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| History |
The Second Baptist congregation is said to have been organized in 1893 by the reverend P.W. Jones with 12 members. It is believed that most of the members were involved in coal mining.
In early 1902, there was a strong interest in the construction of a building to house the congregation and fund-raising began. The Centerville Daily Citizen noted the event on March 21, 1902.
" A large sum of money was raised for the Second Baptist Church. A number of people, including whites, attended a quilt fair to raise the money. Afterwards, supper was served.....The total money raided was 131.13. The Rev. T.T. Ward organized the affair."
In June 1902, the cornerstone for the wood frame Gothic Revival Church on South 18th Street was laid. The cross that is painted on the wall above the alter is believed to have been painted by the first pastor, Reverend T.T. Ward.
During the 1920's, coal mining began declining. During the 1920's and early 1930's, the membership of the Second Baptist Church peaked at 126 members.
The Second Baptist Church is where world renowned opera singer, Simon Estes, first sang as a member in the choir in the 1940's.
The Church remained active well into the 1950's.
In the 1960's the Second Baptist Church hosted numerous Sunday school conventions.
In the 1970's it also served as a meeting place for events such as the Easter Star.
The congregation moved to another site in the early 1990's, at which time the church stood empty.
In 1996 the Appanoose County Heritage Union was organized to save the church.
The group later joined forces with the Centerville Historic Preservation group. In 1997 the church was purchased for $2,000 through fund-raising efforts by the Centerville Historic Preservation group. A CLG grant for $2,000 was received to assist in the application for National Register Designation. In 1999 the group completed the research efforts and the property became the Historic Second Baptist Church, NRH.P.
In 2000 a HRDP Grant for $15,000 was received and work on the project began in earnest by the Centerville Historic Preservation group. It soon became clear the project would take a tremendous amount of work, and were uncertain whether work on the project should continue.
After discussions with the Iowa State Historical Architect, Judy McClure, in 2002 the state encouraged the effort to continue. Another HRDP Grant was received for $20,000. Since then the effort to raise the cash to match the funds has been monumental. The group is only 13 members strong and untiring in it's efforts.
In 2003 hard work pays off as the church is completed. The restoration was funded in part through grants from the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. The Centerville Historical Preservation group led a community wide effort to raise the cash match of $7,000. More then 3,200 volunteer hours of physical labor have been logged by the war veterans during the project.
508 South 18th St.
Centerville, Iowa 52544
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