Almost 181 years ago the Village Baptist Church began. Baptist believers came down from the Ridge, across from the valley, and from within the village in order to establish a charter for a combined church on March 1, 1839. Just two months shy of the church's 102 year anniversary the doors were closed on January 10, 1941. Reverend Francis Burr delivered his final sermon on that day. For five sad years men and women who needed Christ passed along Mount Morris' Main Street, but a block away a church which might have preached the gospel was closed and silent. To many in Mount Morris it seemed that the old church would become a pickle factory, but God had other plans! On June 3, 1946 the first service of the reopened Village Baptist Church was held. Because of the burden of Lewis Shirley, the building was purchased by Mr. Shirley and arrangements were made with the American Mission for Opening Closed Churches of Buffalo, NY, to develop a fundamental work in Mt. Morris. The AMOC purchased the building from Mr. Shirley and as the work progressed the congregation purchased the building from the AMOC to become an independent, Bible teaching church. Now, over 70 years later, the church is still standing strong, preaching the gospel, and reaching people in the Mt. Morris and Livingston County area. We are so thankful for those over the many years who have continued to keep the doors of the Village Baptist Church open. "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy father's have set." Proverbs 22:28