CHOCOWINITY — The donation of a tract of land more than a century ago laid the foundation of a church tradition that continues to this day.

Back in 1908, Bob Hodges offered property on Carrow Road in Chocowinity to the Pentecostal Holiness Church. Hodges Chapel PHC was founded that same year, and the donated property was to be reserved for the site of annual camp meeting gatherings, according to church historian Judy McRoy.

The original gift came with a clause stating that if the property was not used for camp meetings for two consecutive years, it reverted back to the Hodges family. That was never the case, but that clause did in time made it difficult for the church to borrow money for property upgrades and repairs. So in 1986, explained McRoy, all potential Hodges heirs signed over rights to the land.

By McRoy’s written account of the camp-meeting history, “thousands of people have attended the Piney Grove Camp Meeting and listened to some of the best preachers in the Pentecostal Holiness Church.”

That tradition continues Aug. 23-30 when Hodges Chapel PHC hosts camp meeting for the 107^th year. In anticipation of future renovations to the facility, the church will host a pancake and sausage dinner Aug. 8 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Donations will be accepted, according toMcRoy.

Camp meeting at Hodges Chapel began in a simple, unassuming “brush arbor” nested among towering pine trees. The structure was built of wood poles topped with a thatched roof made of brush and tree limbs. Later, the arbor gave way to a hut with a metal roof, but even then the sides were open except in the event of rain, when canvas flaps were rolled out.

“There was sawdust on the floor and no screens so you fought the mosquitoes all the time,”McRoy recalled.

But the primitive conditions did little to discourage the faithful from attending camp meeting. While local residents could easily walk or drive to the gatherings, out of town visitors seeking the Gospel sometimes came and stayed the entire 10 days of the meetings, bunking down in small wooden cabins built on the property. The overflow often found a spot to sleep on the floors of the church and Sunday school rooms.

By the 1950s, the sides were blocked in and the windows were fitted with screens. But the dirt floor was still carefully covered with fresh wood shavings every year up until the 1970s, when a concrete floor was poured. August in Chocowinity proved to be hot every year and those attending camp meeting often suffered in the heat and humidity. Exhaust fans and ceiling fans helped lower the temperature inside the building a bit, but it wasn’t until 2005 that air conditioning was finally installed.

And it will be in that pleasant environment that the Hodges Chapel congregation will welcome guests to this year’s camp meeting. The Rev. Ronnie Gurganus, church pastor, will serve as host, and guest speakers will be the Rev. Danny Nelson, new Pentecostal Holiness bishop as of August, and the Rev. W.A. Mills, a Virginia minister with ties to the local community. He is the grandson of Charlie Mills, who operated a popular Chocowinity grocery store, according to McRoy.

Along with the nightly sermons, camp meeting includes special music arranged by song leader Deborah Gurganus.

“We try to have special singing from local church choirs, so it’s not just our church,” McRoy noted.

Traditionally, camp meeting draws between 250 and 300 attendees each evening. The congregation is warmed by public response to the event year after year.

“I think it’s important that our children growing up can build upon the history that their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents started, and that they can continue the blessing that it gives to the people, not only in our church but the community,” McRoy said.

For more information about Piney Grove Camp Meeting at Hodges Chapel Pentecostal Holiness Church, visit www.hodgeschapel.com.