PHOTO | MATTHEWS MURKLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Matthews Murkland Presbyterian Church celebrates its 50th anniversary with a week of services in March

Matthews Murkland Presbyterian Church is celebrating a half-century of service.

The church, located at 7001 Old Providence Road, is a product of the merger of Matthews Chapel in the Crestdale neighborhood and Murkland Church, which sat adjacent to the present sanctuary.

The actual date of Murkland Church's founding hasn't been officially documented, but an informal church history puts its organization as early as 1864. The majority of the first members were ex-slaves.

Many of Murkland Church's members lived in Matthews, but due to lack of transportation, the Matthews Chapel Presbyterian Church was organized in the Catawba Presbytery in 1876 to accommodate their needs.

In 1969, the churches merged and a new sanctuary was built in 1975 and occupied two years later as Matthews Murkland United Presbyterian Church affiliated with the Catawba Presbytery. In 1990 the Catawba Presbytery merged with the Mecklenburg Presbytery to become the Charlotte Presbytery and the church's name changed to Matthews Murkland Presbyterian Church, USA.

Matthews Murkland will mark its anniversary with a week of celebration March 18-24. Services include a series of revivals and a praise and worship service on March 24.

• March 18 – Revival service, 7 p.m., the Rev. Sheila Council, New Hampton PCUSA

• March 19 – Revival service, 7 p.m., the Rev. Alexander Porter, Bethpage PCUSA

• March 20 – Revival service, 7 p.m., the Rev. Larry Hill (retired) Woodlawn PCUSA

• March 24 – 50th anniversary celebration praise and worship service, 10:15 a.m. conducted by Matthews Murkland Pastor the Rev. Albert W. Moses
For information, call the church at (704) 365-5032.

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