Our History

Pilot Grove Baptist Church has deep roots in the faith and history of our community. Our story begins in 1848, when the United Baptist Church was established on 3.5 acres donated by Hezekiah Warden. By 1850, Pilot Grove was home to a Baptist church, a post office, a grist mill, a drugstore, several saloons, and a cotton gin. Warden donated an additional acre along Pilot Grove Creek to the Baptist church in 1854.

In 1858, elders John A. Piars, Benjamin Watson, George F. Calor, and other charter members established Pilot Grove Baptist Church as a mission of the United Baptist Church. The congregation initially gathered in members’ homes and a local schoolhouse before building a sanctuary in 1876. For generations, new believers were baptized in nearby Pilot Grove Creek—a tradition that continued into the early 1970s.

According to local tradition, a tornado destroyed the original sanctuary. A new church building was constructed at the present site in 1917, continuing the congregation’s presence in the community.

During World War II, the town of Pilot Grove began a period of rapid decline, eventually becoming a small rural community. Through these changes, the church remained a gathering place for worship, fellowship, and community life.

Today, Pilot Grove Baptist Church carries forward this rich heritage of faith. Rooted in the commitment of those who came before us, we continue to gather for worship, share life together, and welcome others into our church family.