A History of Blue Wing Missionary Baptist Church

Blue Wing is located on the North Carolina/Virginia border near the small town of Virgilina. The community and church are located near Blue Wing Creek which starts in eastern Person County, North Carolina and flows through northwestern Granville County into Virginia to the Roanoke River. The creek, community, and church were named for a little blue-winged duck that was a delicacy for the local Native Americans. Because of its location, Blue Wing's membership comes from North Carolina, Virginia, and many counties/towns in both states.

Preserved written church minutes date back to the third Saturday and Sunday in February 1900 when A. R. Tuck was the church clerk and the Reverend Walter Pattillo, DD was the pastor. However, oral history dates Blue Wing's founding to 1870 and the first recorded pastor was the Reverend Joh Lyons. The land for the church was donated (at the cost of $1.00) by white philanthropic benefactor C. A. Tuck and his wife, Mrs. Louisa B. Tuck. The deed in part reads, ". . . whereas is hereby acknowledged & the further consideration of the love and respect we have of religious & Educational advantages hath given granted bargained & sold . . . successors in office as long as the land is kept and used alone for religious and Educational purposes. . .."

It was love of God, family, community, and church which was the impetus of Blue Wing Baptist Church. The Church deed shows three dates: September 2, 1880 states that the deed was registered in Granville County and March 24, 1886 that the deed was filed and recorded. The trustees to whom the land was deeded included: Seth Royster, James Burton, Henry Pool(e), Benjamin Royster, and Horace Ellam. The Church did celebrate its 100th Anniversary in 1970.

Blue Wing has progressed and grown physically over the years with many improvements, updates, and additions. The church was incorporated and "missionary" was added to the name. Drawing on its avowed purpose, many of the church's pastors were college educated and most were witty/self-taught men of high character. One pastor had an earned Doctor of Divinity; two had an earned a Ph.D., one an honorary Ph.D., and one served in the North Carolina General Assembly. Blue Wing's pastors have had longevity and worked to improve the plight of the race.

Church support and fellowship were fostered by various gatherings and social functions at the church. These events often times raised funds to further uplift the missions and programs within the church all in God's name and "in order and decency" by various auxiliaries. Services were held only on first Sundays for many years. Now, services are held on the first and third Sundays with Sunday School conducted every Sunday except the fifth when the County Line Missionary Association's Sunday School Union convenes. Various auxiliaries hold periodic programs to serve the Lord.

The current pastor is the Reverend Gregory M. Jones who is a God-sent messenger of the Gospel. Rev. Jones is a family man and is married to the former Teresa Drumwright. The Joneses are the proud parents of two daughters, Lauren and Taylor.

 

Blue Wing's doors are always open and we welcome you to our services.