OUR HISTORY
Wynn Chapel Church was founded in the early 1900’s, between 1908—1909. The members held their original meetings at the Mason Hall of Fellowship in Elm City, North Carolina. The church was named Free Will Baptist Church and the first Pastor was Rev. Jim Brown. After several meetings in the Mason Hall, the members discussed that the building was not suitable to have church services because it had a dance hall that was being routinely used. Early church members, Willie and Jenny Wynn, donated land for the first building and the church was renamed Wynn’s Chapel Free Will Baptist Church in the early 1920’s. The first Deacons were Willie Burke, Jasper Evans, Talman and Willie Hunter and Pink Wynn. The church mothers were Penny Evans, Lofton Winstead and Jenny Wynn.
Irene Evans served as the first secretary. In 1940, the little church burned down. Rev. McKinley Love Whitley was the pastor. While plans were being made to rebuild the church, members met at the Presbyterian Church in “Blood Field,” the Church of God and several other area churches that were gracious enough to allow them to utilize their facilities. The officials of the church purchased land on Armstrong Street in Elm City. The pastor was Rev. Fred Gardner. The Deacons were Mason Benjamin, Ernest (J.B.) Dew, Marcellas (Doll) Evans, Cecil Hagans and Matt Washington.
There was one trustee, Mr. Masco Norman and two mothers, Penny Evans and Alberta (Babe) Moore. The little church continued to grow and prosper under several different pastors over the next forty years.
After Reverend McKinley Love Whitely, Rev. Fred Gardner, Rev. Rasberry, Rev. McAllister, Rev. Kerr and Rev. Reid all served as pastors of Wynn’s Chapel FWB Church. Each leader utilized his God-given talents to progress the membership, services and outreach missions of the church to serve the congregation and the community.
After the death of Rev. Reid, Reverend W. E. Bowser was given an opportunity to serve as Pastor. Wynn’s Chapel was Reverend Bowser’s very first pastorate and he served in that capacity for eighteen years. In 19—, the church mothers were Mildred Reid, Lillie Bunn, Pet Lucas, Annie Mae Washington and Ida Benjamin. The deacons were Cecil Hagans, Mason Benjamin, Albert “Blue” Latham and Brother Masco Norman continued to serve as the Church trustee. Reverend Bowser and the church officials added Sisters Bertha Evans, Verna Walker, Kate Walker, Lela Durante, Clara Latham, Gladys Virgil and Mattie Horne to the mother board. Brothers W. E. Hill., Sr., Donnie R. Wilkes, Edward Watkins, Henry Horne, Albert Pigford and Henry Walker were added to the deacon board. Under Pastor Bowser leadership, Nursing Home Ministry, and 7 ministers were called into the Ministry, Sisters Rachel Latham, Katie Horne, Jackie Hill, Angela Joyner, Fannie Lucas, Bros. Gary Evans and Willie E. Hill Sr.
