One of Marion's old landmark churches is in the process of being torn down. It is the Marion Free Will Baptist church that is located on South Main Street. It was one of two churches for the Black citizens in our community. The other was a Methodist Church located on Maple Street, it was torn down many years ago.
This church of Baptist denomination was active until approximately 10 years or so ago, according to Bob Hill, one of it's member's. Maybe closed before 2007.
(From the little booklet titled: Churches In Our County, 1974). The Free Will Baptist movement had been a continuous one, although at times the outlook was dark. Hence, about June 21, 1887, Rev. Lank Grissom, Brother Jiles Hamilton, and others organized the Free Will Baptist church in Marion on old Salem Street.
This church was torn down and our little group worshiped in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church while the present church was being erected on South Main Street under the leadership of Rev. E. S. Moody.
In 1974, the pastor was Rev. T. R. Hamilton, and Levi Jackson and Robert Qualls were deacons.
The church was remodeled sometime after 1974 when the booklet was printed and covered in wood siding and the bell tower was taken off.
The old landmark church is in the process of being taken down in October of 2017. A few items of memorabilia has been saved and will be placed in the Crittenden County Historical Museum.
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