Back Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemeterey
Why it's listed
Back Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery occupies a tree-shaded knoll in the rolling countryside of western Rowan County. The brick church, dedicated in March 1857, is a Greek Revival temple-form building with stuccoed pilasters, a pedimented front and large windows. It is regarded as the most accomplished of a small group of similar antebellum Presbyterian churches in the Piedmont. The congregation formed after a dispute over revival practices led about twenty families to leave Thyatira Church; the Concord Presbytery recognized it in 1805. Two log churches preceded the present building. Inside, a balcony, once reached by a separate stair for enslaved worshippers, survives. A two-story educational building was added in 1952, and a small brick session house dates from about 1882. The cemetery holds several hundred graves, with markers signed by carvers including George Vogler of Salisbury. The church remains in use by its congregation and is a landmark in Rowan County.
Significance in brief: The church is one of a small group of antebellum brick Greek Revival temple-form Presbyterian churches in the North Carolina Piedmont, and is described as the most accomplished of them. The congregation grew out of a revival-era split from Thyatira Church and was recognized in 1805. The cemetery holds several hundred graves, including markers signed by regional stonecarvers such as George Vogler.
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 83003998, listed December 29, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1763, Mt. Ulla |
|---|---|
| County | Rowan County |
| Listed | December 29, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003998 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival temple form |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still the meeting house of its congregation; the church was rehabilitated in the late 1970s and is in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 5.8 |
| Coordinates | 35.65104, -80.70639 (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 83003998.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4839084
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.