In what was then Pasqoutank County, a congregation in the Shiloh community petitioned the colonial court to be allowed to worship at the church of its choice, and not the Church of England. The oldest Baptist Church in North Carolina thus came to be organized by Sept. 5, 1729, as Burges' Meeting House. Renamed Shiloh Baptist Church in 1812, the church is being honored with a N.C. Highway Historical Marker Saturday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. at 952 S. Highway 343 at Shiloh in Camden County.
Originally from Maryland, Paul Palmer is credited with organizing the church. He had preached in New Jersey and Maryland before coming to North Carolina in 1720 and established his first church in 1727 in Chowan County. Baptist historians consider the church in Chowan County and the church in Pasquotank County to be separate organizations founded by the same pastor. The Baptist presence in the state is documented back to the 17th century, but these early congregations mark the beginnings of major Baptist activity in the colony.
A small house of worship was built on grounds owned by the Burges (later Burgess) family in 1736, and a new meeting house was built in 1758 on Portahonk Creek. The current meeting house is across the road from the Portahonk Creek building, and has undergone additions and renovations over the years.
The marker dedication program will include a brief recognition of founders, special guests and those who worked to bring about the marker recognition. In addition to the maker dedication, Shiloh Baptist will hold its annual Fall Festival and Fishing Tournament from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For additional information about the dedication, please call (252) 336-4280. For information about the highway marker program, please call (919) 807-7290. The Highway Marker Program is collaboration between the N.C. departments of Natural and Cultural Resources and Transportation.
About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR) is the state agency with a vision to be the leader in using the state's natural and cultural resources to build the social, cultural, educational and economic future of North Carolina. Led by Secretary Susan Kluttz, NCDNCR's mission is to improve the quality of life in our state by creating opportunities to
experience excellence in the arts, history, libraries and nature in North Carolina by stimulating learning, inspiring creativity, preserving the state's history, conserving the state's natural heritage, encouraging recreation and cultural tourism, and promoting economic development.
NCDNCR includes 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, two science museums, three aquariums and Jennette's Pier, 39 state parks and recreation areas, the N.C. Zoo, the nation's first state-supported Symphony Orchestra, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, State Preservation Office and the Office of State Archaeology, along with the Division of Land and Water Stewardship. For more information, please call (919) 807-7300 or visit www.ncdcr.gov.