Two dollars. That’s all it cost. Two dollars for three and a half acres of land. This is where Woodland Baptist Church began. Right here. Before this magnificent structure stood a humble log schoolhouse. Can you imagine? In 1862 Rev Addison Purefoy and John Brewer Jr had a vision. They established Woodland Baptist Church. Their first services were held in that very log schoolhouse. Charter members Jesse H Lowery Newton Lowery Terrell Lowery John Little Buck Lowery Ian O’Neal Dilly Bridges Catherine White Candis Abernathy and Marsha Ann Holding gathered there.
These weren’t just names on a list. They were families. They were pioneers. They were the heart of this community. They met in that little schoolhouse for years. They held revivals under bush arbors. This was during the Civil War. A time of uncertainty and upheaval. They persevered. Their faith was their strength.
In 1866 the land was officially deeded to the church. A building was erected sometime after that. But even then Woodland Baptist Church was nothing like it is today. The original building was eventually moved. It was moved to Granville County near the Wake-Granville line. The church has been enlarged several times since then. An organ was purchased. Later it was sold and replaced with a piano. The interior was updated with a new floor and ceiling.
The history of Woodland Baptist Church is rich with stories. Stories of hardship. Stories of faith. Stories of community. The church’s early conferences were fascinating. Women weren’t allowed to vote. Decisions required a two-thirds majority of male members. Church business was serious. Members were sometimes expelled for violations of the church’s strict code of conduct. A charge of profanity and drunkenness could lead to excommunication. The church even had a discussion about who the greatest man in the Bible was. Brother B H Davis favored Daniel. J W Watkins preferred Joseph.
These early church members lived simple lives. Saturdays were for preparation. Women and children cleaned using homemade lye soap. Sunday dinners were feasts of homemade bread meat potatoes and apple pie. Men meticulously prepared their homes and yards for visitors. Summer picnics under pecan trees. Christmas celebrations with homemade ornaments and trays of oranges and apples. This was their fellowship. Their life together.
Baptisms were held in local ponds. Communion used homemade unfermented grape juice and unleavened bread. Woodland Baptist Church sent delegates to Union and Association meetings. They contributed to State Ministries Ministerial Education and the Baptist Orphanage. They were actively involved in the wider Baptist community.
The current structure is a testament to the enduring faith of the community. It stands tall and proud a beacon of hope. A symbol of faith. A gathering place. A reminder of a history forged in simplicity. But never lacking conviction. Woodland Baptist Church. A legacy built on two dollars and an unwavering faith.