A history of this church, written by a church historical committee in 1959, gives the following account of our beginnings, which will take us today to the building of this sanctuary in 1882.
About a half mile south of this building there is a small stream flowing in a southwesterly direction toward the Catawba River. The name of this stream is Paw Creek, named no doubt by the Indians, from the large number of Papaw trees growing upon its banks. From this Papaw Creek the neighborhood took its name. When our forefathers received authority from Concord Presbytery to organize themselves into a Presbyterian Church, they took the name Paw Creek.
On December 8, 1865, the name was changed by a vote of the congregation, from Paw Creek to Caldwell in memory of their first pastor, Samuel C. Caldwell. The name was considered by some to be a misfit and was changed back to Paw Creek at the fall meeting of Mecklenburg Presbytery in 1882.
The original territory of Paw Creek extended from the Catawba River on the west to Chadwick Mill on the east and to the north to Hopewell and to the south to Steele Creek. Paw Creek Church has helped in the startup of many other churches in this area, including Moore’s Chapel Methodist/Episcopal, in 1885; Mulberry Presbyterian, in 1888; Pleasant Grove Methodist/Episcopal in 1888; Cook’s Memorial Presbyterian in 1891; McGee Presbyterian in 1912; Thomasboro Presbyterian in 1921; and the Woodland Presbyterian in 1868.
In 1807 the people of Paw Creek decided to erect their own place of worship which was known as the “stand” or brush arbor, completed in 1808. The Reverend Samuel C. Caldwell, pastor of Sugaw Creek Presbyterian, began preaching at Paw Creek.
In 1809, the people erected their first church building—a small structure built of logs. It served the people as their place of worship until 1824. It was built on three acres of land deeded to the church by Mr. Joseph Todd. The log building was used by the congregation and it was replaced by a large frame structure and dedicated by the Reverend John Williamson in the autumn of 1826.
Originally, the pews, large, square, high-backed affairs, were rented to the members of the congregation. The one to the left of the pulpit was reserved for the minister’s family and was labeled “Parson’s Pew.” A higher rental value was placed on the front and rear pews, being appraised at $5.50 each, while those intervening were held at $4.50 each.
In the summer of 1881, the congregation undertook the building of a third house of worship. The work was not completed that summer and the walls were injured by the weather to such an extent that they had to be torn down. By the spring of 1882 the present sanctuary was completed. And we don’t charge for any of the pews, so you can put your wallets back in your pockets.
