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Webster Baptist Church to celebrate 150 years Sunday
By Derek Hodges
In 1854, 29 people, mostly members of what is now known as Old Savannah Baptist Church, met in the then-newly-constructed courthouse in Webster to form what would become Webster Baptist Church.
Unlike so many church splits, these separatists didn’t leave their first church because of a disagreement.
“They wanted a church that was closer to the community,” said Jim Cowan, chairman of the Webster church’s history committee.
Now Webster Baptist is celebrating the 150 years that have passed since that first meeting.
Though the church’s official birthday is Dec. 30, a date the congregation marked in 2004 by licensing member David Powell for ministry, they will hold their sesquicentennial celebration this Sunday, May 1.
“We wanted a warmer time when all our college students could be a part of the celebration. We have a lot of college students,” Cowan said.
The church will focus on its history during Sunday school classes and will hold a worship celebration at 10:30 a.m. led by the Rev. Ray McCall, the church’s longest serving pastor. Former members, deacons and pastors in attendance will be given special recognition.
Lunch will be served at noon and an afternoon worship and dedication service will begin at 1:15 p.m.
“It’s going to be a really good day,” Cowan said.
Before the formation of the church, Baptists from Webster had to trek several miles for services. They decided that Webster, as the newly-named county seat, needed a Baptist church of its own.
So it was that a new congregation was formed and given the name “The Baptist Church of Christ at Webster.” The church was served by the Rev. Thomas Henson.
The congregation continued to meet in the courthouse, the Little Savannah schoolhouse and “at the school near Love’s,” the history says.
While plans to find a permanent meeting place were put into motion in 1855, the church didn’t actually move out of the courthouse until 1883, when it purchased the River Hill School building and almost two acres for $70, according to church records.
During those early years, the church was one of very few to allow slaves membership. The congregation met once a month and paid the preacher $50 each year, said Cowan.
Between 1883 and 1886, the church ordered and installed a belfry and bell.
“That was the first bell known to be installed in Jackson County,” Cowan said.
The bell continued to ring at the church’s River Hill location until May 1900, when the church moved into its present building across the bridge from the main part of Webster. The bell was then brought down from its home at the former school and installed in the newly-constructed steeple. It has been in continuous use by the church to the current time, Cowan said.
Electricity was added to the building in 1920. Prior to that, night worship was by candlelight, the history says.
Services at the church have been held regularly since its founding, with the exception of a few periods. The church did not meet during the early days of the Civil War and worshipers found attendance virtually impossible after the Webster bridge was washed out during the 1940 flood, leaving the church high, dry and empty.
From one meeting a month the church moved to meeting twice each month, then to regular meetings each Sunday, Cowan said. The church now holds two services and Sunday school on Sunday mornings, a service Sunday night and a meal and prayer service on Wednesdays.
The church has also experienced growth in its facilities.
In 1952, the congregation began construction on an educational building which was completed in 1954. A fellowship hall was completed in 1998.
The sanctuary had its one-and-only major renovation in 1962. New drywall and ceiling tiles were hung, indirect lighting was added and interior painting was done, Cowan said.
The congregation has purchased several of the parcels surrounding its current location, including: 4 acres known as the Leo Wilson property, acquired in 1970; 2.6 acres and the church’s first parsonage, bought from Eldon Cabe in 1977; and finally, in 2001 the Bill and Linda Cowan property.
“The church has really grown a lot. We’re going to have to build a new church soon,” Cowan said.
There are currently no plans for a new facility, but when those do come, preservation of the current building, which was entered into the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, will certainly be a part of them, he said.
“Oh yes, we’re going to want to keep the building we have now,” Cowan said.
Over the years the church has been served by 41 ministers. It has also ordained and/or licensed six men for the ministry, including Powell.
Currently there are about 395 members on the church’s roll. Average attendance is about 200 for Sunday services, Cowan said.
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