History of Seatonville Community Church
The “church by the side of the road” has a long history of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in Seatonville, Illinois that dates back to the late nineteenth century. On September 10, 1897, a meeting was called in the village hall of Seatonville by people desiring to organize a Congregational Church in the village. Reverend J.H. Wilson, the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Spring Valley, chaired the meeting. On September 17, 1897, on a motion by Dr. J.C. White, it was resolved that the proposed congregational church be organized and its first officers were elected. The organization of the church was perfected on September 23, 1897 and fifty-three people were accepted as members. One week later, ten more members were added to the church. On October 23, 1897, the Rev. John H. Wilson accepted the position as the first pastor. The first annual meeting of the church was January 8, 1898, and records show the pastor’s salary was $10 dollars a week.
On April 21, 1898, the trustees and deacons met to discuss ways and means of raising funds to build a church building at a cost of $3,000. During this time, the church continued to meet at the village hall. Plans for the new church were exhibited on May 26, 1898, and bids were opened on July 18, 1898. A contract to build was awarded to J.B. Huss of Spring Valley who signed a $5,000 bond, with W.H. Maze of Peru and L.R. Dean of Spring Valley as securers. Construction began in August of 1898 and the new church was dedicated on November 13, 1898 and $750 was subscribed to pay off the balance of the indebtedness. On October 1, 1899, the church voted to borrow $300 from the Congregational Church Building Society for the purpose of building a parsonage next door to the church.
On March 22, 1911, an African-American man named Henry Wells passed away in Seatonville. Henry was originally a coal miner, attracted to Seatonville during the coal mining days that began in 1870 when the first shaft was opened until 1913 when the coal mines were closed. Henry Wells was also the Seatonville mail carrier and was a much respected citizen in the village. The little Baptist church where Mr. Wells attended with his wife and family was so small that folks asked the Congregational Church for permission to conduct the memorial service in their church to accomodate all the folks who wanted to pay their respects to Henry Wells because of his great standing in the community. It was an honor to have Henry Well's memorial service conducted at the Congregational Church in Seatonville.
In 1937, with the need to have more space for Sunday School and a place for social gatherings, the church decided to have a full basement under the church. Men, women, and children using shovels, picks, wheel barrows, and a small cement mixer labored hard to accomplish the job and the basement is still used to this day for many purposes. We are most thankful for the hard work and dedication of all the folks who had a hand in this most difficult project.
On January 2, 1945, members of the church voted to separate from the Congregational Christian Conference Organization and a new church constitution and articles of faith was accepted by the church members in December of 1945. On September 7, 1947, the name of the church was changed to Seatonville Congregational Church, Independent.
Over the years, many physical changes were made to the church, but in 1994 a new addition was completed. The addition added five rooms, two bathrooms, and a handicap entrance. The addition also had its own heating and air-conditioning and is used extensively for Sunday School rooms, a board room, pastor’s study, nursery room, and a small room for files and the copy machine.
The church celebrated its 100-year anniversary with a yearlong celebration from September 1997 through September 1998. The celebration featured special events each month and finished with an ice cream social honoring all those who labored in the past. They unveiled new plans called a “March into the Next Century.”
As the church marches into the twenty-first century some changes were made. After more than sixty years from separating from the Congregational Christian Organization, the church voted in 2018 to change its name to Seatonville Community Church to better reflect what the church represents. Seatonville Community is a non-denominational, independent, Bible-believing church with a vision, “To know Christ more and make Him known to others.”
The “church by the side of the road” has a long history of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ in Seatonville, Illinois that dates back to the late nineteenth century. On September 10, 1897, a meeting was called in the village hall of Seatonville by people desiring to organize a Congregational Church in the village. Reverend J.H. Wilson, the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Spring Valley, chaired the meeting. On September 17, 1897, on a motion by Dr. J.C. White, it was resolved that the proposed congregational church be organized and its first officers were elected. The organization of the church was perfected on September 23, 1897 and fifty-three people were accepted as members. One week later, ten more members were added to the church. On October 23, 1897, the Rev. John H. Wilson accepted the position as the first pastor. The first annual meeting of the church was January 8, 1898, and records show the pastor’s salary was $10 dollars a week.
On April 21, 1898, the trustees and deacons met to discuss ways and means of raising funds to build a church building at a cost of $3,000. During this time, the church continued to meet at the village hall. Plans for the new church were exhibited on May 26, 1898, and bids were opened on July 18, 1898. A contract to build was awarded to J.B. Huss of Spring Valley who signed a $5,000 bond, with W.H. Maze of Peru and L.R. Dean of Spring Valley as securers. Construction began in August of 1898 and the new church was dedicated on November 13, 1898 and $750 was subscribed to pay off the balance of the indebtedness. On October 1, 1899, the church voted to borrow $300 from the Congregational Church Building Society for the purpose of building a parsonage next door to the church.
On March 22, 1911, an African-American man named Henry Wells passed away in Seatonville. Henry was originally a coal miner, attracted to Seatonville during the coal mining days that began in 1870 when the first shaft was opened until 1913 when the coal mines were closed. Henry Wells was also the Seatonville mail carrier and was a much respected citizen in the village. The little Baptist church where Mr. Wells attended with his wife and family was so small that folks asked the Congregational Church for permission to conduct the memorial service in their church to accomodate all the folks who wanted to pay their respects to Henry Wells because of his great standing in the community. It was an honor to have Henry Well's memorial service conducted at the Congregational Church in Seatonville.
In 1937, with the need to have more space for Sunday School and a place for social gatherings, the church decided to have a full basement under the church. Men, women, and children using shovels, picks, wheel barrows, and a small cement mixer labored hard to accomplish the job and the basement is still used to this day for many purposes. We are most thankful for the hard work and dedication of all the folks who had a hand in this most difficult project.
On January 2, 1945, members of the church voted to separate from the Congregational Christian Conference Organization and a new church constitution and articles of faith was accepted by the church members in December of 1945. On September 7, 1947, the name of the church was changed to Seatonville Congregational Church, Independent.
Over the years, many physical changes were made to the church, but in 1994 a new addition was completed. The addition added five rooms, two bathrooms, and a handicap entrance. The addition also had its own heating and air-conditioning and is used extensively for Sunday School rooms, a board room, pastor’s study, nursery room, and a small room for files and the copy machine.
The church celebrated its 100-year anniversary with a yearlong celebration from September 1997 through September 1998. The celebration featured special events each month and finished with an ice cream social honoring all those who labored in the past. They unveiled new plans called a “March into the Next Century.”
As the church marches into the twenty-first century some changes were made. After more than sixty years from separating from the Congregational Christian Organization, the church voted in 2018 to change its name to Seatonville Community Church to better reflect what the church represents. Seatonville Community is a non-denominational, independent, Bible-believing church with a vision, “To know Christ more and make Him known to others.”