PINNACLE — It will be a festive weekend at Pinnacle Baptist Church as members invite the surrounding community to join them in the celebrating the church’s 125th anniversary.

The celebration will begin on Saturday at 2 p.m. with an afternoon filled with food, games, live music and other activities.

“We want this to not just be a church function,” explained Pastor Carl Whittaker, “but to be a community celebration. This is one of the oldest churches in our area, if not the oldest, and we want this to be enjoyed by the entire community. We hope it will be a fun day of fellowship for our entire community.”

Sunday’s worship service will begin at 11, and will focus on the church’s rich history and the many memories of its congregations. Several former pastors or pastors’ family members have been contacted and invited to participate. Photos and memories will be featured throughout the morning. After the service, all those attending will be invited to join in lunch and fellowship.

The church is at 1054 E. Old Phillips Road in Pinnacle, in the same building that was built by original members. Whittaker and members of the church’s Historical Committee have worked to add to the extensive research of church history and have compiled a booklet commemorating the anniversary.

According to the booklet, Pinnacle Baptist Church began informally in 1869 as Shiloh Church, the only church in the small town that was then known as Culler. Local resident Manual Culler donated the land for the church and a cemetery. A tiny structure was built in the church’s current location, on a hill facing Sauratown Mountain, with Pilot Mountain looming at one side.

During its first 14 years, the church had no official members. According to early records, no pastor was in place and those gathering would simply read the Bible, share from their own lives, pray and sing together without any accompanying music.

That changed on August 4, 1883, when the church held its first official “worship service.” The service was followed by a church conference. Later that month, Shiloh Baptist Church was admitted to the Yadkin Association.

According to early minutes, the congregation then decided to “build a good house, so that when our brethren and sisters coming from different parts of the state to visit the grand old Pilot Mountain, can have a good neat house to worship God in.”

A new, larger church structure was built in the same location as the original building during the winter of 1883 and the summer of 1884, at a recorded total cost of $1,263.07. Reverend W. H. Beamer was called as the church’s first pastor, serving from 1883-90. In 1885, the church became a charter member of the new Pilot Mountain (Baptist) Association.

By the end of the decade, the church had 172 members and an annual budget of $145.66. This included the pastor’s annual salary of $100.

In 1932, the church name was changed from Shiloh Baptist Church to Pinnacle Baptist Church.

In 1961, plans were undertaken to build an educational building behind the church. Floor plans for the building were drawn by Pastor Jack L. Bracken. A building fund was started by the donation of four steer and a cow. Records show they were fed and sold when market prices were high. Construction of the building began in 1963 and was completed in 1964 under the supervision of Pastor Yates M. Brooks. Volunteers from the church and community completed a majority of the labor.

Over the years, the church has undergone both minor and major renovations but remains in the same structure. According to Whittaker, a new facility had been considered at one point but, upon examination, the building was found to still be strong and sturdy. During its 125-year history, 33 men have served as pastor at the church.

“That first pastor had a vision that was shared by the people,” noted Whittaker, who has served at the church since 2001. “Today, both our church building and that vision still stand strong, having withstood storms for the past 125 years. People still gather here to worship the Lord and God’s word hasn’t changed. I’ve been able to see and help carry on that dream, the vision that was there when the church started. “

“This is an old country church,” Whittaker continued, “made special by a love of God and a love for each other. It’s been a lighthouse on a hill in this community for 125 years.”

Long-time church member Lena Hall, who serves as Chairman of the church’s Historical Committee, treasures the memories the church has provided and admits the preparation for this weekend’s celebration has for her been a labor of love.

“This is a celebration of our memories and our heritage,” she explained. “This church is still here after 125 years, on its original foundation. That’s something to be proud of. It has been wonderful going back and researching our history. I’ve enjoyed so much putting this together and this weekend is going to be a special one.”