After nearly a century of serving up succulent pork barbecue and Brunswick stew, the Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church is putting an end to its venerable annual barbecue event. Informed sources at WCNC stated that the decision comes with "heavy hearts," citing the inability to continue due to generational shifts in leadership and sustainability challenges. This storied Charlotte tradition, dubbed the "grandaddy of barbecues," first began in 1929, initially as a fundraiser to finish construction of the church's Sunday school rooms amid the dawn of the Great Depression.
The church's event, known for not just its food but also as a significant fundraiser for both local and global missions, will sorely be missed. It especially earned its fame as a yearly homecoming for many and caught the attention of presidents and other notable personalities over the decades. According to The Charlotte Observer, the BBQ's hiatus only once occurred during the COVID pandemic, marking its consistency and resilience up till now.
Reflecting on the beginning of this piece of Charlotte's culinary and community history, it was the deacons of Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church who, unable to pay the contractor for the building works, initiated the barbecue to raise the necessary funds, QC News reports. Their efforts not only supported the church's physical growth but expanded to sustain missions and the church's building fund through the years.
In a statement obtained by WCNC, the church expressed gratitude toward its BBQ Committee and the community for their unwavering support. "Good food, fellowship, homecomings of sorts, and contributions to missions to continue to move our Lord’s work ahead" have been at the core of the event's ethos.
