Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church was organized in the Wrightsville Sound Community on October 27, 1908 under the guidance of Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church. The effort was led by Bro. George Ward sought after the information for establishing the church. The very first church service was held in the home of Bro. George Ward with Rev. W. H. Moore as pastor. Bros. George Ward, Joseph Kelly, and James M. Franks were some of the very first deacons. The church services moved from the Ward home to a community building for a short period. Eager for their building, Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church was built on land provided by Bro. George Ward, at what is now Military Cutoff Road and Allen’s Lane. In later years, the wooden structure was moved, with rolling logs and a truck, to its present location on land donated by the Waters and Corbett families