PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
SANCTUARY … The church’s sanctuary, a quiet reminder of the generations of community, worship, and traditions that have taken place at the West Franklin Community Church.
By: Jacob Kessler
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jacob@thevillagereporter.com
The West Franklin Community Church celebrated its 175th anniversary on Sunday afternoon with a special gathering held from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the church located at 10381 Fulton Township Road 27-1 near the Fulton and Williams County line.
This anniversary marked 175 years of continuous worship on the corner of County Road L and Township Road 27-1. The first wooden church building was dedicated on December 6, 1849, back when the crossroads was known as Masters Corners.
The area once hosted four churches, including Presbyterian, Baptist, and Quaker congregations surrounding the community.
Ezekiel Masters, who lived next door, donated the land, boulders, and timbers for the original building and helped haul materials to the site. That wooden church was torn down in 1875 and replaced with the brick structure still in use today.
“This is not just 150 years of the brick church,” said Colleen Rufenacht, President of the Bean Creek Valley History Center. “This is 175 years of there being a Methodist Church on this corner and a continuous congregation. That’s pretty awesome.”
A stained-glass window was added in the 1890s. In the 1950s, members dug out a basement by hand, adding the first bathrooms and kitchen.
Another addition was built about 15 years ago. Rufenacht also shared how she began attending in 1987. “It was like the church just wrapped its arms around us,” she said.
The 175th celebration welcomed both current and former members for the day of celebration. A PowerPoint presentation displayed photos from throughout the church’s history, and hymns from the 1850s, including “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” were sung during the program.
Guests shared stories and memories, recalling familiar names. Tables of sweets and food added to the warm and welcoming atmosphere.
“This is 175 years of community, of faith, of people coming together,” said Rufenacht. “This little church has stood the test of time. And that’s something worth celebrating.”