First Baptist Church, Mount Ayr

TILBURY, DARROW

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/14/2009 at 17:00:59

First Baptist Church
Mount Ayr, Iowa

Reverend C. TILBURY of Illinois organized the First Baptist Church of Mount Ayr in 1870. Under Rev. TILBURY's guidance, Mount Ayr's First Baptist Church was built in 1872, located on the southwest corner of West Jefferson and North Fillmore Streets.

The Oakland Baptist Church, located approximately 7 1/2 miles southeast of Mount Ayr, joined the Mount Ayr congregation in 1913. Due to this increase in the congregation to 180 members, it was necessary to erect a new and larger church building. Rev. W. E. DARROW 'plowed the first furrow,' breaking ground across the street east of the old church on April 14, 1915. Contractors for the new church were YOUNG & WOODARDS of Creston. The cornerstone was laid on May 22, 1915, and new pews were set in place by November 11th. The new church was dedicated on December 12, 1915, with Rev. W. S. ABERNETHY of the First Baptist Church of Kansas City, Missouri, as the guest speaker. Cost of the new brick church was $19,500 with another $1,250 to purchase the lot.

The old church building was converted into a residence and is still located at 201 West Jefferson Street.

SOURCE:
Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa. December 1, 2005.

TERRY, Jack R. A Centennial History of Mount Ayr, Iowa: 1875 - 1975 p. 108. Mount Ayr Record-News Mount Ayr. 1975

Compilation by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2009

First Baptist Church, Mount Ayr
 

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