Rocky River Presbyterian Church
Rocky River Presbyterian Church serves Harrisburg and Concord, North Carolina and surrounding areas. We are a Presbyterian Church (USA) congregation, part of the Presbytery of Charlotte.
We are an active, established church with a respect for the past and a passion for the future. We don't just sit back and wait for people to enter our doors. We reach out to the community through numerous ministries and activities and live our faith every day.
What We Believe
Mission
The mission of Rocky River Presbyterian Church is to honor God through worship, discipleship, and service. With beliefs rooted in the Reformed Tradition, we remain committed to sharing and living out the good news of Jesus Christ within and beyond our church walls.
Core Values
From the Confession of 1967
A New Life in Christ
The new life takes shape in a community in which people know that God loves and accepts them in spite of what they are. They therefore accept themselves and love others, knowing that no one has any ground on which to stand, except God’s grace.
Vision
Our vision is to be a loving, learning, growing, and giving Christian community.
New Members
There is always room for one more!
If you are looking for a church community that honors God through worship, discipleship and service then look no further! We are an active, growing community of faith and welcome everyone to join us.
Call our church administrator at 704-455-2479 if you have any questions or would like to meet with our pastor.
Rocky River Presbyterian Church History
Rocky River Presbyterian sits on 44 acres in rural southern Cabarrus County closer to Harrisburg than Concord. It was started in the home of William White, Sr. in 1751. It was first mentioned in the records of the New Side Synod of New York in October 1755. The first pastor, the Reverend Alexander Craighead was installed on October 8, 1758. Mr. Craighead was very outspoken in his views against the British dating back to the 1730s. Unfortunately, Mr. Craighead died without seeing the formation of the United States of America. Rocky River's second pastor, Rev. Hezekiah James Balch was instrumental in writing the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the May 31, 1775 Mecklenburg Resolves.
The site of the original log sanctuary lies two miles northwest of the present church. This site is now within Pharr Mill Park. The second sanctuary, also of logs was erected around 1776 and was situated several hundred yards to the east of the current church. The third sanctuary, constructed in 1807 was a frame construction and occupied ground now located in the cemetery of the present church. The fourth and present sanctuary was dedicated in 1861 and was built for $6,000. Fingerprints can be seen in the handmade brick. The building had a 750 person seating capacity when it was built.
