Strieby Congregational Church, School, and Cemetery Cultural Heritage and Literary Landmark Site is a historic, Reconstruction-era site that was the center of the religious and cultural life of the mixed-race African American community called Strieby which extended across New Hope and Union Townships in southwestern Randolph County, North Carolina.

This year we need to raise $3000 to enhance our facility with updated BATHROOMS, in order to meet the requirements to be ADA COMPLIANT. This will allow us to go forward in 2025 better able to meet the needs and comfort of our visitors and all who use our facilitiies.

Strieby church and school were founded in 1879 by the Rev. Islay Walden as an agent of the American Missionary Association, an arm of the Congregational Church. Strieby Church continues as a church of the United Church of Christ, the successor of the Congregational Church. It is part of the Western North Carolina Conference of the United Church of Christ.

Our Trustees continue to maintain the historic church and cemetery and sponsor special worship and other services, such as the Literary Landmark marker installation in honor of our founding minister, Islay Walden, who was also a 19th century African American poet, and our annual Homecoming Service in August, cemetery walk, and open house.

Our site was named a Randolph County (NC) Cultural Heritage Site in 2014, a United for Libraries Literary Landmark in 2022, added to the Black Cemetery Network in 2022, and to the Reconstruction-Era Historic Network in 2023. To learn more, go to: striebyculturalheritagesite.org

Keep Strieby Striving on Giving Tuesday

End of Year Wish List