MARION -- Members and guests of Marion's Third Baptist Church celebrated the 100th anniversary of the church's founding over the weekend with a full schedule of activities, which included a rare Saturday night service, followed by a social.
On Sunday in addition to the regularly scheduled Sunday School classes and morning church service, the celebrants lunched together, followed by a special singing service with performances by members past and present.
The historic church dates back a hundred years, evolving from a brush arbor at the corner of Fair and Boulevard Streets.
It was on July 13, 1919 that worshippers stretched a large tent over the arbor framework and formally organized the church as a place to sing, pray, preach and worship God.
There were 13 original church members at the outset, among them they chose three trustees and four deacons.
C.C. Allen was chosen as the first pastor and the cornerstone of a new building was laid on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27, 1919.
The church grew over the years and now occupies a large portion of an entire city block at the same site.
For the 100th celebration former longtime pastors Ron Cremeens and Scott Kallem filled the pulpit.
