Missionary Baptist Claims
Regarding Nine Mile Church
Missionary Baptist Nine Mile Church Observes 180th Anniversary
One hundred and eighty years of memories will be celebrated on Sunday, September 13 (2009) by the many members and friends of Nine Mile Baptist Church, located on State Route 154, east of Pinckneyville.The church is marking its anniversary on that Sunday with a special celebration to commemorate the day since eight like-minded people met in a rural Perry County two-room cabin in 1829 and decided to form a church, which was given the name of Nine Mile Prairie Baptist Church.
The Sunday, September 13 worship service is expected to draw a large crowd. Sunday School will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The worship service with Pastor Noah Schlag will begin at 10:30 a.m. Following the service, families that made reservations in advance will be treated to a catered meal.
The afternoon service will begin at 1:30 p.m. where former pastors will be recognized. Bro. Jimmy Duncan, former pastor of Nine Mile and current pastor of Second Baptist Church in Mt. Vernon, will be the guest speaker. Special music will be presented by the talented local group of Beaucoup Creek.
Nine Mile Baptist Church of Tamaroa: The First 180 Years:
It should be no surprise that Nine Mile Baptist Church is celebrating its 180th anniversary. It is a giving church whose members look out for one another and who band together to help those less fortunate, whether its a family within its own community or half a world away. What is surprising is that the church survived its first rugged years in existence.
Cabin owner Peter Hagler served as the first pastor, where some members walked up to 15 miles to attend the monthly services. From this came the Nine Mile Baptist Church of Tamaroa, making it the oldest continuously organized church in Perry County.
The church endured much in its history. It was destroyed by fire in the mid-1800s, but a new frame building was constructed for $1,200 in 1863. In May 1932, substantial damage was done to the church when a large tree fell but repairs were made. By the early 1950s, coal mines surrounded the church and the attendance declined. However, the faithful remained and the membership relocated from the isolated location to a spot three miles north in 1959. Vandalism became a problem on the old building and it was taken down in 1989. A monument now marks its location adjacent to the Nine Mile Cemetery. The current church building has been remodeled and enlarged in recent years.
Peter Hagler, who was a travelling preacher, not only served off and on as Nine Mile's pastor for 48 years, but was instrumental in organizing Concord, Galum, Pinckneyville, Paradise Prairie, Tamaroa, Colona, Holt's Prairie, Dutch Ridge and Carbondale Baptist Churches.
In 1845, seven of the churches under his leadership formed the Nine Mile Baptist Association. The Association now includes 45 churches in three counties.
The churches 100th anniversary celebration in 1929 drew some 1,500 people, arriving by automobile, buggies and wagons.
Bro. Noah Schlag, was just recently called as the church's new pastor on August 30. Bro. Schlag was born and raised in Belle Rive, Illinois. He and his wife, Melissa, have an eight-month-old daughter, Ella. Church members are excited to have Noah, Melissa and Ella and are looking forward to greater things still to come at Nine Mile Baptist Church.
The public is welcome to come and celebrate with the church on September 13 (2009).
