Buffalo Presbyterian has a new stated supply pastor as of April 1, 2024. Eric preached at Buffalo a number of times in 2023. He has stated that when he first came to Buffalo he felt at home. Eric was born and raised in Asheboro, NC, in Randolph County. He graduated from Asheboro High School, and from Campbell University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Eric and Debbie have been married for 41 years.
Eric is an ordained Southern Baptist minister and have served bi-vocationally in ministry for most of the last 43 years. Sanford has been their home for 38 years. Currently, he serves as vice chair of the Lee County Board of Education and is an adjunct instructor at Central Carolina Community College teaching “World Religions.” Eric and Debbie have started a coaching, consulting, training, and speaking business for “something to do” in their retirement years ahead.
We welcome Eric and Debbie to Buffalo Presbyterian.
Buffalo Church, the oldest Presbyterian Church in Lee County, was founded in 1797 by Scot folk who settled this region. Services were often spoken in English in the morning and Gaelic in the afternoon, especially on communion occasions when the number of participants overflowed the church building.
Church records say, “about the first of April A.D. 1797 the Rev. William D. Paisley, a licentiate, began to preach every third Sabbath in a log building where the present church now stands. On the 10th of May, 1798, he was ordained at said church.”
The present church building is the fourth to be built on this site. It was erected in 1879 and was dedicated in the pastorate of the Reverend William Sterling Lacy in 1880. The gallery in this building was once used largely by ex-slaves who were members and continued to attend long after the Civil War.
Eight other Presbyterian Churches have been established through the Buffalo Church.
In 2014, Buffalo preformed major renovations to our beloved church with the addition of two new handicap bathrooms in our education building. Also, in our sanctuary, carpet and lighting fixtures were replaced by the generous efforts of a member. We also refinished our hardwood floors. Another generous member donated a new sound system.
We are a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church USA and the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina.
Explore the pages of this website to see samplings of the many people, ministries, programs, events and gatherings that are the way we do church together. Although many members of our church have been in the community for generations, there is always room, food and welcome for you!
Stop by anytime or contact us today at 919-776-7313.
The present church building is the fourth to be built on this site. It was erected in 1879 and was dedicated in the pastorate of the Reverend William Sterling Lacy in 1880. The gallery in this building was once used largely by ex-slaves who were members and continued to attend long after the Civil War.
Eight other Presbyterian Churches have been established through the Buffalo Church.
In 2014, Buffalo preformed major renovations to our beloved church with the addition of two new handicap bathrooms in our education building. Also, in our sanctuary, carpet and lighting fixtures were replaced by the generous efforts of a member. We also refinished our hardwood floors. Another generous member donated a new sound system.
We are a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church USA and the Presbytery of Coastal Carolina.
Explore the pages of this website to see samplings of the many people, ministries, programs, events and gatherings that are the way we do church together. Although many members of our church have been in the community for generations, there is always room, food and welcome for you!
Stop by anytime or contact us today at 919-776-7313.
Our church secretary is Leslie Skillman. She is a retired Social Service Coordinator from Montana. She moved to the Sanford area with her husband, Doug in 2018. Leslie is an active member of Buffalo Presbyterian.