West Gate Baptist Church

843 West Broadway, Trenton, IL (618)-224-7581



West Gate Baptist Church

1961 -- THE FIRST SOUTHERN BAPTIST IN TRENTON
The first Southern Baptist work in Trenton, Illinois, began when a group of thirteen dedicated Christians decided to meet in the home of Kenneth L. Tyson on December 17, 1961. This launched the beginning of a Southern Baptist Church in this community.

The beginning is recalled by Mrs. Myrtle Tyson: "In 1961, a pastor from southern Arkansas, who was formerly the pastor of my parents' church, moved to St. Louis, Missouri. My parents asked him to visit Kenny and myself here in Trenton. We were attending. the First Baptist Church at the time, because there wasn't any other Baptist churches in the community. There were three other Southern Baptist families who attended also.

When my parents' former pastor came to visit us, he expressed a wish for a Southern Baptist church here. He told us he knew the missionary for the area. He contacted the Missionary and asked him to speak with us. The missionary came to us with a suggestion to start a Southern Baptist Church and requested that we speak with other people who would be interested in starting one."

In 1961, the Director of Missions for the East Saint Louis Association, now the Metro-East Association of Fairview Heights, Illinois, was Herbert Schmitz. Unity Roselawn Baptist Church, Fairview Heights, became the mother church. This church, now named First Baptist Church of Fairview Heights, agreed to supplement the pastor's salary for the mission. The pastor of that church was James Mahoney.

Mrs, Tyson further recalled:
"Unity Roselawn Church agreed to help the mission and four families began to meet in our basement. They were the T. L. Tysons, H. U. Waggnors, Leroy Lyerlas, and Archie Gordons. During this time, the Southern Baptist Convention was promoting church growth and West Gate was one of 30.000 churches started during a 10 year period. From our basement, the mission moved to the factory. A piano was added to the worship."

The factory Mrs. Tyson referred to was the Brown Shoe Company which later became the Baby Buggy factory. A part of this building was rented for seventy dollars a month for the purpose of holding Sunday and Wednesday Services. The move to the factory from the Tyson's basement was on February 25, 1962. Reverend Vernon Covington was the first pastor of the mission. He resigned. in May of that year.

1962--SOUTHERN BAPTIST WORK GROWS IN THE COMMUNITY.

On June 27, 1962, Reverend Dale Cook was called as pastor. He delivered his first sermon in July. The first mention of property purchased is recorded in the December 6, 1962, minutes as "property purchased in October, 1962". No other mention of property is noted. From the indications of past records, plans for the chapel were made as early as July, 1962.

Mrs. Tyson remembers: "Finally the ground was broken for the original brick structure. It was a good feeling to see a Southern Baptist Church in town, but it was scary to take such a step."

Construction of the new facility began in September, 1962. Brother Dale Cook took the mission through this time of constructing the original brick building. The building was similar to the Baptist Church of Dowell, Illinois. Brother Cook did much of the work and displayed helpful leadership during the construction. Love offerings were given to the pastor for his work on the building. On November 25, worship services were held for the first time in the unfinished chapel. Upon completion of this building, on December 19, the mission was named "WEST GATE BAPTIST CHAPEL". Later that month, on December 30, the first baptisms took place. Those baptized were, Joe, Jim, and Terry Cryder.

Reverend Shaw Dement was called to pastor West Gate in August of 1963. Under his guidance, the hard work of the men and women of the church, and with a little help from our friends in the community, the parsonage was built.

Brother Kenneth Wigger was pastor for five months, and following him, Reverend Ronald Shrum answered the call to pastor the people of West Gate. Under the leadership of Brother Shrum, called on March 23, 1966, the West Gate Mission became a constituted church on October 6, 1968.

Reverend Richard Dillender pastored the church for one year followed by Reverend Robert Huffman who was also employed by the Wesclin School District to supplement his income.

On April 16, 1975, under the pastorate of Reverend Delbert "Dusty" Gwaltney, the church voted to expand, adding an educational building to the east. Here again, much of the construction work was done by the Pastor including electrical, plumbing, and heating system installation. During this time, the church grew and a period of spiritual victory and physical expansion continued bringing the church to record attendance and the construction of a new auditorium.

During the period of 1978 to 1980, the enrollment in Bible study went from 152 to 325 with 60 persons being baptized. In preparation to build the new auditorium, God led many people to give "sacrificially" under the leadership of Pastor John Lorch and Music and Youth Director, Larry Rhodes.

Reverend Harmon Mills served as interim pastor until Reverend Edsel Bone came to West Gate in December 1983 and ministered until April 1985. One of Br. Bone.s concerns was the number of unfinished areas in the new worship building. One particular room was the "intercessory prayer" room.

Reverend Eddie Miller ministered at West Gate from July 1985 until March 1992. Much finishing of the new auditorium was completed during his ministry, and once again, the pastor provided much of the labor.

Brother Tom Rankin served as interim pastor until Reverend Mike May is our current pastor. He was called in October of 1992. Currently, the church is looking toward the future through an ongoing study for strategy development called "West Gate 2000".

God has established West Gate for ministry in this city and this area. He is still at work reaching the lost, carrying forth the Gospel, ministering to the needy, and keeping the fellowship fires warm until His Son, Jesus, returns.


(Note: This history was compiled primarily by Mrs. Lavon Manasco with assistance from Mrs. Sue Gubbins (Bean) and Mrs. Bernice Cryder.)

©2007 West Gate Baptist Church