Near the present church building is a well, which those who traveled the old freight road that ran from Jefferson to Dallas, in 1878, would camp nearby and rest themselves and their horses.  Approximately one-half mile from the present location of the church building, an old brush arbor revival meeting was held in1878 by Bro. A.C. McKay.  From that revival meeting, this church was organized.  At that time, a circuit-riding preacher whose surname was Pilgrims, covered this particular territory.  Therefore, the church received its name from the REST area nearby and from the circuit-riding preacher, PILGRIMS.  The well location that offered temporary satisfaction to many in times past still exists today, and as shown in the picture, it continues to spring-up and overflow with water.  Now, 140+ years later, Pilgrims Rest Baptist Church has proclaimed the message of Jesus Christ, who said to the woman at Jacob's Well:  "Whoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst.  But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."  John 4:13-14  NKJV