Mission Statement
Follow Jesus, make disciples, and lovingly serve others through our gifts and talents.
Our Church
Gay’s Chapel was established in 1839. Prior to 1839 people were gathering privately to have service, which was the tradition during the period. In 1839, William Gay “gave” to the trustees of the local Methodist church land to construct a church building.
The next major event that took place was in 1891. In that year the old church was destroyed by fire. The fire came about under suspicious circumstances, the truth concerning the fire was never revealed. All the records of the church prior to the fire were destroyed at this time.
In 1891 the officials of the Methodist church wanted to close Gay’s Chapel and “move it”, actually establish a new church in “downtown” Woodleaf. A church was established in Woodleaf and remains in existence today. However, the people of Gay’s Chapel refused to give up their church. Following the fire they meet in a brush arbor before constructing a new church building. The newer church was in use until the 1950’s and was located to the right of today’s church building.
The new brick church was built by the members. It was a family project in which not only did the families of the church do the actual construction, but also they raised funds for the purchase of the needed materials. Many of the materials were donated directly from the family farm. Lumber being one of the most common donations. Much of this family influence can been seen inside of the sanctuary, both pews and windows express the many gifts of the church’s families.
Over Gay’s Chapel’s many years numerous organizations and projects have become successful and recognized throughout the community. Of these one of the most successful has been the youth organization. Many strong leaders have contributed to the success, not only of the organization, but the lives of the children in the church family. Both the women’s and men’s organizations are fortunate to have been long running successes with much participation and enthusiastic leadership. Their projects have touched lives, inside the church, all over the community, and around the world.
Most likely the greatest project success and best know project of Gay’s Chapel is the semi-annual barbecues. For more than forty years the barbecues have grown from a simple part of a general fundraiser to an eagerly awaited event by people throughout Rowan and the surrounding counties. The Gay’s Chapel Bar-Be-Cue’s take place the second Saturday each March and the first Saturday each November.
-Joe E. Barbee, Church Historian