---|
| County | Iredell County |
| Listed | November 24, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002863 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Excellent condition; the church has an active congregation of around 300 members and the complex is well preserved. |
| Acreage | 18 |
| Coordinates | 35.55195, -80.85460 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80002863.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5062303
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.