Piney Grove History
Old Church Building
The building erected at this time was remodeled several times as Sunday School rooms were added to meet the needs of the congregation. The gatherings continued to be small but began to grow as the families who attended had descendants who remained in the community, joined and became active in the church and Sunday School.
Groundbreaking services for the present building were held on March 18, 1973, while the Rev. John D. Mitchell served here. Jimmy McPherson was superintendent of the Sunday School. This building consisted of sanctuary, vestibule, seven classrooms, two kitchenettes, three bathrooms, classrooms, and a long hallway connecting the spaces. The church purchased three acres of land surrounding the building.
New Church Building
The newest section of the current church building was part of the original plans, as expansion to meet the needs soon became apparent. Construction began in December 1978 and the new spaces were first occupied in July the following year. This new addition includes a large parlor with kitchen which may be divided into two classrooms; one classroom, one bath, the pastor’s study, the Sunday School office and a work room.
In 1980 the A.B. Dark family donated the three acres of land between the church and road. In 1982, the United Methodist Women planted a memorial garden on this track in memory of the deceased members of their group. Shrubbery was donated and planted around the building by the United Methodist Youth Fellowship the same year.
The present church membership is 170, with Sunday School membership of approximately 165.
(Submitted by Mrs. Howard McPherson, 1982.)
Fellowship Hall
Our most recently added structure is a Fellowship Hall, constructed and occupied in July, 2004. This building allows our church to seat and serve meals to over 150 congregants and guests at a time, with a large kitchen, pantry area, restrooms, storage rooms and meeting room. The fellowship hall is evidence of God working in and through the lives of faithful servants: “For the people had a mind to work.” -Nehemiah 4:6.
A debt of gratitude is expressed to the late Clyde and Bertha Dark Albright, whose bequest went towards this project.
The first Piney Grove Church building was erected on the Madison Teague property on Road 1362 four miles north of Siler City, N.C. The church was founded as Methodist Protestant denomination in May 1850, according to local church information and a cornerstone. It received a preaching appointment on the Orange Circuit in 1863, but the earliest deed found was dated May 1, 1860, and is found in Book A-M page 135. The church received its name from many pine trees that surrounded it. The church moved to its present location in 1860, to a lot given by Matthew and Rachel Siler Cooper, under the trusteeship of Alfred Capp, Philip Siler, and William Siler. Around fifteen families, with their children, attended at this time and supported the work of the church.