Churches
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Bates Presbyterian Church (1869-1964)
The church was destroyed by fire caused by a lightening strike on Monday, April 20, 1964. The congregation merged with the First Baptist Church of New Berlin and formed the United Baptist Church in New Berlin. The picture is a scanned image from the 1965 New Berlin History Book.
Formed in 1824 as Mt. Zion Christian Church, the Church has been a cornerstone to the village of Berlin for over 180 years. In 2009, the congregation dedicated a new church east of Berlin. The old church building is now a day care center.
Fancy Point Church
This chuch was located approximately 1/2 mile south of the Waverly Road/West Loami Road intersection.
First Baptist Church
This church was located at the northwest corner of Gibson and Jackson streets in New Berlin. The congregation formed the United Baptist Church and built a new building (see below). This building was remodeled into a residence.
Although services have been held at the same location since 1822, the sanctuary was built in 1862.
The Lebanon Baptist Church was started on June 25th, 1838, with twenty-six members, who were previously associated with the Springfield Church. Seven ministers served the church from 1838 until 1861, with no minister serving between 1846 to 1850. In 1862, the name was changed from Lebanon to Loami Baptist Church. From that time until 1880, it had seven different preachers. For several years during that time, there was no minister. Fire destroyed the church in 1879.
Liberty Baptist Church (June 1821 - ?)
The location of this church is not currently known. The Liberty Baptist church, on Lick creek, was organized by Elders William Crow, Thomas Ray, Micajah Rowland, and brethren Austin Sims and Peter Robeson. According to the 1876 Early Settlers of Sangamon County Book, the start of the Liberty Church began in July 1821 when Simon Lindley, a minister of the Regular, or Predestinarian Baptist church, and his wife, John Bridges and his wife united with others for the purpose of keeping up worship. There were thirteen members. Some members left Liberty Church to attend Union and Fancy Point churches, later to return to Liberty. As of the 1876 writing, the church worshiped in a school house in Curran Township under the care of Elder C. C. Purvines.
This country church was located near the intersection of Loami Road and Staley Road.
Loami Baptist Church
Located at the intersection of East Center Street and Church Street in Loami.
Loami Christian Church
Located on East Center Street in Loami.
Loami United Methodist Church (1880-present)
The joining of the Sulpher Springs and the South Fork Methodist Churches in 1880 created the Loami United Methodist Church.
The Mount Zion Christian Church was located northwest of Berlin on what is now known as the Pleasant Plains blacktop. When the church moved to Berlin, the name was changed to Berlin Christian Church.
The New Salem United Methodist Church is located on the Old Jacksonville Road at Riddle Hill.
St. John's Lutheran Church (1870-present)
Formed in 1870, St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church is a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The current church was built in 1925. The bell is the same one that was in the original church dedicated 140 years ago.
With the tall steeple, St. Mary's Catholic Church has been a New Berlin landmark for years.
Smyrna Cumberland Presbyterian Church
This church was located somewhere in the Loami area.
South Fork Methodist Church (1866-1914)
The South Fork Methodist Church was located approximately 4 miles south of Loami. In 1880, the church merged with the Sulpher Springs Church to form the Loami United Methodist Church.
Sulpher Springs Church (1835-1881)
The Sulpher Springs Church was located southwest of Loami, just east of the Sulpher Springs Cemetery. In 1880, the church merged with the South Fork Methodist Church to form the Loami United Methodist Church.
Union Church (unknown)
At one time, there was a church located on the grounds at Union Cemetery, which is located three miles south of New Berlin, just east of the Waverly Road.
United Baptist Church
This church was formed from the First Baptist Church and the Bates Presbyterian Church, both shown above.