100 years of belief

Since 1908, the Columbia Missourian has been documenting life in Columbia.

As we approach our centennial celebration this fall, we are offering retrospectives on the people, businesses and organizations that have helped Columbia grow and prosper. Last week, we explored arts and culture. Now, our focus turns to matters of faith.

The first church, First Baptist, was born in 1823 in Boone County, and it has grown and prospered along with the county ever since. Now home to more than 100 faith groups, the county’s faith groups range from miniscule to mega.

Faith is intertwined with the history of this community. It impacts everything from the economy to race relations. Many of the volunteers in our community come from faith-based groups.

In this, the second section in honor of the Missourian’s Centennial Celebration, we look at the history of faith groups in Boone County from 1823 to the present.