Pastors
Rev. Thomas Green (Unconfirmed)—circa 1888
Rev. Bitha Leggett—circa 1888
Rev. George Leggett—circa 1900
*Rev. R. D. Carroll (supply)—1904-1906
*Rev. Gro. J. Dowell (supply)—circa 1907
*Rev. W. R. Burrell (supply)—circa 1916
*Rev. A. V. Joyner (supply)—circa 1921
*Rev. R. L. Shirley (supply)—circa 1926
*Rev. Charles H. Dickey (supply)—circa 1926
Rev. W. B. Harrington—1929-1957
Rev. Thurman Griffin—1957-1985
Rev. Calvin Kelly—1986-1989
Rev. Michael R. Dixon—1991-1998
Rev. Dennis Ball—2000-2001
Rev. Joe Riley—2001-2007
Rev. Larry Gilbreath—2008-2014
Rev. Casey Short—2016-Present
Worship Schedule
Under the Leggetts
Once per month, presumably at 3pm
Early days
The Saturday before every 1st Sunday—11am
Every first Sunday at 3pm
Under Rev. Harrington
Every 2nd Sunday at 3pm (1929-1930)
Every 4th Sunday at 3pm (1931-??)
Under Rev. Griffin
Every 1st & 3rd Sunday at 11am & 7pm (’57-’80)
Every Sunday! at 11am (1980-Present)
History
Reddicks Grove Missionary Baptist Church was organized sometime around 1888 and initially met in a one-room log cabin. On October 11, 1894, Noah Reddick and his wife, Charley, deeded one third of an acre of land to the church deacons, N. J. Hopkins and James Cassell, “for the purpose of a church and place of divine worship.” Eventually, the log house gave way to a “new frame sanctuary” although educational space was not added until the 1950’s.
While Rev. Bitha Leggett is recorded as the first pastor, there are unconfirmed reports of a Thomas Green who ministered before him. Rev. Leggett, a native of Bertie County, would travel by canoe across the Roanoke River and then up Peter Swamp a short distance before securing his canoe and walking two or more miles to the church. At that time, her members gathered for worship once a month, a schedule kept by Rev. Leggett’s son, George, who pastored after him.
From the early 1900’s through the 1920’s Reddicks Grove was without a steady pastor, although many filled her pulpit to minister to her members—every 1st Sunday at 3pm (one article from 1907 reads 4pm). Revs. Burrell, Dickey, and Shirley were actually members of Williamston Memorial Baptist. But in 1929, the Lord provided the church with Rev. W. B. Harrington who would serve faithfully for almost three decades. Under his leadership the Reddicks Grove Sunday School was reorganized, and corporate worship moved from the 1st Sunday of each month to the 2nd and 4th Sundays, still at 3pm.
In 1957, Rev. Thurman Griffin was called as pastor. He, too, would serve the church for almost thirty years. Services were moved from the 2nd and 4th Sundays to the 1st and 3rd Sundays, a schedule kept until 1980 when Rev. Griffin took the pastorate (and the church) full-time, the first to do so in the her history. Under his leadership, God provided much growth. The WMU (Women’s Missionary Union) was organized along with the Brotherhood for the men of the church, the RAs (Royal Ambassadors) for young boys and GAs (Girls Auxiliary) for young girls. The church’s property also grew under Rev. Griffin. In 1972, Ben Hopkins donated a portion of land to expand the grounds from one third of an acre to a full acre, and in 1977, a new building was dedicated, giving us the property we have today.
The history of Reddicks Grove Baptist Church is not the story of an institution but of a people. The faces of the ministers, brothers, and sisters in Christ from the past, the present, and even those who will come in the future—these form the church known as Reddicks Grove. This means, of course, that God is not through writing upon the pages of our history. What will the members a hundred years from now say about you? The words of Joshua ring true still, “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15 NASB).
Reddicks Grove Baptist Church 