It’s been more than 170 years since a group of six area individuals gathered for worship in a log cabin, the home of Abram Tunison, forming the Baptist Church of Hadley.
While the buildings and members have changed through the years, the church remains.
At 11 a.m., Oct. 11, the Baptist Church of Hadley will celebrate an anniversary marking not only its small beginnings in 1838, but also its reformation in 1949. The special anniversary service will include past church members, along with a short video of the history of the community landmark.
After the first gathering in 1838, construction on the first church building began in 1855 and was dedicated in 1856. The first 75 years included 504 members, 309 which were by baptism.
During the early days, Hadley was home to several churches, including The First Baptist Church of Hadley, Methodist Episcopal Church, Lutheran Church, Presbyterian Church, Congregational Church, Free Will Baptist Church, and Second Methodist Church. With the coming of railroads, towns like Hadley which were not located near a railway experienced population migration. As a result, churches closed and the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Baptist Church combined to form The Hadley Federated Church.
This federation began in 1919, and for 30 years both churches met in the Methodist building (now the Hadley Community Church) and the Baptist building was used for church and community functions.
In 1949 the Baptist Church of Hadley was re-formed and resumed services. Membership grew, and in 1958, under the leadership of Reverend Harold Walsh, a two-story building was added to the rear of the church building. In 1967, under the leadership of Reverend Karl Pike, a new sanctuary was added. The church continued to grow and purchase adjoining properties, and in 1975 an educational wing was added. In 1995, under the leadership of Reverend Reid Kitchen, the church added a new gymnasium and remodeled the auditorium built in 1967. At this time the original building was taken down, along with the 1959 addition.