FAYETTE COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) – “Historic” might be the word used to describe New Vine Baptist Church in Fort Springs, a black village in Lexington’s 12th district.

“These are holy lands. We even have our own cemetery here, so we can get married and buried, we can do everything here, and we want it so much,” said Stewart Peoples, the church’s pastor.

Sunday marked an important anniversary for the congregation, but they weren’t just celebrating their 20th, 50th or even 100th anniversary.

“Well, we’re celebrating our 150th anniversary,” Peoples said.

The church was first founded in 1874 by former slaves.

The Fort Springs Rosenwald School Building was also later built on the property that is now the church annex.

To pay homage to this history on the hill, historical markers were erected at the church, the old school building, and even the church’s cemetery.

“We have people from California, Virginia and other places, Georgia and many other places coming home to their church for today. It’s so important and our roots are really deep here,” said Jennifer Jones, co-chair of the church’s historical markers and memorial makers committee.

While there are some historically black hamlets in Fayette County that are no longer there or are facing gentrification, preserving that history means everything to church members.

“Like us, we have carried on the tradition of our ancestors, so we trust that the next generation of young New Vine Baptist Church members will carry the torch and build on what is laid out here for them,” he said. Anthany Beatty Sr. is president and treasurer of the church’s deacon board.

Pastor Peoples has advice for other congregations aiming to reach a milestone like this:

“Just stay close to God and stay close to each other,” Peoples said.

During the celebration, church members also buried a time capsule on the property to further commemorate this milestone.

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