History of Paw Creek

About a mile south of Paw Creek Presbyterian Church, there is a stream that flows southwesterly toward the Catawba River. Native Americans called this stream Paw Creek, probably after the paw-paw trees that grow along its borders. Later, European settlers came to know the area surrounding the stream as Paw Creek.

As early as 1807, the Presbyterians who live in Paw Creek wanted to establish their own place of worship. The 1808 minutes of Concord Presbytery reflect that “the petition of a certain number of people living between Hopewell and Steele Creek churches desiring to be constituted and recognized as a separate congregation was again taken under consideration. It was resolved and known by the name of Paw Creek Church.” From that moment of its organization, Paw Creek Presbyterian Church officially began fulfilling the “six great ends of the church” – proclaiming the Gospel; providing shelter, nurture, and spiritual fellowship; maintaining divine worship; preserving the truth; promoting social righteousness; and exhibiting the Kingdom of Heaven to the world.

 
 
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