Activities

The NC Presbyterian Historical Society meets twice a year in various parts of the state. At both the spring and fall gathering you have the opportunity to visit a different area, learn of its settlement and history, and join in fellowship with other Presbyterians. See dates of future meetings (see list below). If you would like us to visit your church, contact us.

Tours:
Our two-day tours of historic churches take place each year in a different area of the state. Normally the tour is held the Friday and Saturday after Easter.

Dates for Spring Tours:
2008, April 18-19
2009, April 17-18
2010. April 9-10

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Annual Meeting, 2008: Valdese, Saturday, October 11

		Waldensian Clock Tower, Valdese

Did you know that the Waldensian Church is the oldest evangelical church in existence, having begun 350 years before the Reformation? Believing in the personal interpretation of the scriptures, they were declared to be heretics in 1184. They suffered times of great persecution in Europe and survived primarily in the secluded mountain valleys of northern Italy. During the Reformation, they aligned themselves with the reformers in Switzerland, including John Calvin. They finally were granted civil and religious freedom in 1848.

As their numbers grew, many migrated to the United States. In 1893 a large group moved to Burke County, North Carolina, and built the town of Valdese. As the Waldensians were in the Reformed tradition even before the Reformation, the congregation in Valdese became the Waldensian Presbyterian Church.

Waldensian Heritage Museum

At our annual meeting in Valdese, we will have the opportunity to learn the history of the church and to visit the excellent Waldensian Heritage Museum across the street. We will also have two optional side trips: one to the cooperative winery of Waldensian Heritage Wines in Valdese and the bocce court for Italian lawn bowling next to it; and one to the Trail of Faith, which has 15 buildings and exhibits illustrating the life of the people in Europe and during the early years in North Carolina.

Register now for this meeting! The cost is only $17.50 per person, including lunch. Our newsletter will have full details. It will soon appear on this website and will be mailed to members and churches the first week of August.

Our meeting will begin with registration and coffee from 8:45 to 9:45 Saturday morning, Oct. 11, at the Waldensian Presbyterian Church and will end Saturday afternoon.  The optional tours will begin at 2:00 p.m.  We've reserved rooms for Friday night, Oct. 10, at the Sleep Inn at Morganton (828-433-9000) at a good price, but you have to book it by Sept. 20.  Our meeting will be during the beautiful fall color season in the mountains!

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Annual Meetings
The society's Annual Meeting, held on a Saturday, combines history with business and inspiration. Awards are given, officers elected, and a guest speaker is featured. Topics for recent meetings have included:

• Irish Presbyterian Immigration into western Virginia and North Carolina
• The Dorland-Bell Mission School in western North Carolina
• Thomas Day, free black cabinetmaker and antebellum member of Milton Presbyterian Church
• Settlement of Highland Scots in the Cape Fear region

In the past this meeting has been held in the spring. However, as of October 2006, we are holding our one-day meeting on the second Saturday in October and our two-day tour on the Friday and Saturday after Easter.

Dates for Fall Meetings:
2008, October 11
2009, October 10
2010, October 9

Annual Meeting, 2008: Valdese, Saturday, October 11
The Waldensian Church, a pre-Reformation sect in the mountains of northern Italy, suffered persecution in Europe until they received their religions freedom in 1848. As their numbers grew, many migrated to the United States. In 1893 a large group moved to Burke County, North Carolina, and built the town of Valdese. As the Waldensians were in the Reformed tradition even before the Reformation, the congregation in Valdese became the Waldensian Presbyterian Church.

At our annual meeting in Valdese, we will have the opportunity to learn the history of the church and to visit the Waldensian Museum across the street. We will also have an optional side trip to the winery of Waldensian Heritage Wines outside Valdese.