“Till now, the LORD has helped us.” – 1 Samuel 7:12
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS (1965 – 2025)
During the year 1964, a group of believers consisting of approximately 40 persons met each Sunday night in different homes for prayer and Bible study. This small group felt called by God to establish a church founded upon a faithful adherence to the Holy Scriptures as the infallible word of God.
On December 27, 1964, fourteen men met to discuss the organization of a new church using the prayer group as its core group. They heard a report from several people who had visited the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Statesville, NC, and had explored the prospects for seeking support from this denomination.
After further conference with officials of First Presbytery of Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, the congregation was organized on January 1, 1965, in the home of Spencer Ennis with 35 persons signing membership cards. Through the generosity of Mr. Hugh Cummings, half-owner of the Cum-Park Plaza Shopping Center, church services were first held on the first Sunday in January 1965 in a store building with 137 in attendance. Various ministers from the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church filled the pulpit. The congregation worshiped in this store building and at the Alamance County Agriculture Building until the move to the present church building in October 1966.
On February 21, 1965, Reverend Robert J. Marshburn, D.D., then Moderator of General Synod and representing First Presbytery, both of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, formally received the congregation into the fellowship of the denomination. There were approximately 185 initial members. In March 1965, a manse was purchased, and a church building acquired from the First Church of the Nazarene. However, this church building was never occupied by the congregation and was sold in June of the same year.
Because of a generous gift of land, the decision was made to build a new church building at our present location on Saddle Club Road. The building was constructed, and the first services were held on October 2, 1966.
In 1979, the mortgage on the manse was paid in full. In addition, a generous gift of 5.42 acres of land adjacent to the church was given to the congregation. In December 1984, the mortgage on the church building was paid in full, and a burning of the mortgage was held on Sunday, January 6, 1985, as the church celebrated its 20th anniversary.
In 1986, the sanctuary windows were replaced with stained glass windows to match the existing stained glass window at the rear of the sanctuary. In March 2012, the church entered into a season of facility renovations, including all new restrooms, refreshed meeting spaces, and an addition to the rear of the building for a grand entry from the parking area. This was the first major renovation to the property in its 40-plus-year history. A second major renovation was completed in 2026 and included a complete refresh of the church sanctuary.
Our Ministers & Associate Pastors
Ministers
- Rev. Grant F. Johnson served the church from March 1965 to August 1970.
- Rev. L. Stanley Hartman became pastor and served from January 1971 to August 1974.
- Rev. James T. Stephenson began his ministry in June 1975, serving until March 1977.
- Rev. Clyde T. McCants was minister of our church from August 1977 to August 1978.
- Rev. E. Timothy Robinson faithfully served the congregation for 31 years, from January 1979 until his retirement in December 2009.
- Rev. Bryan R. Gregory was installed as pastor in November 2009 and served until August 2014.
- Rev. Bryan P. Crotts has served since May 2015 and continues to serve today.
Associate Pastors
- Rev. Ken McMullen served from 1987 – 1989.
- Rev. Peter J. Kemeny served from 1990 – 2000.
- Rev. Brian N. Walker served from 2003 – 2006.
Our Name
A change of name to Covenant Presbyterian Church took place during the spring, summer, and fall of 2024. Our hope is that our meaningful name and refreshed public presentation will assist us in being a witness to the goodness of our triune God.
Covenant is the overarching and unifying concept or thread that runs through the Bible. God’s covenant with man, simply put, is a relationship that God establishes and guarantees by His Son, Jesus Christ. It contains blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. Jesus is our covenant keeper, while Adam is our covenant breaker. By faith in Christ, we are considered covenant keepers and receive God’s blessings!
Presbyterian is a church government word. We are ruled by Elders in the courts of Session, Presbytery, and General Synod, as opposed to a bishop (prelacy or episcopal) or the whole church (congregational). We get our governing principles from the Old and New Testaments, as well as our Reformation roots in Scotland.
Church is an important word that finds its roots in the Old Testament “assembly” and the New Testament “called ones”. Several other pictures of God’s beloved people include brothers, bride, family, and flock. God’s church consists of those called out of the world by faith in Christ and have been filled with the Spirit and washed in Christ’s blood. As God included the family of Abraham in the covenant community, so God includes children of believers in the new covenant family of God. God calls His own people out of the world and from idolatry to live in fellowship with Him. Through Christ, we can enjoy the fellowship that was broken by Adam at the Fall in Eden. We enjoy that fellowship as individuals by the Holy Spirit and together in the assembly of the congregation for worship and discipleship.
The year 2025 marks the church’s 60th anniversary. Our prayer is that God will grant us a lampstand as a witness to His goodness for many more years!
