One of the most historic downtown churches in Ironton is marking a very special birthday.

Starting on Sunday First Baptist Church of Ironton will celebrate its 200th anniversary and the church’s congregation wants the community to join in with the weeklong festivities.

First will be at the 9:45 a.m. regular services on Sunday where family members of the church’s founder, the Rev. John Lee, will be introduced. Lee came to Lawrence County in 1811 and founded the Stormes Creek Baptist Church three years later.

Following the service will be a light lunch. That evening will be an old-fashioned hymn festival by Jairo Arbisu, who is a student from Nicaragua, starting at 7 p.m.

On Wednesday there will be a church dinner at 6 p.m. followed by a program where the Rev. Steve Willis of Newton, Ill., will portray one of the first’s church missionaries, Adoniram Johnson.

There will be an old-fashioned children’s festival on Friday with a pie contest that anyone in the community can enter. Pies must be at the church by 5 p.m. with the judging starting at 5:30 p.m. The winner will receive a prize. There will also be a series of old-fashioned games for children, such as a fishing pond.

On July 20, there will be a wrap-up of the celebration at the regular 9:45 a.m. services.