Dear Pennytown Family, Friends, and Supporters:

In addition to our invitation to attend this year’s annual Pennytown homecoming (below), we’d also like ask for your help. The Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church, the only remaining structure of the largest black hamlet in Saline County, is in need of significant repairs. This past year we were able to replace the windows because of a generous donation. Your continuing contributions have also allowed us to replace the roof and install new doors over the years. In the coming year we need to replace part of the church floor as well as much of the wood on the exterior of the church.

Every year friends and supporters of Pennytown donate generously to help preserve this historic structure, but this year we ask that you give a little more, if you are able, and we ask that you spread the word about Pennytown and our church. For the next month, Friends of Pennytown, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, will be raising funds via a Go Fund Me page and our Facebook page. If you can’t join us for homecoming this year, or if you just want to give in a more convenient way, please go to our page and make a donation. The process is secure and safe, and the money raised will go toward making repairs needed to insure the long life of Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church, a house of worship since 1926.

Our commitment to preserving the church building has been inspired by all those who have worked so diligently over the years to insure its survival, especially the late Josephine R. Lawrence and all the members of the Restoration Committee whose tireless efforts enabled a complete rehabilitation of the church in 1988. It is our responsibility now to carry forward their commitment to preserving the history of this important place and the people who lived there. We ask for your help to continue that work.

All the Best,

Friends of Pennytown Historic Site

According to tradition, friends and descendants of Pennytown will once again gather to share food, fellowship, and worship on the first Sunday of August.

Please join us on August 7th for our annual celebration of family, community, and heritage. This year’s special guest and speaker will be Bro. Larry McCall of the First Baptist Church of Webster Groves, Mo.

Festivities will begin at the Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church, located just off of Highway 65 between Marshall and the 1-70 junction (see “Directions” tab above). Services will begin at the church at 11:00 am.

Then join us for a delicious meal ($5.00 donation) and fellowship at 12:30 at Martin Community Center (1985 S. Odell, Marshall, Mo).

This event is open to the public and all are invited. Descendants and friends of Pennytown will be honored to welcome any and all to join us!

(Please contact Virginia Huston at 660-229-4185 with any questions or inquiries)

 

 

 

 

Pennytown Homecoming 2015 was a great success. We thank our family and friends for a gracious offering of $824. This money will help us to pay our insurance for the church and will also help us to continue making improvements to the Pennytown Church historic site. We are blessed to have such generous support for Pennytown! Thank you all.

Special thanks to Brother John Anderson and Maxine “Queen Mother” MacFarlane.

2015 Pennytown Homecoming is fast approaching. it will be held on Sunday, August 2nd. Festivities will begin at the Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church which recently received all new windows thanks to a generous donation from Pennytown descendent Jon Lawrence. The windows were installed by Mike Meyer of Nationwide Construction in Independence, Mo, with help from Book Lawrence, Ron Lawrence, Trevor Lawrence, and Mike’s son Hayden. All labor for the installation was volunteered.

The new windows will help to preserve the church for many years. We thank all who have made donations toward the preservation of the Freewill Baptist Church, the last remaining structure in Pennytown. Maintaining the church is a priority and is essential for the ongoing success of the historic site.

We can’t wait to see all our family and friends at Homecoming this year so come on out on the 2nd and see the church in all its refurbished glory!

Worship: 11:00 am Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church — Pennytown

Lunch: 12:30 am Knights of Columbus Hall – Marshall

Once again, Pennytown Homecoming was a special time to gather with friends, family, and loved ones. We thank all of you who came from far and wide to worship, share, and break bread with us. Family is important — it is one of the most important reasons we continue to celebrate the legacy of Pennytown. We think of you who joined with us as our extended Pennytown family and we look forward to seeing you next year on Sunday, August 2nd. Peace and blessings.

This year’s Pennytown Homecoming celebration will be headlined by entertainer, singer, and messenger of God, Evangelist Evelyn Elmore of St. Paul Baptist Church in Higginsville, Mo. Services at Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church will begin at 11:00 am. We invite all to join us to hear her inspiring message. It will be an experience you do not want to miss!

Lunch will be served at 12:30 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Marshall, Mo (1267 S. English). 

 

http://america.aljazeera.com/features/2014/4/missouri-black-towns.html

Thanks to all who came out to share fellowship and support Pennytown. 

We will see you all next year for Homecoming on Sunday August 3rd.

The 2013 Pennytown Homecoming will be held this coming Sunday, August 4th. All are welcome for food, worship, and fellowship.

11:00 am — Prayer Service at Pennytown Freewill Baptist Church (located six miles northeast of Interstate 70/ Route 65 junction — take 165th road east off of Route 65 for one mile and turn south on Kittyhawk Avenue. Pennytown Church is 3/4 miles south of turn on east side of road.)

12:00 pm — Lunch and Fellowship at Knights of Columbus Hall (1267 S. English in Marshall) with special guest: cultural historian and storyteller, Br. John Anderson.

Thanks to all who came out to share food and fellowship during Pennytown Homecoming 2012. Over 75 people were present at both the morning service at the Church and at lunch at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Marshall. Due to generous donations, Friends of Pennytown raised monies needed to pay for ongoing improvements to the Freewill Baptist Church as well as annual insurance and utility costs. We thank all of you for your support and look forward to seeing you again next year.

Until then, enjoy this clip of Charles Finley leading gatherers in song on August 5th. More images and video to come . . .