Providence Church & Cemetery

Providence Church and Cemetery was a gathering place for pioneers in the Haw River basin, and during the eighteenth century many families and denominations used its cemetery. Many early settlers, including members of the Turrentine, Sellars, Holt, Harden, Andrews, Trollinger, and Long families, are buried there. When the Christian denomination was founded in 1792, Providence became one of its first churches under the influence of founder James O'Kelly. Providence School, one of the earliest schools in the area, trained leaders for the young state, and one of the earliest public libraries was also there. Located on the stagecoach line, Providence hosted the organizational meeting of Alamance County on April 24, 1849. The Orange County Court had previously met in Providence Church, and the first meetings of the Alamance Court were held there. Meeting at Providence in September 1888, the Christian Convention voted to establish a new church school that led to the founding of Elon College. Providence's pastor, Dr. William S. Long, became the first president of the new college. This Providence Church building, erected in 1872, was moved 225 feet south to expand the cemetery, and its original site in the cemetery is denoted by granite markers.

Graham, North Carolina · United States