Third Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery
Why it's listed
Built in brick in 1835 on a granite foundation, Third Creek Presbyterian Church is a three-bay by four-bay meeting house in Flemish bond, set in a grass-covered cemetery west of Cleveland in Rowan County. Builders D. Lyles and H. Austin used brick from nearby Baker's Mill, and a tablet on the west gable records the date. Its interior keeps original flat-board pews, a double-aisle plan, a vaulted ceiling and a gallery. The congregation traces its origins to a preaching station established by John Thomson around 1751, and the oldest gravestones date from 1776. Notable burials include Samuel Young, a Patriot leader, and Jacob Krider, who chaired the building committee. The church is valued as one of the oldest surviving Presbyterian churches in North Carolina and as a well-preserved example of meeting house design from the period between the Federal and Greek Revival eras.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church has statewide architectural and historical significance as one of the oldest surviving Presbyterian church buildings in North Carolina and a remarkably intact example of vernacular meeting house architecture that retains much of its original furnishings. Its congregation is tied to the Third Creek settlement and to prominent Rowan County planters and leaders, several of whom are buried in the cemetery. The cemetery also contains many gravestones signed by nineteenth-century stonecarvers.
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 83001912, listed July 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SR 1973, Cleveland |
|---|---|
| County | Rowan County |
| Listed | July 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001912 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1835-1949 |
| Architect / builder | D. Lyles and H. Austin |
| Architectural style | Meeting house |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Renovated in 1977 and 1978 with roof, guttering and repointing; the church is described as in use. |
| Acreage | 18.2 |
| Coordinates | 35.76070, -80.68412 (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 83001912.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7784813
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.