Although two centuries separate the rough-hewn log structure that first served as home for Black River Baptist Church from its modern counterpart on Highway T, time has not eroded its traditions of faith and worship.
The third oldest Baptist church west of the Mississippi River, according to its members, Black River has endured three fires, seven moves, war, depression, the formation of the state of Missouri, shifts in ideology and many generations to reach a celebration Sunday of its 200th anniversary.
Rick Quigley, who has been a member of Black River Baptist Church since 2012, credits God's will for bringing the church to where it is today.
"As long as we keep doing God's will he keep us a church," he said. "He has kept us going because we got down to some small numbers in the past."
Black River Baptist Church was organized in 1818, two miles south of Hendrickson, Mo., by a missionary sent west on horseback from Jackson, Mo., to bring the Baptist message to pioneers. He encountered a settlement on the southern edge of Wayne County, according to church history.
Black River's earliest surviving church records date to 1885. Yellowed sheets of lined paper contain the Articles of Faith and Articles of Decorum written neatly in cursive.
In 1990, long-time pastor Paul Seegraves told the Daily American Republic, "If anything holds us together, it's the preaching of the gospel."
The earliest surviving church rolls include familiar names, such as Hedspeth, Magill and Rushing. The book is the seventh of 12 record books kept through the decades by the church's clerks. The earlier editions are believed to have been destroyed by fire, the first of which occurred prior to 1868, the second in 1884 and the third in the mid 1920s, when the church had moved to a location near Keener Springs.
The congregation always rebuilt, and even managed to meet during the upheaval of the Civil War. According to a 1968 newspaper article, a Col. Reeves provided space for services at his home, which overlooked the campsite of 2,000 Union soldiers.
The current location is six years old, constructed at the former location of New Bethany Baptist Church through the donation of materials and labor.
The church currently has about 20 members, according to Quigley, including residents of Ellsinore, Williamsville, Wappapello, Neelyville and Poplar Bluff.
Black River is under the direction of Pastor Harold Sitze, who joined the church earlier this year.
Sunday School begins at 10 a.m. with morning worship following at 11 a.m. Wednesday and Sunday evening services begin at 6 p.m.
The anniversary celebration will begin at 3 p.m. this Sunday, June 24, with Southern Tradition performing as special guest singers. Pastor Sitze will read some of the historical milestones of the church and refreshments will be served.
The church's records and historical documents will also be on display. They include the names of many members who settled near the Butler and Wayne County boundary through the years, as well as details of church business.
The documents describe details such as how a pastor was paid $2 per sermon in 1912, and the first church literation was purchased in 1921, two dozen manuals at a cost of $1.85.
They also retell how, like many churches, finances have always been a concern. Collections in 1898 totaled $14.30, for instance, while operating costs that year were $15.50.
"We invite everyone who wants to come, they are welcome," Quigley said. "We have lots of room for visitors."