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BEVERLY – Special guests and performers will be part of the Mount Carmel Baptist Church’s 100th anniversary celebration this weekend.
The church, which is nestled atop the hill next to 4-H Camp Pioneer at the intersection of Mt. Vernon Road and Kings Run Road, first opened its doors in 1926 and has continued to thrive since its inception.
“Mount Carmel, like most churches, struggled for a long time when they first organized,” said church pastor Leon Brown. “They were organized in 1926-27, and today the church is sort of toying around about adding another addition. There have been several additions over the years, after starting off with just a 30×40 plain building with a potbelly stove. Today it has tripled in size and the church has not only grown physically, but spiritually as well.”
Brown added that the current state of Mount Carmel, which started out as a sister church to the First Baptist Church in Elkins, is both vibrant and financially stable.
“We are giving in excess of 20% of our income toward mission work, some in-state, some in the country, and some overseas,” Brown said. “So I consider it a very healthy church.”
The anniversary celebration will kick off Saturday at 6:30 p.m. when the Chewning Family Bluegrass Gospel performs at the church. The Rev. Larry Dale, West Virginia Baptist Men’s chaplain, will speak during the Saturday celebration, which will also feature an ice cream social.
“The Chewnings actually started in Gospel Bluegrass Music in 1971 and their first performance was at our church,” Brown said. “So they are coming to celebrate with us.”
On Sunday at 11 a.m., there will be a special service featuring guest speakers and music by Brennon Weese, who has performed at the Gandy Dancer and the Railyard Event Center. Dinner will follow at 12:30 p.m. and there will be a special anniversary ceremony at 2 p.m.
“At 2 p.m., we are going to have dedications, remembrances, and a bunch of other things scattered in there,” Brown said. “We will have old photos of things that went on at the church over the years and some information about the history of the church.”
Brown, who has been the church’s pastor for the past 21 years, spoke about one church member in particular who has been around for most of Mount Carmel’s history. The member, George Collett, is 90 years old and is the oldest surviving member of the church.
“When George’s mom was pregnant with him, she was the janitor at Mount Carmel,” Brown said. “So he has been here for 90 years plus nine months. Out of 100 years, that is pretty good. We are happy to celebrate this anniversary with him.”
Brown said he started attending Mount Carmel Baptist Church with his wife, Margeret, in 1973. He was then a pastor in Barbour County for 22 years before returning to Mount Carmel in 2005.