Union Baptist Church, York, is celebrating its 175th anniversary during the month of March.

Guest speakers for the month have included Jim Austin, executive director-treasurer of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, and former pastor Alan Price. On March 17, Thom Rainer, president and CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources, will speak during morning worship. The following Sunday, March 24, the anniversary celebration will culminate with a special service featuring the dedication of newly refurbished facilities.

“We have been making plans for some time to celebrate all that God has accomplished through his people for the past 175 years,” said Union pastor Ray Long.

Union Baptist Church was constituted on March 24, 1838. A Sunday school was organized in 1867 and a woman’s missionary society in 1884. In 1948 the church called its first full-time pastor, and in the early 1950s the church began having Sunday night services.

The first meeting house was built of logs. The sanctuary in use today is the church’s fourth meeting house. An education building was added in 1958.

In 1868, Union Baptist Church served as the site for a meeting at which York Baptist Association was formed.

For more information: 803-684-3881.