Pilgrims Rest Baptist 150th anniversary celebration postponed due to COVID

To celebrate their 150th anniversary, Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church was planning to hold a special service, with music and singing. Now, those plans are on hold.
Cindy Brown, a member of the church, said an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has led the church to postpone the celebration. At this time, a new date for the celebration has not yet been planned.
The celebration was to include a worship service led by former Pastor Jimmy Harris and a performance by The Potter’s Wheel, a gospel bluegrass group. Brown said The Potter’s Wheel chose to temporarily cancel their appearance after learning about the outbreak.
“The music people said that they’re not coming, and I don’t blame them,” she said. “They said they would try to work with us on a reschedule.”
According to the church’s 150th anniversary program, Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church was organized on Dec. 16, 1871 by six people: William and Martha Gilmore, James and Martha Powell, and William W. and Almeda Scraggins. Rev. James Hill was the church’s first pastor, and the church met in a series of community school houses until its present building was constructed; it was not immediately clear when the church building was completed.
Vera Dalton, 85, the oldest member of the church, said she has a number of wonderful memories of her time with Pilgrims Rest.
“I was the treasurer for 30 years, and I played the piano for the church for 30 years,” she said. “I was saved there when I was 14 years old, baptized when I was 17. I got married there, and I also had my 50th wedding anniversary there.”
Additionally, Dalton has promised special greetings for those who attend services when it’s safe to attend again.
“We’re a small church, but we love everyone,” she said. “And I’m the hugger of the church; if you come to church, I’ll be sure to give you a hug.”
Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church is located at 23093 Lawrence 2020 in Everton, about one mile east of Lawrenceburg.