The church is inviting all former pastors, youth & music ministers, musicians, members and anyone who may have attended the local church, to attend the weekend activities.
Festivities kick off on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. with a covered dish picnic on the church lawn as activities and music will go on throughout the evening.
A special worship service will begin at 11 a.m. on Sunday, as Rev. John Lares, who was the pastor at the church for eight years in the late 1960’s, will deliver the message. Guest musicians for the service will be two former Music Directors, Robert Phau and Bert Bostic. Joy Phau will also participate in the service in addition to the church’s Chancel Choir. Following the service a dinner will be held in the Fellowship Hall of the church.
“We would like to invite anyone who has been associated in any way with the Madison Baptist Church to be our guest this weekend,” explained Bill Cook, a member of the anniversary celebration committee. “This is a special time at MBC and we look forward to this special weekend.”
In recent weeks some of the Sunday School Classes have sponsored special events to commemorate the 100-year anniversary. The New Fellowship Sunday School Class hosted an old fashion “pie social”; the Vine Bible Class hosted an “Ice Cream Social,” along with a Barber Shop Quartet and the New Disciples SS Class hosted an all-church breakfast last month.
The church began on July 10, 1910 when a group of people that met at the home of M.A. and Essie Brynside to begin what is now known as the Madison Baptist Church. Some of the descendents of the originally founding families still attend the church, 100 years later. Founding members of the church include; Mr. & Mrs. Julian Hill and their daughter Essie; Hester Turley; Lula McComas, Anna Leftwich and the first pastor, Rev. John White.
Several services and meetings of the new church were held at the Madison Methodist Church before construction was completed on the new MBC building. The original building was completed in 1911 with a value of $1,000.00. When the first building was constructed, the congregation was small as was Madison, a town that was laid out by boardwalks and unpaved streets. The building had a seating capacity of seating 140 people with an adjoining Sunday School room that would accommodate approximately 70 people.
Records show the church began sponsoring a Boy Scout Troop as early at 1937, which continues to be successful today.
Many revivals were held and a record crowd of 222 was in attendance during an Easter Morning Service back in 1944. It was decided in 1950 for the church to expand and build an educational building. A goal of $30,000 was set and on March 23, 1951 ground was broken and construction began. The new section was dedicated on June 30, 1952.
In 1958 the church decided once again to expand and build a new sanctuary. Property was secured on Madison Avenue and the parsonage was moved that location making room for the new sanctuary at its present location on Second Street. The first worship service held in the new facility was held on July 6, 1959 and a formal dedication was held in November 1959.
The church is an American Baptist Church and affiliated with the West Virginia Baptist Convention.
MBC provides programming for small children (including a nursery) to Senior Citizens (Keenagers) and all age groups in between. Music programs for all ages are also a large ministry of the MBC.
Twenty-five pastors have served at Madison Baptist including the current pastor Rev. Roger Tinnel.
Please come and join in the celebration this weekend at the Madison Baptist Church.
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