605 North Highland Street, Gastonia, NC 28052 Rev. Pat Reid
THIRD STREET'S MISSION
Our Mission at Third Street Presbyterian is to bring souls to Christ, provide spiritual growth to all people, encourage love and fellowship, provide vibrant Christian worship experiences, promote outreach to the community and to foster an ecumenical presence within our community.
Bring souls to Christ — Evangelism
Provide spiritual growth to all people — Education
Encourage love and fellowship — Community Building
Provide vibrant Christian worship experiences — Worship/Preaching
Promote outreach to the community and to foster an ecumenical presence within our community. — Mission
OUR VISION
We are a church of God’s servants impacting, changing and growing lives spiritually in church and community.
JOIN US
We are a community minded, local mission oriented congregation of committed members who are generous in their stewardship and welcoming in their fellowship.
Rental of facilities is available.
Concealed weapons not permitted in our church.
LUNCH AND LEARN
The second Wednesday of each month we gather for an informational program along with a free lunch! Starts at 11:30 a.m.
Check back on our website for updates on future programs.
IN THE KITCHEN
Popular events include Men Who Cook Soul Food Celebration in February, Spring, Summer and Fall Dinner sales and the Annual Church Christmas Dinner on Third Sunday of December after Church.
OUR HISTORY
The Catawba Presbytery organized Third Street Presbyterian Church July 1, 1888, with the following persons as charter members: Josephine Leeper, Silas Smith, Palsy Enlow, and John E. Nicholson. The founding committee was composed of Dr. George S. Leeper, Rev. Matthew James, and Elder A. Q. Webb.
For the first 14 years the church was known as Leeper’s Chapel. Then on March 29, 1902, the name was charged to Third Street Presbyterian Church. It was named at a time when the city was beginning to mark the streets, and it was thought that the street would be named Third Street. However, when markings were completed, the name of the street was Page instead of Third Street.
In the beginning, Third Street’s focus was to minister to the spiritual, educational, and emotional needs of the black residents of Gastonia and its area. It provided education for black youth through a parochial school operated by Dr. G.S. Leeper, founder-pastor, and his wife Josephine Leeper. The school was named Leeper’s Chapel and served the community until the establishment of the North Carolina Public School System in 1900. The name became Highland Graded School. Two Pastors served as Principals: Dr. C.H. Shute (1900-1907) and Dr. J.A. Rollins (1908-1929). Then Mr. T.C. Tillman (1930-1940) and Mr. T. Jeffers (1940-1966).
Third Street has been blessed to have a number of ministers over our 118-year history, and each pastor has had his individual and unique style of leadership that contributed to the growth and development of the church and its ministries: G.S. Leeper (1888-1893), C.M. Young, Sr.(1894-1895), T.L. King, Charles Graham, & G.S. Leeper (1896-1897), C.H. Shute (1897-1907), J.A. Rollins ( 1907-1930), Ellis Gregg (1930-1946), C.M. Young Jr. (1947-1973), Joseph Gaston ( 1973-1974), Tommy Davis (1975-1977), John Evans (1977-1980), Elo Henderson (1981-1982), John Miller (1983-1988), Robert Meachem (1989-1996), Ronald Evans (1996-1998), Raymond Worsley, Wilburn Sanders & Everett Hewlett (1999-2001), James McGill (8-12/2001), Jonathan Edwards (2002-2003) ,Warren J. Lesane (2003-2005) , John L. Pharr Sr. (2006-2007), Eddie Deas, III (2007- 2018), and Pat Reid (2018-present).
We moved in September 1995 from 206 W. Page Avenue to Erwin Community Center at 913 Pryor Street and into our new edifice at 605 North Highland Street in January 2002. Today the Mission of Third Street Presbyterian Church is to impact, change and grow lives spiritually in our Church and in our Community.
