Sunday morning at Shiloh Baptist Church started as it does most every weekend, with a 10 a.m. service with prayers, singing and Biblical passages.
Beautiful stained glass windows cast the morning sunlight against the white walls of the small church as 122 people — a much larger crowd than usual — bowed their heads and said a short prayer together.
Crossing their hands over their hearts, they recited the pledge of allegiance to the American Flag, the Christian flag and the Bible. A choir of nine, a piano player and the choir director led the congregation in a series of hymns followed by a list of prayer requests.
But unlike the 7,779 previous Sunday services celebrated by Shiloh Baptist, this one was special, marking the small congregation’s 150th anniversary.
Pastor Ancel Harden began his remarks with a history of the congregation.
Now located just southeast of Columbus on 11988 State Road 46, Shiloh Baptist Church began in 1868 a couple miles down the road from its present location. It was first located near the old Moffit Schoolhouse, then moved to the Burnett School House.
By 1877 the congregation had grown so much that it needed a new building. It built one, but 14 years later in 1891 members decided to move and took the church building apart and moved the pieces to a site across the street from where the church sits now.
“They moved this building on logs pulled by men and horses,” Harden said.
For more on this story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
