Perth Presbyterian Church as it last appeared on its original site. This building has since been demolished, and a marker stands in its place.
presumably about New Perth-- if anyone can help me find the source and credit it properly, please let me know, via e-mail. "New Perth, organized in 1789, is one of the oldest A.R. Presbyterian Churches in the United States. New Perth has occupied two sites during her long history. The first site was southwest of what was to become Troutman, close to what was to become Perth Road. After organizing under a brush arbor, her faithful people built a log church with a dirt floor and no chimney. The source of heat was a brush fire in the yard. About 1830, a log church with a wood floor and chimney replaced the old log church. In 1888 the last building was constructed on the Perth Road site. It was a large wood frame church. It stands today on Perth Road."
"In 1917 New Perth bought a wood frame church building in Troutman on a corner of West Avenue and Rumple Street. At the time of purchase, the church building belonged to the Presbyterian Church In The United States (Southern Presbyterian). The change from the Perth Road site to the Rumple Street site was carried out over a long span of years. From 1917 to 1959, New Perth, as one congregation, worshipped in two houses of worship-- the church on Perth Road and the church on Rumple Street. From 1917 to the late 1930's, designated Sundays of the month were assigned to each church as the place for worship. A major change occurred in 1939 and 1940. The wood frame church on Rumple Street was removed and replaced with the present church. After this building program was completed, all worship services were held at the Rumple Street Church except for two or three summer services which were held each year in the Perth Road Church. 1959 was the last [year during which summer worship services were held in the Perth Road site]..."
Since the above was written, the Perth Church Road building has been demolished. A stone memorial marks the spot where it stood. Next to it is the cemetary, one of the oldest in Iredell County.
