WPJL

Knightdale, North Carolina
Broadcast area	Raleigh-Durham
Frequency	1240 kHz
Programming
Affiliations	EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network, Ave Maria Radio Network
Ownership
Owner	Divine Mercy Radio
Sister stations	WETC, WFNE-LP
History
First air date	March 29, 1939; 85 years ago (1939-03-29) (as WRAL)
Former call signs	WRAL (1939–1965) WRNC (1965–1978)
Call sign meaning	"We Proclaim Jesus Lord"
Technical information[1]
Licensing authority	FCC
Facility ID	73884
Class	C
Power	1,000 watts unlimited
Transmitter coordinates	35°46′25.00″N 78°37′9.00″W / 35.7736111°N 78.6191667°W / 35.7736111; -78.6191667
Links
Public license information	Public file LMS
Website	www.catholic540am.org

WPJL (1240 kHz) is a non-commercial AM radio station, licensed to Knightdale, North Carolina, and serving the Research Triangle. The station, owned by Divine Mercy Radio, simulcasts the Catholic radio format broadcast by WETC.

WPJL is authorized for 1,000 watts non-directional..

The station signed on the air on March 29, 1939, as WRAL in Raleigh. Its power was 250 watts by day and 100 watts at night, broadcasting on 1210 kHz. The studios were on Salisbury Street in downtown Raleigh. In 1946, it added an FM station, WRAL-FM, and in 1956 added a television station, WRAL-TV.

In 1941, the North American Regional Broadcasting Agreement (NARBA) was implemented, which moved most stations on 1210 kHz, including WRAL, to 1240 kHz. During those early days, the station was a network affiliate of the Mutual Broadcasting System.

Capitol Broadcasting sold WRAL in 1965, but kept the sister stations WRAL-FM and WRAL-TV. That required a change in its call sign, becoming WRNC, which stood for Raleigh, North Carolina. As WRNC, the station played Top 40 hits and then country music. In the 1960s the station was sold to Smiles Associates and in 1974 the format was changed to Christian radio. In 1978, the call sign was changed from WRNC to WPJL ("We Proclaim Jesus Lord"). The call sign was chosen to reflect the new orientation of the station.^[2]

The station aired a Christian talk and teaching radio format^[3] before going silent. Religious leaders heard on WPJL included Adrian Rogers, J. Vernon McGee, Joyce Meyer, Jim Daly, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Chuck Swindoll. WPJL went off the air July 31, 2023, and on August 16, 2023, it was authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to remain silent for up to 180 days.^[4]

On February 12, 2024, WPJL was sold to Divine Mercy Radio, in order to become a sister station to WETC in Wendell.^[5] At this time it changed from a commercial to a non-commercial station.

In June 2024, the station was given permission to temporarily operate with 250 watts, using a longwire antenna constructed at the WETC transmitter site.^[6] In August, the Construction Permit was modified to change the Community of license from Raleigh to Knightdale, and specify diplex operation from the WETC transmitter site.^[7]

• Facility details for Facility ID 73884 (WPJL) in the FCC Licensing and Management System
• WPJL in Nielsen Audio's AM station database
• FCC History Cards for WPJL (covering 1937-1978 as WRAL / WRNC / WPJL)

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