First Baptist Church of Jackson celebrates 200th anniversary

First Baptist Church of Jackson will start celebrating its 200th anniversary starting Sunday, April 21, through Sunday, April 28.

The church was organized April 30, 1824, and is the oldest existing church in Cape Girardeau County. According to the church’s history, it was formerly known as Jackson Baptist Church and was formed three years after Missouri became a state. The church came into existence after the first non-catholic “meeting house” Bethel Baptist Church planted nine churches with Jackson Baptist being the one still in existence today.

Throughout the coming week, the church will host five events to celebrate the church’s large history.

According to the church’s schedule of events, they will start April 21 with a train ride to the old Bethel Church where there will be a short service, and refreshments will be served at the location. After, people will return by train to the First Baptist Church for a service and a potluck. The schedule states people interested are supposed to be at the train depot at 9 a.m. and whoever needs a ride to the depot should be at the First Baptist Church location, 212 S. High St., at 8:45 a.m.

On the evening of Tuesday, April 23, the church will host a “light meal and ice cream social” with activities for kids and historical displays about the church. There will be a ribbon-cutting in honor of the church’s past at 5 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, by the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce. There also will be a bible study and a fellowship meal. The church states in the schedule that people should make a reservation for the meal Wednesday.

The church will have a reenactment of its history at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, April 27, directed by longtime member Wendy Hayes and narrated by longtime member Kirk Williams.

The church will hold a special service at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, April 28, with guest speaker Wes Fowler, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. The church is inviting the public and former members of the institution to be in attendance. First Baptist Church of Jackson is calling this their “Celebration Sunday”. A lunch will follow the service at noon.

For more information on the church, you can visit their website at www.fbcj.us.