Bethel Presbyterian Church

Front inscription

This church was founded in 1764 by Rev. William Richardson, who organized Scots-Irish settlers in this area, from both S.C. and N.C., into a congregation. Incorporated in 1786 as “The Presbyterian Church of Bethel Congregation,” it grew steadily and built its third church building here in 1809. Bethel later became the mother church for eight area Presbyterian churches.

Reverse inscription

The present church was described as “large and tasteful” when it was dedicated in 1873. It was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The earliest marked grave in the cemetery is from 1774. The cemetery contains graves of veterans of all of America’s wars, including several Patriots who fought at the nearby battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780.