History in the Making:

 A resolution honoring Barbecue Presbyterian Church’s 250th anniversary was sponsored by Jimmy Love and David Lewis who are members of the North Carolina House of Representatives. The resolution was read three times and ratified by the General Assembly on June 12, 2008. We thank Representative Love and Representative Lewis for sponsoring the resolution. We also thank the North Carolina General Assembly for ratifying the resolution.  Read the complete resolution here.

A Brief History of Barbecue Church:

      Barbecue, mother church to all the early churches in this area, possessed with a dignity and heritage all its own, was formally organized in 1758. The first church, a one room log building, was erected in 1765. A larger one room frame building replaced this one in 1775. The third church, which is the present sanctuary remodeled and enlarged, was built in 1896. In 1945 a building program was begun that changed the one room church into the church of today. This program was completed in 1958.

     In 1965, the Young People erected a marker to “The Stranger’s” grave and a Cairn of Remembrance, containing stone from the old parish , Kirk and Flora MacDonald’s home in Scotland. A Cemetery and Grounds Fund was set up and a Heritage Room was organized.

     In 1971, plans were made to construct Barbecue’s first manse. On February 1,1975, Rev. James Waldo Dodson, Barbecue’s first full time minister, occupied the debt-free manse. A dedication service was held on October 26,1975. Two years later on August 11,1977, Barbecue’s first steeple was erected. It was on Sunday, June11,1978 that a two-fold dedication service was held. The steeple was dedicated and a playground and a paved recreation area equipped with lights, was also dedicated.

     Barbecue’s first missionary,

• Page Cameron, went to Spain in August, 1984 to serve two years.

    With the union of the Presbyterian churches, rotation of officers began. The first lady officers elected were

• Laura Shaw Cameron, elder in 1985 and
• Alta Warwick, deacon in 1987.

On Sunday, April 6, 1986, Rev Peter Youngston, of our Scottish homeland of Jura, Scotland delivered the sermon, part of which was in Gaelic.

    Expansion Over the Years:

• The two paved parking areas were completed in 1986.
• In 1987, a new organ was installed and additional acreage was purchased from Mrs. Dave Godfrey, Sr.
• The organ was dedicated July 24, 1988.
• The new fellowship hall was dedicated March 22, 1992.
• The enlarged/renovated sanctuary was dedicated March 3, 1996

     Barbecue, endowed with a rich Scottish heritage, which has stood for over two centuries, has been led by “God’s man at God’s place in God’s time”. Deeply religious people, whose faith and belief in God, has molded the church into what it is today. Surely God is in this place.

     ---- Adapted from Colorful Heritage, Rev. James MacKenzie