The oldest, continuing black Baptist congregation in Grand Rapids has been celebrating its 125th anniversary this fall.
The Grand Rapids Press reports that Messiah Missionary Baptist Church started on Sept. 16, 1890. It marked the anniversary with a banquet last week and a worship service on Sunday.
Three churches have occupied the same site since the original church was built in the 1890s. The first pastor was the Rev. Robert Gillard. He was a former slave, who served the congregation for five years before retiring.
About 800 people are members of the church today.