ELSANOR, Alabama — Bethel Baptist Church will celebrate the 75h anniversary of the church founding during a special service beginning at 10 a.m. Sunday, May 1 at the church, 22250 U.S. Highway 90 in the Elsanor community east of Robertsdale.

Originally started as a mission church for the First Baptist Church of Robertsdale, the church was built on two acres of land donated by Mr. and Mrs. William H. Churchill and was officially chartered on April 20, 1941 with six members, Mr. and Mrs. O.L. Hedden Sr., the Rev. and Mrs. Francis E. Broyles and Mr. and Mrs. Ira Arnould.

The church officially opened its doors on May 27, 1941 and six additional charter members, Arabella Moss, Bessie Moss, Glendyne Moss, Marion Arnould, L.F. “Ford” Hedden and Hazel Dostaler, were received by letter.

Broyles, who was missionary for the Baldwin Baptist Association, would serve a dual role as the church’s first pastor. Three additional pastors, Clarence Bennett, A.G. Higdon and J.F. Hancock would serve in that dual role before the church hired its first full-time pastor, Seth Murphey, in 1950. At age 89, Murphey is the church’s oldest living former pastor.

After the original sanctuary burned, a new church was built in 1948. A pastorium was added in 1953 and, after church members received a clear deed in 1956, an educational building was constructed in 1957.

The current sanctuary was built in 1975 and, following a fire in 1976, the educational building was reconstructed. A Christian Life Center was added to the church in 1997. In December of last year, the church purchased 15 acres of land and is making plans for future growth.

In all the church has welcomed 14 fulltime and four part-time pastors, along with three interim pastors in its 75 year history. The longest serving minister was the Rev. James E. Gibson, who served the church from 1990 to 2005, followed by the Rev. Robert C. Morgan from 1976 to 1984.

Today, the church has close to 200 active members. The Rev. Harvey Earls has served the church as pastor since 2012.

Guest speaker for the Sunday, May 1 service will be the Rev. David Hedden, grandson of founding members Mr. and Mrs. O.L. Hedden and son of charter member Ford Hedden, who serves as pastor of Enon Baptist Church in Jayess, Mississippi.

The worship leader on Sunday will be the Rev. Raymond Bishop, who served as pastor of the church from 1967 to 1970 and now lives in Lexington, Kentucky. Former member, the Rev. Tommy Brill, who is now a retired minister living in Mississippi, will present special music during the service.

Dinner in the church’s CLC building will follow the service, along with a time of music and testimonies. A plaque will be presented to the church’s only living charter member, 94-year-old Ford Hedden.

If you would like to learn more about the church, visit its website at bbcrobertsdale.com or like the Bethel Baptist Church of Robertsdale, Alabama, page on Facebook.