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St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church Collection

 Collection
Identifier: SC-MS-180

Scope and Contents

This collection includes historical data on St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church, beginning in 1818 with the First Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, and continuing through the founding of the Second Presbyterian Church in 1858--renamed St. Andrews Presbyterian Church in 1888, the establishment of the Church of the Covenant in 1917, and the 1944 merging of St. Andrews Presbyterian and the Church of the Covenant.

Dating from 1858 through 2009, this collection includes original ledgers, minutes, correspondence, church records, programs, pamphlets, booklets, books, photographs, news articles, and promotional papers, which chronicle the growth and history of St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, North Carolina. Of importance in this collection are the merger papers, the 150th anniversary documents, Women of the Church documents, and a collection of weekly worship programs dated from 1947 through 1985.

Dates

  • Creation: 1858-2009

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Access to some materials in this collection has been restricted by Special Collections in order to preserve the original materials. Contact the Center for Southeast North Carolina Archives and History at csencah@uncw.edu for information on access to this collection.

Copyright Statement

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Historical Note

First Presbyterian Church was established in 1817. A spiritual revival in 1858 led to the establishment of the Second Presbyterian Church, which was moved in 1888 to a new location, purchased with help of the Sprunt family. The Sprunts were charter members of the Second Presbyterian Church and founders of Sprunt and Son, a cotton exporting business in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Church changed its name at this time to St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. The previous building was sold to an African American congregation. Reverend Mclure served as pastor from 1891 until his death in 1920.

In 1906, an organ built by Henry Pilcher was installed, and in 1910 an addition was added to the church with financial help from the Sprunt family. The Church of the Covenant was established in 1918 to provide a church for Presbyterians who lived further away from the downtown area, much of the financial backing coming from the Sprunt family, who also donated money for a manse to be built for the church minister. An initial donation in 1920 by Mrs. Jessie Kenan Wise allowed the church to add a Sunday School building, which was expanded in 1928. The Church of the Covenant and St. Andrews Presbyterian Church existed separately until 1944, when they merged to form St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church at the previous site of the Church of the Covenant.

Extent

37 Containers (Contains 34 document boxes, 3 bankers boxes, and 1 oversize box.)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church is located in Wilmington, North Carolina. The church was formed by the merging of two congregations in 1944, St. Andrews Presbyterian and The Church of the Covenant. This collection includes histocial and financial data on the church, its leaders, members and organizations.

Acquisition Information

This collection was donated by St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church on February 19, 2001.

Accruals and Additions

An addition of material relating to the 150th anniversary celebration was made on November 1, 2012.

Processing Information

This collection was originally processed by Carroll R. Jones in 2001. Collection and additions were reprocessed by Lauren Love in Summer 2014. Finding aid revised and updated for conversion to Archon in Summer 2014.

Title
St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church Collection
Status
Completed
Author
Special Collections Staff
Date
2014
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:

910-962-7810