The History of Piney Grove Baptist Church
Piney Grove Baptist Church was organized on August 8, 1899, with ten charter members. Rev. Columbus Hampton Stone was elected pastor on October 7, 1899. On November 11, 1899, the decision was made to call the church Piney Grove. This name was probably selected because the church initially met in the Piney Grove school building. The first church building was constructed partly from boards salvaged from the Macedonia Methodist Church which was located on Fish River Church Road north of Dobson.
The first deacons were elected on August 11, 1900. In August of 1903 Piney Grove was one of the 20 original churches forming the Surry Baptist Association at a meeting at Little Richmond Baptist Church.
In February 1932 year-round Sunday School began. Church preaching services were held on Saturday night and Sunday morning once a month. The first piano was purchased in November 1935 for $85.
In March of 1936 the Piney Grove school building and property were purchased by the church.
In the summer of 1939 the Piney Grove congregation helped organize the Blues Grove Baptist Church and 15 members from Piney Grove moved their membership to Blues Grove. In July 1939 at the conclusion of a two-week revival, 37 members were added to the Piney Grove congregation: 30 baptisms, five members by letter and two by statement.
The congregation moved into its newly completed church building in 1940. In October 1941 Piney Grove hosted the 39th Annual Session of the Surry Baptist Association, which was honored with Governor J. M. Broughton speaking.
The new church building was wired for electricity in the summer of 1945. In 1948 an addition was built for Sunday school classes and a hot-air heating system was installed.
In August 1950 the church voted to have preaching service each Sunday, except for the fifth Sunday. In February of 1951 the women of the church met to organized the first Women’s Missionary Union for the church. Sunbeams, the mission organization for children, also began about this time. G.A.’s for girls and R.A.’s for boys were organized in the late 1950’s.
The church parsonage was built in the late 1960’s, additional land was purchased for cemetery expansion, the church constitution was drawn up and adopted, the finances of the church were organized by a committee, the church initiated the use of offering envelopes and bulletins and a rotating deacon board was established.
In 1972 the church youth were formally organized, held activities one night per week, and held the first youth Sunday.
In December 1972 the church voted to accept building plans for a new church building. Formal ground breaking services were held in March 1974 and the first worship service was held in the new sanctuary in November 1974. A dedication and open house was held in February 1975.
The church history from 1975 up until the present will be forthcoming. Please continue to check back for more of Piney Grove’s history.