History - Morton Baptist Church

ааа The history of the Morton Baptist Church dates back to about 1828 when the Free Will Baptist Society was organized by Elder Eli Hannibal. They met for a few years in the Union Schoolhouse. About two years later, the Methodist Episcopal Society was organized in the same schoolhouse. The two societies joined together to build a house for public worship. In the constitution, both secs were given equal usage of the proposed church, regardless of the amount of contribution. Any time the church was not in regular use by either, it was to be opened to any other denomination that might be in need of a place of worship.
ааа The Union Church of West Hamlin was built in 1833 and located on the Hamlin side of East Kendall. It was said to be 30 feet by 52 feet and have to cost about $2000. The two denominations held services alternate Sundays and held joint covenant meetings yearly.
ааа Membership increased for many years until there were 126 names on the membership role. In 1846 it was voted to hole services every two weeks. A subscription was circulated (for the first mentioned) for the support of Reverend Hannibal who had served for many years.
ааа By 1869 membership and enthusiasm had decreased and from 1869 to 1876 services were not regularly scheduled. Reverend Bathrick began a series of meetings during which there were several conversions. Many who had been members of the Methodist Church joined the Baptists in the reorganization of the Free Will Baptist Church in East Kendall in February 1877. In 1880 Reverend Stephen Randall was influential in raising funds with which to build a parsonage. The site was donated by the Barrows family.
ааа On July 4, 1889, the trustees met to consider building a new church. The Barrows family proposed to deed the present site for $150 for that purpose. Reverend Schoonover was authorized to draft and circulate the subscription which raised $2,610. For a fee of $25 Addison Farbs, the architect, submitted his plans. The contract for building the foundation was awarded to Charles Kendrick for $150. He was paid $10 more for facing the two sides and front. Sumner Austin broke ground for the foundation August 28, 1889. The cornerstone was laid in September.
ааа Edwin Bliss of Holley finished the strusture for $1675. By December the church was complete. Pews, pulpit and pulpit chairs were ordered from Grand Rapids, Michigan and set up in time for the dedication in January, 1890. At the end of the month, a bell weighing 764 pounds was hung in the belfry.
ааа After some discussion, it was voted to sell the old Union Church property to the Presbyterian Society, who remodeled the building. It eventually became Grange hall and then the fire hall.
ааа Oyster suppers and ice cream socials were very popular and are mentioned several times in the church records. In November 1895, Reverend Tanner and the congregation joined in a Thanksgiving dinner after the service, with oysters provided by the minister. There were 128 present. A Ladies Aid Society was organized in 1883 with Mary Austin as president. Also active at this time were the Sunshine Philathea, Golden Ruls and Christian Endeavor Society.
ааа The funds for Johnson Memorial Hall were donated by Robert and Julia Johnson and the hall was completed in 1895. In May, 1895, the name of the church was officially changed to Morton Free Baptist Church. Then in 1913 the church became the Morton Baptist Church.
ааа The notice of incorporation was read on December 21, 1913 and the first meeting of the incorporate church was held a year later. Membership continued to increase. Among the improvements mentioned for the years 1919-1920 was the installation of electric lights in the church, the parsonage and Johnson Hall. Following is a quote from the minutes of the annual meeting in 1920. "This has been the best year in the history of the church. There have been 30 names added to the church roll." The membership at the end of 1921 was 130.
ааа The church body started talking about an addition to the church in 1953. An earlier suggestion to move Johnson Hall to connect to the back of the church was not carried through. In August 1955, a resolution to proceed with the erection of a Sunday School and service building was approved. Johnson Hall was razed. The new addition was completed the same year. It was dedicated as MacQueen Hall in October 1960. It was a momentous occasion when the mortgage was burned January 1961 at the monthly meeting by Mrs. Laura Kenyon, the oldes member present.

In 1963, the church adopted Rev. and Mrs. Paul Collyer as our missionaries.

Two ministers were ordained at the Morton Baptist Church - Rev. David Higgins in 1963 and Rev. Robert Phillips in 1967. In 1993, Rev. Barbara Wolin became the church's first female pastor.

Oysters and ice cream gave way to Pot luck dinners held the first Wednesday of the month in conjunction with the church business meeting. Summer worships were held outdoors in conjunction with monthly picnics in July and August.

In 1972, the Morton church was unites with the Murray Baptist Church and the minister served both churches until the Murray church closed.

A nursery school was opened in 1975 under the direction of Cindy Smith. Later this was taken over by Diane Grimm, who continues to operate the "Country Mouse" today.

In October of 1980, Morton celebrated its 150th anniversary with a special worship service, a banquet, luncheons and house tours of 7 historical homes in Morton. Some parishoners wore period clothing for the events. Eight former pastors traveled to Morton to participate in the festivities. The ladies of the church made a large quilt depicting and historical buildings in Morton. This hangs on the rear wall of the sanctuary today.

The summer of 1981, Morton Baptist participated in a pulpit exchange with a church in Bradford England. Rev. Lee and his family spent the summer ministering to the congregation in England while Rev. Ernest Whalley and his family served us in Morton. This was a wonderful experience for everone involved and many members of the Morton church have since journeyed to England to visit with the congregation there.

In 1985 a ramp was installed to make church entry easier for the handicapped and elderly parishoners. In 1995, an audio system and hearing loop was installed to facilitate participation by those who are hard of hearing.

Over the years, Morton has become a community meeting place, as well as a house of worship. We have hosted boy scout and girl scout troops, a mens social group, two couples clubs, a womens group, TOPS weight control group, a dance school and a square dance club. The church has hosted "Fireman's appreciation Sundays" and neighborhood ice cream socials.

A chicken barbecue and a harvest dinner are held annually. For several years, an auction was held each spring. All these fundraisers are very poplular community events. In addition, many social gatherings were held each year within the church family.