Charlotte's Founding Presbyterian Churches

The Hopewell Presbyterian Church predates the Revolutionary War and was officially founded in 1762, but has roots going back to the late 1740's in gatherings organized by evangelist John Thomson. Likely starting as a log house, the construction of a brick "meeting house" didn't begin until 1833. There are four cemeteries located on the church's campus, with the oldest being used between 1775 and 1840. 

You can read more information about the history of Hopewell Presbyterian on their website: https://hopewellpresby.org/history/campus-history/.

Cemetery records for Hopewell Presbyterian Church can be found in The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Story exhibits. 

Hopewell Presbyterian Church (Huntersville, N.C) records (MS0248) Box 1-3

Reverend Jeff Lowance Papers - Church Records 1980-2007 Box 13, Folder 17

• Hopewell Presbyterian Church

Jetton Family Papers - Box 3, Folder 29

• Hopewell Presbyterian Church, Route 1, Huntersville, NC. Organized in 1762 (Item P366/129)

Pharr Family Papers - Box 1 & Box 2

• Samuel C. Pharr Papers, 1842-1884 -Samuel Caldwell Pharr served as a minister for Sharon, Hopewell, Mallard Creek and Paw Creek Presbyterian churches between 1857-1874.

Torrance and Banks Family Papers- Box 4, Folder 43A

• James Galbraith Torrance served as treasurer of Hopewell Presbyterian Church in 1818 and kept an account book for the years 1818-1822. 

The History of Hopewell Presbyterian Church for 175 years from the assigned date of its organization, 1762 by Charles W. Sommerville

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Historic Landmarks Commission

• Survey and research report on the Hopewell Presbyterian Church, 1987 April 6

Christian Temperance. A sermon preached in Hopewell Church, N.C., July 18th., 1852

Charles William Sommerville papers. 1915-1938

• The collection contains the personal papers of Charles Sommerville documenting his career as a minister and professor in Tennessee and South Carolina. The collection includes writings, primarily sermons and addresses, mostly on Presbyterian identity and beliefs, and a pastoral record book. The pastoral record book indexes in chronological order Rev. Sommerville's sermons and lectures from 1922-1938 as well as baptisms, marriages, funerals, ordinations/installations for Westminster Church (Memphis, Tenn.), 1922-1925 and Hopewell Church (Charlotte, N.C.), 1926-1938.