When Adam TROLLINGER came to this area in 1745 there were no churches. There were only a few families living in the entire "Old Haw Fields". Occasionally an itinerant preacher would come through and the people would gather for a few days of gospel reading. The services were usually held outdoors. At Walnut Grove, the hill near Trollingers cemetery, a brush arbor was erected and used for such services. It is said that Joseph THOMAS the man who became known as the White Pilgrim preached his first sermon there. From that spot grew the first sprigs of organized religion in Haw River. Sometimes between 1870 and 1872 Adolphus MOORE and Thomas Michael HOLT built a one room building near the cemetery for public meetings. This building was used as a school, for union meetings, church services, and for other public gatherings. All of the early church congregations in Haw River used this building, and four major churches came out of it. Haw River Baptist, Haw River Christian, Holt's Chapel Methodist Episcopal, and Haw River Methodist Protestant. Early on each of the four churches held services once each month. The people went to each in turn, and social life in the community centered around the churches. A Community Song Service was held once a month at the Community Building. Each church would have a special hymn or anthem, the Haw River Band would play, and special groups would sing. The Haw River Mills donated equal profits from certain concessions to the church until the late 1950s. Sources: Haw River Historical Society