Ebenezer Academy, Bethany Presbyterian Church and Cemetery

Bethany Presbyterian Church is a wood-frame structure with a gable roof in Greek Revival style in Iredell County. The site includes the church building, an adjacent academy structure, and a cemetery with burials spanning multiple centuries.

The site began in 1775 as part of the Fourth Creek Congregation with the original church built in 1777. An academy building was added in 1823, and the location later became home to a separate Black Presbyterian congregation.

The cemetery displays gravestones with ornamental carvings created by local stonecutters over generations. These works reveal the craftsmanship and artistic traditions of people who lived and died in this community.

The site is located about 6 miles north of Statesville and can be reached by car. Visitors can explore the church, academy building, and cemetery grounds all at one location.

Freedom Presbyterian Church, the first Black Presbyterian congregation in the county, was established here in 1866. This marked a significant moment in the religious history of the Black community in the region.

Location: Iredell County

GPS coordinates: 35.86190,-80.84470

Latest update: December 14, 2025 17:40