The building may be only 50 years old, but the congregation of Storm’s Creek Baptist Church dates back to 1812.

Sunday, the church’s annual homecoming celebration will also be a birthday bash in honor of those 200 years.

Pastor Kenny Hurst said former pastor Jim Orrick, who led Storm’s Creek the longest of any of its pastors, will be a guest speaker.

The celebration begins with a service at 7:30 p.m. today and a service at the same time Saturday. The homecoming will begin at 10 a.m. Sunday with Jim Scott Orrick, Jim Orrick’s son, as guest speaker. Following a lunch, the elder Orrick will preach at 1:30 p.m. during the afternoon service.

Orrick said part of his contribution will pertain to the church’s history.

“We don’t know too much. Many of the records (of the early days of the church) were destroyed by fire or flood. The information I have is from old newspapers and books at the library.”

What they do know is the 36 people were charter members of the congregation 200 years ago. The first church was in the city of Ironton at the mouth of Storm’s Creek and predated the city itself, Orrick said.

“A flood got it (the first building),” Orrick said. Floods and fires claimed five of the six buildings that have housed the Storm’s Creek congregation. The present day structure was built in 1951, Hurst said.

“A lot of faithful men and women have gone on before us and paved the way for us,” Hurst said. “I feel like we’re carrying the torch of those who have gone before us.”