Haunted Places in North Carolina: Piney Grove AMEZ Church

The year 1884 is the earliest that the church's name is mentioned. Pastor Hartry and his congregation living in the area of Piney Grove Road near the Concord city limits established their predominately African American church in 1900. This little country church was attended mainly by two dominate families, the Reids and Propsts. It is possible that this congregation started in the family home before they were able to build the actually church.

Strange things seem to be part of this church's nature. After several housing developments began to be built up around the fields of the church, the congregation abandoned it. Before the building was vandalized, you could look through the windows and see the chapel set up like it was waiting for next Sunday's sermon. A large bible lay open on the pulpit with a purple cloth beneath it. Hymnals and weekly programs were neatly tucked in the pews. To an outsider, you wouldn't have known the church had been abandoned several years before.

The grave yard is no more than fifteen feet from the church's back door. There are a total of 39 known graves on the site; 17 being Reids and 6 Propst. The oldest grave belongs to a twelve year old boy named Lonnie Matthews. He died in September of 1901. The last person buried on the site was Leroy Propst in October 1998.

The building has been completely vandalized. The walls are painted, remaining furniture has been overturned and the chapel looks like a box of hymnals exploded. Some of the windows have been busted out and the back door has been kicked in. Use caution when ghost hunting here.

Piney Grove AMEZ Church is not a place for amateur ghost hunters. The entities that haunt the property are not all friendly spirits. Sensitives have felt an uneasy presence while near the back door of the church and edge of the grave yard. Heavy breathing can be heard at the same spot. Unexplainable noises are heard throughout the grave yard as well. Shadowy figures can be seen moving around the graves. Several ghost hunting teams have captured mists above tomb stones there.

EVPs can be recorded from the bottom of the drive way all the way to the back of the grave yard. Demonic sounds have been captured at the driveway entrance as well as inside the church. It is believed that Piney Grove church is haunted by both residual and intelligent entities. EVP of "Oh God!" can be caught throughout the property "you're dead" inside the hallway and the sound of footsteps in the chapel. What points to an intelligent haunting are examples such as:

"I was there", while the investigator was telling the team of an incident that occurred there.

"Something happen in here", while the investigator was standing by the back door asking what happen to the door.

"....is dead. What is that", seconds before another investigator says that her camera batteries are about dead and the other investigator walks up beside her.

One ghost hunter suggests that there are at least four or more entities within the church itself.

The overall sensation of this haunted place is overwhelming. Because of the increased vandalism and apparent use by criminals, caution is advised. The paranormal experiences too are not suggested for amateurs.