On Sunday, April 17, at 3 p.m., Hopewell Borough’s Council of Churches will hold an ecumenical service at the Old School Baptist Church on West Broad Street.
According to Cathy Peterson, event spokeswoman, this will be a “Special Service of Gratitude and Remembrance.”
It will feature a cappella music led by Hopewell Hall, a group that practices at Hopewell Presbyterian Church. The 10 singers are from different musical traditions, exploring “small-ensemble singing through the historical genres of American Shape Note and English West Gallery music, as well as other types of songs that are fun to sing,” according to the group. Director is Annie Anderson.
According to the Hopewell Valley News archives, “The First Baptist Church of Hopewell was organized by its trustees in 1715 at the home of Jonathan Stout. The congregation met in private homes until Henry Oxley and Benjamin Drake erected a meeting house in 1747 . . .
“In 1822, the current brick structure was built to replace the original stone building. Worship services were suspended in 1973 upon the death of its last male member, in accordance with the church’s charter.”
The event is part of the borough’s 125th anniversary celebration.
