Several sects were represented in Benton Township and the town of Maloy throughout its history. Many times services were held where ever there was adequate space for a gathering. Sometimes the little congregations met in schoolhouses; sometimes in tents; other times in groves, weather permitting.

Reverend LEDGERWOOD, a Campbellite, held services in Bazzel TURNER's large barn [the HART place in later days] located on the northern edge of present-day Maloy. The Campbellites were a branch of the organized Baptist Church. Reverend LEDGERWOOD conducted baptisms in the river located nearby.

Reverend HENSLEY conducted Free-Will Baptist services in 1890 at the Bozaris School, located west of Maloy. Colonel John M. FOX donated land near the river, and the congregation built a small church on the site. A short time later, the congregation disbanded. The LOUTZENHIZER brothers bought the land and organized the Church of the Brethren.

The Church of the Brethren dissolved after a short period of time. The land was sold the Baptist Church. The Baptist congregation razed the small church building and erected a new church across the river, directly north of where the present-day post office stands. Sometime before 1920, the Baptist Church was dismantled and moved to Delphos.

Elder H. E. Van HORNE from Blockton organized a group of Christians in the Maloy area around the year 1908. The built a church in the south end of town. The congregation often included people of other faiths in their membership. After the disastrous fire in 1931, the Catholics used the building while they built a new Catholic church.

The Christian church, pictured at right, was destroyed by fire in 1984.

Around the year of 1880, prayer meetings were held in the Highland School, located on the present-day Highway 2. The Highland Church was built north and west of the school in October of 1890. Some of the early families who attended this church were RUSS, MOREY, SMITH, CANNY, DAVIS, HOUSE, TOLAND, GOODMAN, BENDER, and MATTHEWS.

Among Maloy's Protestant clergymen were: Rev. George T. PREWITT, Baptist minister in 1908; Benjamin WARING who conducted Baptist services along with practicing medicine and taught school; and Rev. William "Old Bill" McFARLAND.

SOURCE: Maloy Centennial Book

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010