In the late 1870's a community of 25 families lived nearly 15 miles from the capital city of Raleigh. There was a one room school house in the center of the community. The school needed a name. The people of the community chose Bay Leaf becasue it was as close as possible to Bailey which was the last name of the majority of the children enrolled in the school.Some claim the name Bay Leaf was chosen becasue of the number of bay trees growing in the area. Over the last four months of chasing steeples, I have been very fortunate to take most of my pictures when the sky is so blue the white steeples just pop out.
The church membership continued to grow over the years due to the population growth in northern Wake County. In March 1981 Bay Leaf Baptist Church membership accepted a recommendation to build a new sanctuary. The picture below is of the front entrance of the main sanctuary. The huge columns in front seem to be characteristic of many Baptist churches built in the late 1980's.
The picture below is of the side entrance to the church. Notice the difference in the size of the columns.
The picture below shows two steeples. The one in the foreground is shorter and is on the original sanctuary.
This picture was taken from the front of the church. How nice would it be to come out of church each Sunday to see these beautiful horses. Even though Bay Leaf Baptist Church is only about 8 miles north our home, the day I took these pictures was the first time I had ever visited the church.
On a more personal note...when Mom started working at NCSU in 1968 her supervisor was a desendant of the original Bailey family mentioned at the beginning of this post. It was Ms. Janie Bailey, who taught Mom how to crochet and nutured her love of the craft. Ms. Bailey was also an excellent supervisor who patiently taught Mom the ins and outs of working in academia.
The church membership continued to grow over the years due to the population growth in northern Wake County. In March 1981 Bay Leaf Baptist Church membership accepted a recommendation to build a new sanctuary. The picture below is of the front entrance of the main sanctuary. The huge columns in front seem to be characteristic of many Baptist churches built in the late 1980's.
The picture below is of the side entrance to the church. Notice the difference in the size of the columns. The picture below shows two steeples. The one in the foreground is shorter and is on the original sanctuary.
This picture was taken from the front of the church. How nice would it be to come out of church each Sunday to see these beautiful horses. Even though Bay Leaf Baptist Church is only about 8 miles north our home, the day I took these pictures was the first time I had ever visited the church.
On a more personal note...when Mom started working at NCSU in 1968 her supervisor was a desendant of the original Bailey family mentioned at the beginning of this post. It was Ms. Janie Bailey, who taught Mom how to crochet and nutured her love of the craft. Ms. Bailey was also an excellent supervisor who patiently taught Mom the ins and outs of working in academia.Ms. Bailey has been deceased for many years but Mom still remembers her very fondly every time she picks up a crochet hook.
That was a wonderful story about your Mom and Mrs. Bailey!!
ReplyDeleteHi Madi and Mom
ReplyDeleteWe really enjoy your Sunday Steeple Trips. Today was interesting as it included some hisroty as well.
Also as JackDaddy (above) says, it nice to hear about Mom and Mrs Bailey. Our hooman wobbly gran can crochet. She realy fast and she has arthritus!
Happy Sunday Madi and Mom
Hector and Bonny too!
xx
Pees: History.
ReplyDeletehe he
Hector
I've not been following you that long, and have only just cottoned on about your Steeple Sunday, love it. I will be going back over your other posts and taking at look.
ReplyDeleteI find its a good thing to have a project/theme. Gets you out and about looking at things. enjoyed the post.
Jan
Well I'm back having just gone though all your Steeple Sundays, loved the Father's Days photo of you and your Dad, and them you go and put a link to The Door Hunter, well that's me set up for the day. I'll get my thinking hat on and come up with a project, to get me to take more photos, as that is my hobby. No it won't be on Georges Blog he has Saturday Steps.
ReplyDeleteJan
That's a touching story about Mom and Mrs. Bailey and I like how the name of the church was chosen. I also love red brick buildings :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence, that years later you'd write about a church with a connection to a lady that was so kind to you.
ReplyDeleteThe blue sky does indeed show of the steeples at their very best. It was interesting how Bay Leaf got it's name.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice post, especially concerning Mrs Bailey and the love of crocheting!
ReplyDeleteHi Madi and Mom - interesting history and lovely steeple pics against the blue sky.
ReplyDeleteOur mum never did learn to crochet - you mom was lucky Mrs Bailey taught her and what a lovely way to be remembered.
When you are relaxing with your hobby.
love
Martha and Bailey xxx
Wow! I can't believe how many churches there are around you!! You sure have a hobby finding and photographing them, don't you!! Great job!!! And it isn't just photographing them, but learning their history...what a thorough and well-done job you do!! Bravo! I love the new header picture as well...simply: WOOOOOOWWWW!!! Cat and co. (Lautrec and Tiny)
ReplyDeleteMadi,
ReplyDeleteAnother wunderful looking church near where you lives. The story 'bouts your mom and Mrs. Bailey wuz very nice too. :)
Woofs and Licks,
Maggie Mae
Madi, we are so glad you let your Mom out to take pictures for Steeple Sunday! We enjoyed today's Church, very traditional looking.
ReplyDeleteOur Mommy crochets, but her left thumb bothers her if she goes for too long.
Sure your mom keeps good memories of Mrs. Bailey!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing it!
Happy Sunday!
Kisses and hugs
Lorenza
Lovely memories of Ms. Bailey...kisses to beautiful Madi...Calle, Halle, Sukki
ReplyDeleteHi Madi & Mom,
ReplyDeleteAnother lovely church steeple with a very interesting history. Until you started these Sunday posts I had never really thought about the history of churches. Most I have noticed have humble beginnings.
It does seem you have fond memories of Mrs. Bailey, she sounds like a very special woman.
Hugs & Purrs,
J and Cindi
Gorgeous sky in the background. What a lovely story about Mrs. Bailey. We never know what impact we have on another person, do we? Let us strive to make it a good one!
ReplyDeleteWhen you told the name of the church I was wondering if it had anything to do with Bay Trees.
ReplyDeleteCool view of the horses too!