In August, past and present members of Mount Zion Baptist Church, Centreville, gathered to celebrate 175 years of the church’s history.
The Bibb Baptist Association church was constituted in 1833, with 16 members. George Everett was the congregation’s first pastor. Members met in Daniel Snead’s log cabin home from 1833 to 1855. At that time, the church was a part of the former Cahawba Baptist Association.
In 1855, the log cabin was destroyed by fire, as were all church records. A wooden structure was built as a replacement soon thereafter and served as the house of worship for more than a century. During this time, the church helped to establish Centreville Baptist Church, granting letters of dissemination to 16 Mount Zion members.
Mount Zion became a member of Bibb Baptist Association in 1902, during a time when the church experienced great growth in membership.
In the early part of that century, membership was recorded at 175. More Sunday School rooms were added in the 1970s. However, the entire wooden building burned in 1979. The present brick building was constructed in 1980.
A weekend of anniversary events took place in August. On Aug. 16, an ice cream supper was held and New Life Singers performed. The next morning, services began with an overview of the church history.
W.E. “Billy” Hatley, a former Mount Zion pastor, delivered the morning message.
Following the service were a special dinner and an afternoon of singing, featuring the group Unbroken.
The Alabama Baptist Historical Commission presented a plaque to the church, which was accepted on the church’s behalf by 79-year-old Kathleen Morris, the oldest current member.
“My parents were members in 1905, and I became a member when I was 12 years old,” said Morris.
“There have been lots of wonderful people at Mount Zion who have come and gone. Many of them set great examples for the younger people.”
Her daughter, Dianne Huey, serves as church clerk.
“I have been at Mount Zion since birth and remember a time when we only met twice a month,” she said.
“But our doors are always open. We are spreading the gospel and always looking for people to come join with us.”
Currently, Mount Zion’s membership is 18. Dwight Henderson is the pastor.
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