A History of Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church Defying the encroachment of modern life, the Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church sits silently on a rise at the intersection of Fourteenth Street and Firetower Road. This white frame church, built in 1893, was once the symbolic center of religious life in this once close knit Red Banks community. The history of the Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church can be traced back to what was then Beaufort County and after 1761 was situated in Pitt County. In 1755 a small group of people made application to the Kehukee Primitive Baptist Association to establish a church, who in turn petitioned the Primitive Baptist Association at Philadelphia. In Nov. 1758 the Reverend’s Thomas Pope and Joseph Willis were sent by the Association at Philadelphia to establish the church. On Nov. 20, 1758, these ministers called for a day of fasting and prayer and made a Church Covenant in writing creating the Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church. The first Church building was known as Red Banks Meeting House and it was located on the north side of the Tar River along the Red Banks Branch on the land of Capt. John Speir. According to tradition it was a log building only 16 ft. by 16 ft. square. Apparently the congregation outgrew the building and or the members had trouble crossing the inconsistent Red Banks Ferry over the Tar River. The congregation eventually moved the church to the south-side of the river. In September 1798, Thomas Hardee, Sr. deeded to James Hancock and Francis Bond one acre for a Baptist Church. According to church records the first meeting in the new church building was held on May 15, 1802. The new church building was described as being a 60 ft. by 50 ft. log building. It supposedly had a “sweep” well located on the south-side of the church with a curbing made out of a hollowed out tree trunk. The well became a convenient place for people to get water when passing, and was kept in use as a matter of public convenience In 1808, members of Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church broke off and established the Hancock’s Primitive Baptist Church. In the 1820’s when the Baptist denomination divided into pro-missionary Baptists and anti-missionary Baptists (Primitive Baptists), several groups of mission-minded members pulled out of the Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church. In May 1822 a group left Red Banks to form a church at Rountree’s, Pitt County. On March 3, 1827 John Rountree of Red Banks requested the following to be dismissed to form a Church at Rountree’s: James Ringgold, John Ringgold, Allen Blount, Charles Rountree, John Vincent, Susannah Rountree, Delitha Harrison, Sussanah Stocks, Kitty Powell, Elizabeth Parker, Nancy Rogers, Fereby Parker, Rachel Reads and Polly Atkinson. This group appears to have joined the Disciples of Christ Church established at Rountree’s Meeting House in April 1827 by Rev. Jesse Rountree. In 1827, another group left Red Banks Church and on July 2, 1827 organized the Greenville Baptist Church. In the Red Banks Church records in September 1837 there is a peculiar reference...”Next Association meeting to be at old Red Banks.” It is unclear what is meant by this reference, but it implies that there may have been another church building built sometime after 1802 and the new one was being used in 1837. The next big event occurred when the Red Banks Church was burned down on December 30, 1863 by Union forces from Washington, NC. According to stories passed down, it was said the Yankees thought the church was being used as a camp by Confederate soldiers so they came up from Washington and burned it. Confederate soldiers, who were camping near Bell’s Fork at Thomas Hanrahan’s Quarter, found out about the incident, pursued the men responsible for the burning and attacked them near Simpson. Several were reported killed. The burning of the church was reported to have aroused many throughout the area and many men on horseback rode up and down the roads that night in search of the Yankees. According to Official Records, Union Col. Joseph M. McChesney with detachments from his command, the 1st North Carolina Volunteers (U.S.), as well as the 12th New York Calvary and 23rd New York Artillery Battery, set the church afire on December 30, 1863. Nearby, Co. G, 3rd North Carolina Calvary (C.S.A.), learned of the fire and rode toward the church with a cannon and gun crew from Lt. Col. Joseph B. Starr’s 13th Battalion, North Carolina Light Artillery (Starr’s Battery). Soon, the Confederates learned that the Federal soldiers had gotten behind them and turned back. Lt. James H. Myrover of Starr’s Battery wrote, “they suddenly and unexpectedly met the enemy. ... The piece...was immediately brought into position. In a moment or two our cavalry was retreating (and) it was impossible to fire the piece without killing our own men. ... The piece was surrounded (and) 4 men were taken prisoners.” Confederate Lt. David C. Camp was killed. A Federal report of the incident noted that “after a hand-to-hand conflict the enemy retired, leaving 1 lieutenant and 5 men dead, with 1 piece of Starr’s fine battery, and caisson and horses. ... Our loss was 1 killed, 6 slightly wounded, 1 missing, and 3 horses disabled.” After the Civil War, it is said that people donated money and materials to rebuild the Red Banks Church. Bids were let out and Billy McGowan and Billy Sermons, carpenters, underbid the others by promising to build a new church for $90.00. They went so much “in the red” on their bargain that the congregation paid them $125.00 for their work. By 1893, the church members decided to take the old church down and built a new one, which is the one standing today. It was said that two terms of a school were taught in this Red Banks Church before a one-teacher school was erected across the road from the church. That Red Banks School building was moved and became a residence on the New Bern Highway (now Charles Blvd.) and still stands as a barn on the Taft Farm. A second Red Banks school building later burned. On Oct. 12, 1902, the Sunday session of the Contentnea Association of the Primitive Baptists met in an open air service at Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church. A raised platform under a large oak served as a pulpit and around this, completing almost a circle and extending far out into the grove, substantial board seats had been constructed to seat the crowd estimated to be from two to three thousand. The first sermon of the morning was given by Elder P. D. Gold, of Wilson, editor of Zion’s Landmark. The morning service was concluded with a sermon by Elder Buck, Elders Roberson and Jones preached in the afternoon. The feature of the noon recess was dinner upon the grounds. Described at the time as “a square meal,” it was said that the people around Red Banks had been cooking for a week to feed the huge crowd. On the weekend of June 7-8, 1958, the Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church celebrated its 200th Anniversary. Elder L. C. McKinney who was serving the Red Banks congregation at the time, hosted several visiting Elders and ministers who gave short sermons each day. Many families in the community brought food everyday for a large dinner on the grounds following the services. The church remained active until its membership dwindled away and those left were not physically or financially able to keep the church building up. On May 22, 2000, during a small ceremony and dinner on the grounds, the last members of Red Banks Church including Eula Lee Mills Fornes, Claude Alton Fornes, Alma Hardee Davis, Clarice Wood Mills and Howard Franklin Mills, signed the church property over to the Pitt County Historical Society. In 2002, Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Historical Society worked with the NC Division of Archives and History on the restoration of the church building and has replaced the tin roof with wooden shingles and replaced the exterior louvered shutters. The church building is currently being used for Society meetings, weddings, concerts and other special events. On October 11, 2008, a Civil War Trails Marker was dedicated on the grounds at Red Banks Primitive Baptist Church. The dedication festivities included an Open House, a program by Judge Cliff Everett, dinner on the grounds and the firing of cannon. The event was attended by a large crowd with many in Civil War period attire. This year the Pitt County Historical Society is hosting its 10th Annual Dinner on the Grounds at Red Banks on Saturday, June 6th, 2009. Come celebrate with them by bringing two of your family’s favorite covered dishes (salad, vegetable, dessert). Fried chicken, barbecue and drinks will be provided at no charge. Registration is from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Dinner is served from 12:00 noon to 1:30 p.m. Please bring lawn chairs for your comfort. There will be exhibits of local history and genealogy. Reservations can be made by June 4th, 2009 by calling Mary and Cliff Everett (252) _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail® has a new way to see what's up with your friends. http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/WhatsNew?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_WhatsNew1_052009