After 125 years, Saxeville Baptist Church has closed its doors.
Saxeville Baptist Church moderator Tom Van Airsdale said several factors led to the decision to close the Baptist church.
“Saxeville Baptist Church has seen a steady decrease in membership in recent years, and rather than sell the church to another group, on Aug. 1 voted unanimously to deed the property to the Saxeville Community Church. It would be in the best interest of the community to give it away to another area church. We just thought we would rather see it (the building) continue on and do something for the community,” Van Airsdale said.
Saxeville Community Church recently purchased five acres of land on the corner of County Road TT and County Road E in Saxeville. The land was purchased with the intent to build a new facility and that will continue to be the goal of the almost 3-year-old congregation. They had previously been meeting at the Saxeville Town Hall.
“Saxeville Baptist Church has been in the community a long time. A lot of people in the community have history with them, we want the community to know that this is something they did. We are honored and humbled by this great act of generosity and kindness. This does not happen every day,” said Rev. Rod Chapman, of Saxeville Community Church.
The churches have shared several services in the past, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday services, as well as last year’s Christmas program.
Saxeville Baptist Church held its last service Aug. 22, and on Aug. 29 the two congregations will hold a transition service at 9:30 a.m.
Saxeville Community Church will hold its first service in the newly acquired building at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 5.
Public is invited to attend the services.