Our History

Come as you are.

Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church was started in February 1988 by a small group of newcomers to the area who were interested in starting a new church reflecting their beliefs and religious traditions. A newspaper advertisement was placed in local newspapers asking if there were other Presbyterians in the area interested in starting a Presbyterian church. Several people responded, and the first service was held on Ash Wednesday, 1988.

The Presbytery of Coastal Carolina was contacted and agreed to help the small congregation with pastoral and financial help. The Reverend Jack Dail and the Reverend Wes Jennings, two retired pastors, served the church in its early years. The small congregation met every Sunday in the Sneads Ferry Senior Citizens building and slowly began to grow. They continued to meet there until December 1989, when a rare blizzard struck eastern North Carolina and severely damaged the building.

The congregation had previously held two Christmas Candlelight Services at Yopp’s Meeting House, a small chapel that had been a Primitive Baptist Church but was not being used. The congregation requested use of the building from a small group of residents interested in preserving it, and the request was granted. The congregation then began meeting in the small chapel that was unheated and had no running water. In spite of the conditions, the congregation continued to grow in spirit and size. The congregation sought to become chartered as a Presbyterian Church and looked forward to having its own building.

In September 1990, the First Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville agreed to sponsor the Sneads Ferry Mission as one of its projects. Reverend Alfred Brough, a retired chaplain, began serving the church on a part-time basis in May 1991 and continued until October 1993 when he retired. Chaplain Mary Washburn, a chaplain serving at Camp Lejeune, agreed to serve the church part-time. The year 1992 brought exciting news to the congregation as land was purchased for a future building, and Presbytery agreed to the chartering of the church. Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church was officially chartered on January 17, 1993, at a service held in Salem Baptist Church.

The congregation continued to grow and plan for its new building. On June 12, 1994, a groundbreaking ceremony was held following the morning worship service. Reverend Norman Story became the first full-time pastor of the church in June 1994. The first worship service was held December 18, 1994, in the new building exactly five years after the congregation had moved into Yopp’s Chapel. Reverend Timothy L. Croft was installed as the pastor of Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church on June 27, 2004. On September 28, 2008 a new larger sanctuary and narthex were completed to accommodate the growing congregation. Rev. Croft retired in June, 2009 and in August of 2010, Rev. Dr. William Young was installed as the new pastor of the church. God has abundantly blessed Sneads Ferry Presbyterian Church, and we ask for His continued blessings.

Over the next several years, SFPC grew to over 300 members. Significant growth came from young families, many affiliated with Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. The number of youth grew from just a handful to over 70, all needing classrooms for Sunday School. During 2012 and 2013, plans were made, funds approved and construction completed on our Christian Education Building. The number of children and youth continue to increase. The excitement and energy of the young people is wonderfully enriching our congregation. With the increase in children, the Session approved the "Safe Sanctuary Policy" which provides for background checks and training for all who teach and lead the children.

Another significant project, the Serenity Garden, was completed during this time. This pleasant, quiet place, provides a wonderful spot for reflection and remembering. A columbarium is located in the Serenity Garden. The Garden is also used as a gathering place during congregational pot-luck and Laity Sunday dinners. Come by and visit. You'll find it a wonderful spot to praise God for His many blessings.