|
|
. |
FASSETT BAPTIST CHURCH TO CELEBRATE CENTENNIAL FASSETT -- Fassett Baptist Church will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a two-day celebration on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 23 and 24. |
|
The festivities will begin at 4:28 (the 28 taken from the actual anniversary date) with a historical display of original church ledgers, old photographs, clippings, Bibles, posters, etc.
The children will celebrate at 5 p.m. with a lunch of 100 balloons followed by a fall picnic and fellowship hour at 5:28 p.m.
Guest speakers, a sharing time and a Top Ten Countdown Sing-Along will be held at 7:28 p.m.
Sunday morning will start with Sunday School at 9:45 a.m. The 11 a.m. worship service will be given by the Rev. Richard Rusbuilt, executive minister of American Baptist Churches of Pennsylvania and Delaware.
The anniversary dinner will be held at 12:28 p.m. at the South Creek Fire Hall, near the church. Retired former pastor the Rev. Charles Root, along with the Rev. J. Sydney Dane Jr. of North Wales, Pa., son of former Pastor Emeritis the late Rev. J. Sydney Kane Sr., and the Rev. David Douglas of Towanda, son of former Fassett minister the Rev. Alan Douglas, plan to be present at the festivities, along with the present preacher, Pastor Donald D. Rockwell.
Former church members and friends also will be sharing thoughts and memories throughout the weekend event.
According to a church spokesman: Rockwell was honored on June 30, 1991, for having completed 25 years of faithful and dedicated service to the Fassett church. He began his ministry there July 1, 1966, and still remains very active in every aspect of the church. He is loved and revered by all who know him.
The Fassett church was organized Sept. 28, 1895, and incorporated and recorded June 12, 1896. It was the outgrowth of cottage prayer meetings that suceeded camp meetings held in Burke's Grove, which was located near the Pennsylvania-New York state line.
Services were conducted by the Rev. William A. Grover, assisted by Evangelisty Evens and Professor H.B. Cox, who probably directed the music.
The first meeting had only four persons present. After the congregation was organized, meetings were held for a time in the Fassett schoolhouse.
Grover continued as pastor for several years, also preaching at the Gillett church. He passed away April 10, 1932.
The original church building was built in 1896 by the Hunt Brothers, Fred and Harry, contractors and builders of Fassett. Mason Oldroyd laid the foundation for the structure. Lynn Congdon also assisted with the building of the edifice along with others. Five persons were appointed to the building committee, those being Grover, Willis H. Andrew, S.M. Johnson, Simeon Updike and James Birney. Many descendants of these families still live in the area.
An itemized list of building materials including rough lumber, doors and windows, chairs and pulpit furniture, an organ, lamps, carpeting, charter, carpentry and manly work added up to a total of $1,223.52.
The belfry of the Fassett Church houses a bell that rang for years in the old Universalist Church near Burlington. The bell still rings summoning the community to Sunday School at 9:45 a.m., and to church at 11 a.m. each Sunday. The bell is also rung on New Year's Eve to welcome in the New Year. The bell was a gift to the church from Lewis and Fannie Benson in 1932.
The church observed its 40th anniversary in October 1935 with morning and evening programs before a standing-room-only congregation.
A dedication service was held July 12, 1953, featuring an organ recital by Florence Peet on the new Hammond organ.
On Sept. 26, 1970, the Fassett Church celebrated its 75th anniversary and the dedication of a new annex.
Much remodeling and general upkeep has occured over the past 25 years including new cupboards in the annex. New carpeting in the sanctuary, along with cushions, new rail curtains, new hymnals and refinished church pews are some of the projects that have been completed over the past 1 1/2 years. New roofing was the most recent project.
The Centennial Committee has been busy planning activities for each month of the year leading up to and following the September celebration.
It is hoped that past and present members and friends will want to join in the church's centennial celebration with their attendance on Sept. 23 and 24.
Everyone is invited to bring old photographs, snapshots or other treasured memorabilia of interest to share, or just bring a memory to share. Pictures will be carefully displayed under glass so they will not be harmed in any way.
Handwritten date on article, 9/12/95
 |
An Older Photo of Fassett Baptist Church. Note horse sheds in back |
| Aerial View of Fassett with Baptist Church in center 1992 |  |
|
|||
|
