Festival celebrates 150th anniversary of Primrose Church BONNE TERRE — A Bonne Terre area church will be celebrating its 150th anniversary with a festival Sept. 24-26, 2010. To commemorate the event, church members will dress up in old-fashioned clothing throughout the weekend and host a variety of fun activities for families. The Primrose Baptist Church is located on Route E between Bonne Terre and De Soto. The weekend celebration begins at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 with music by the Wallen Family. Former pastors, Paul Midgett, Greg McCord, and Cooper Reid will speak. A play depicting the history of the church will follow. On Sept. 25, activities start at 1 p.m. with a dunking booth, old time photos and wagon rides. Quilts will also be on display. From 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., there will be a horseshoe tournament and face painting. From 2 to 3:30 p.m., old fashioned games and a taffy pull will be held. A washer tournament, butter churning demo and kettle corn are from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. From 3 to 5 p.m. there will be a car show, and a pie baking contest. Big River Fire Chief David Pratte will display one of his old fire trucks. From 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. there will be a baseball game, Bible trivia and old fashioned games. From 4 to 5 p.m., there will be a cake walk, old time photos, and face painting. The greased pig contest will start at 4:30 p.m. Afterward there will be wood chopping, a basket auction and a picnic. From 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. there will be a talent show and poetry contest. Four generations of Stephanie Murphy’s will be participating in the talent show. They aren’t sure what they will be singing yet but it will probably be something easy for the little ones. Murphy’s grandfather, Cooper Reid moved to the Bonne Terre area from Arkansas in 1969 to become the pastor of Primrose Baptist Church. He served as pastor there for 10 years and then again from 1984 to 1989. He still attends church there. “I lived in several different places even when I was in school,” Reid said. “I have been here almost 40 years and to me, this is home.” Along the years, membership has fluctuated up and down and the building has undergone improvements. Four generations of Reid’s family now attend the church. Stephanie has three children who attend with her. Her mother, Connie Maxson also still attends. Sunday’s celebration will begin at 10 a.m. with special music, and former pastors, Bearl Pettus, Ken Vandiver and Nick Zoph will speak. During the weekend, old pictures and articles about the church will be on display. Church History The church has been around since before the Civil War. It formed in November of 1860. Churches felt the pressure of Civil War — a time when people had no conveniences and very little money. According to church history, a few men and women met at an old school house in this area that they called a presbytery. Members found in good standing in the Baptist faith were received by the presbytery. They mutually agreed to adopt the articles of faith that had been adopted by the Providence United Baptist Church “that we believe that the use of intoxicating liquors as a beverage is incompatible with the teachings of the Bible and is sinful in the sight of God and therefore the practice of dram-drinking cannot be fellowshipped by this body.” And so it was named Temperance Mission at that time and was represented at the association in 1861. Seeing the need for a place to worship, Brother J.M. Roberts donated land for a church and cemetery. A log building was erected at the foot of the cemetery across the creek from the present church. The first pastor was Rev. James Cape. Members were Sampson Larkin, J. Roberts, Andrew Stiles, Rueben Cash, Thomas Roberts, Joshua Cole, William Thurman, Patsy Larkin, Pamelia Roberts, Angeline Stiles, Esther Crump, Melinda Goodin, Elizabeth Cash, Sarah Roberts, and Cora Garrett. In 1883, a new frame church was built across the creek and dedicated to God in 1884. Services were held once a month and revivals once or twice a year filled it to capacity. Sunday school was held in the summer months. Later Baptist Young Peoples Union was held in the evenings. They then started missions in the nearby school houses, Moontown, Prospect, and McGehan. During the years of the depression, the church was at a standstill. But in 1935, the church roll was revised under the leadership of district missionary, Rev. E.H. Manwarring. Preachers were still preaching for offerings ranging from $1.50 to $2.50. Under Rev. Jack Hunter, the church grew to a full-time program and a new granite building was built and dedicated in 1947. On that Sunday, Sunday school attendance was 262 and 500 people attended the dedication service. A few years later under Rev. Paul Allen, the church officially became Primrose Baptist Church. A spacious new sanctuary, and office was built in 1991 under Pastor Greg McCord. Another addition was added within the last 10 years under Pastor Ken Vandiver. The current pastor is Randy Murphy. He served as interim pastor from 2006 to 2008 when he was ordained and became pastor. He is described as a constant servant to the sick and hurting in the community and the congregation. Primrose offers a full-time program with Sunday School, Praise and Worship, Children’s Church, nursery, Wednesday evening Bible Study, youth group, and children’s group. Bible School is held for one week in the summer.