Pinckney Baptist Church was organized in 1847 near the start of Stamper Pond by Bro. N.L. Clark and Mose Thomas.
Located in a house owned by a community resident, the church only lasted five years in Stratton because the individual no longer wanted his house used as the church meeting place.
The church members then moved about one fourth of a mile away and built a house of their own on public land. Due to interference by the same man from the Stratton community, the church was once again forced to move to its now present location. The members used a schoolhouse until a new building could be built.
The first church work was the ordaining of Bro. Henry Gill, and four others have been ordained since then: Bro. Pool, Bro. Arnold, Bro. G.W. Rucker, and Bro. Tommy Lee Leach. Three others, Bro. Maury Lundy, Bro. Kenneth Leach and Bro. Herbert Redd were also members of the congregation but were ordained preachers elsewhere.
Pinckney was the starting point of three surrounding churches: Rock Branch, New Ireland and Stratton, all of which still meet and operate except for Stratton which was disbanded in 1970.
While Bro. G.O. Parker ran as pastor, the church left the General Association and joined the County Association along with the State Southern Baptist Convention. The first budget was adopted by Dr. L.B. Cobb and Dr. John Carter’s pastorate contributed a butane gas system, the building of Sunday school rooms and the motion to start a Sunday night service.
Under the pastorate of Dr. James Clark, the inside of the church was refinished.
The church voted to go fulltime in December 1971. In 1973, four more Sunday school rooms were added along with two restrooms under the pastorate of Bro. Thomas Kilpatrick. In February 1974, the outside of the building was bricked and new pews and carpet were added under the pastorate of Bro. John Doler in October 1975. Pinckney then built a pastorium under Bro. Mike Thompson’s pastorate and constructed a fellowship hall under the pastorate of Bro. George Blackwell, Jr.
Pinckney Baptist Church has come a long way in 170 years. Many faces have come and gone, but they’re still remembered as part of the congregation. This past Sunday’s homecoming was a very special celebration and very blessed occasion.
For those who couldn’t make it, come for a Sunday service and go down memory lane while looking at the picture display set up in the building.
Please email me at Bradley.katie93@gmail.com to share any community news and prayer requests.
