Go 4 the Wynn!!

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 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.  After a while, 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.

Reverend McKinley Love Whitely, Rev. Fred Gardner, Rev. Rasberry, Rev. McAllister, Rev. Kerr and Rev. Reid all served as pastors of Wynn 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 William E. Bowser was given an opportunity to serve as Pastor.  Wynn Chapel was Reverend Bowser’s very first pastorate and he served in that capacity for eighteen years.  During his tenure,  the church mothers were Mildred Reid, Lillie Bunn, Pet Lucas, Annie Mae Washington and Ida Benjamin.  The deacons were Cecil Hagans, Mason Benjamin, and Albert “Blue” Latham.  Brother Masco Norman continued to serve as the church trustee.  Pastor 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 Willie Hill, Sr., Donnie Wilkes, Edward Watkins, Henry Horne, Albert Pigford and Henry Walker were added to the Deacon Board.  Under Pastor Bowser’s leadership, the Nursing Home Ministry was birthed, and seven 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. 

In 1983, a new sanctuary was built in which we now hold worship services.  In 1990, Deacon Willie Hill Sr. answered the call to Ministry and preached his initial sermon on December 8th.  He was then ordained on November 26, 1992.  In 1993, Pastor Bowser elected him as Assistant Pastor.  In the same year, Pastor Bowser felt the call of God to return to his home church to pastor.  On December 11, 1993, Rev. Willie Hill Sr. was elected as Pastor of Wynn Chapel FWB Church. In 1996, the church was established as a stationary church in the community, and services began to be held every Sunday.  A time for Intercessory Prayer was initiated each Friday night for the church and the community.  In 1997, God dealt with Pastor Hill to establish a team of Youth Ministers to help guide the youth in counseling, teaching, encouraging, and training them in the ways of God.  In 2001, Youth Church began, and is held once a month.  Since 2001, new ministries have been birthed: three dance teams, step team, drama ministry, women’s ministry, men’s fellowship, greeters, helps ministry, praise team, and outreach ministry.

During his tenure, Gladys Virgil, Melba Young, Elizabeth Pigford, Clara Latham, Magdalene Richardson, and Lela Durant served as Mothers. Albert Pigford, Derrick Joyner, Henry Walker, Henry Horne, James Kirby, Dathred Adams, and Willie Ruffin served as Deacons. Mabel Ruffin, Katy Atkinson, Sandra Battle, and Betty Jenkins were all appointed as Deaconesses. Under his leadership, the Kingdom welcomed several new ministers of the Gospel:  Bryant McNeil, Myra White, Willie Hill, Jr., Robert Batts, Danny Staton, Crissy Hill, Terry Pigford, Gwendolyn Mix, Brenshonda Batts, Valerie Adams, Joshua Robinson, Brenda Wells, and Christopher Robinson.  In January 2003, his wife, Eldress Jacqueline Hill, was appointed as Co-Pastor of the ministry and served alongside her husband.

Throughout his 28 years of Pastoring, he attended and graduated from the United American FWB Bible College in Kinston, NC. He served as the Assistant District Elder of the #3 District Union of the United American FWB Church Association and did so with grace and humility for many, many years.   Pastor Hill has served as President of the Elm City Community Churches Fellowship, and has been a chaplain at Wilson Medical Center for several years.  He has served in Nursing Home Ministry for 30+ years with most of the years spent at Longleaf Neuro- Medical Treatment Center formally known as NC Special Care Center. In 2002, Pastor Hill heeded the call of God to leave the United American Free Will Baptist Denomination.  The new ministry, Wynn Chapel Church Ministries Inc., was established December 28, 2002.  

They both had a desire to be submissive to the will of God for their lives, walking in the purpose and destiny He has called them to, and to love the Lord with all their heart.  In May of 2021, after seeking the face of God for guidance and direction, Pastor Hill again heeded to the voice of God to retire from Pastoring.  He served faithfully and unapologetically in the ministry for many years and truly left a legacy in the kingdom of God.  

Prior to his retirement, Pastor Hill appointed Elder Robert Batts as Assistant Pastor, where he served faithfully until being elected as Pastor Hill’s successor.  Elder Batts was appointed as Senior Pastor of the ministry on June 6, 2021, where he and his wife will continue to move the ministry forward.