Two buildings, one century and countless memories. All these will come together Sunday as Calvary Baptist Church celebrates its 100th anniversary.

The congregation will conduct services at 10:30 a.m. Sunday at the church, 824 S. Fifth St., with an anniversary celebration afterwards from 1 to 3 p.m. It is open to the public and everyone is invited to attend.

Pastor Mark Holderby said it is an honor to be a part of the 100th anniversary.

"It makes you think back at how things have changed over the 100 years and what it would have been like to be a part of the first group," he said. "It is amazing to think about how many people have come through her over the years, how many lives have been changed."

The congregation of approximately 30 active members now has a responsibility to make sure the next generation has the church to go to as well, he said.

"A pastor cannot make a church survive. It takes everyone," he said. "The responsibility is to make sure what they started continues on."

Growing up in a Baptist household with a father who was a minister, Holderby said he realized that "every church has a personality."

"The thing that strikes you most about our church is even though we are small in number, there is a strong love and care for one another," he said. "When we came a few years ago, we immediately felt at home."

The church has quite a history and has gone through two names and two locations over the years. In 1903, Lorain Street Baptist Church on Fifth Street was christened.

For the next 33 years, the church remained as it was built before seeing several changes in the 40s and 50s. In 1942, a parsonage was added before a full addition was built in 1950, and the church was incorporated six years later.

In 1975, the current building was purchased for $48,000. The gothic architecture adds to the unique look of the building.

Ironton residents Jayne and Vallee Blagg have been members of the church for more than 60 years. They have seen people come and go and watched the changes firsthand.

With more than 60 years of memories, Blagg said it was difficult to choose just one that stuck out in her mind.

"I remember being baptized in the Ohio River," she said. "I was baptized in March and the ice was just flowing down the river."

Several former pastors will be present, Jean Butler will speak about women of the Bible, and a historic display will be set up to present the church's past, she said.

"I feel blessed that I was brought up in this church," Jayne Blagg said. "My grandmother brought me up and taught me right. There is still a lot of good people, new people, that we love, worship and fellowship with."

Holderby said the celebration would not be possible without the hard work of Blagg, Dave and Charlene Robinson and the other committee members.