NATCHEZ — When the congregation of Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church gathers Sunday to celebrate 207 years of service, they will pay homage to a brave little church that stood against the twists of fate.

The church, which was founded in 1807, has been through a lot during its time in Natchez, making the celebration of its 207th year extra special, elder Kent Blanton said.

“There’s just so much history in this area and for a church to survive as long as this one has is outstanding,” Blanton said. “And it’s survived this long because of the love for one another the congregation has had over the years.”

On Feb. 25, 1807, a group of residents of the Town of Washington gathered with the purpose of organizing a church of the Presbyterian Order.

Those who gathered decided they would call the first Presbyterian-sanctioned church in Mississippi the Washington Presbyterian Church.

The first few years of the church’s existence were busy ones — organizing, planning and collecting money to build a permanent church.

The first brick church was built in 1827 on the site of the original log church of 1807.

The church remained at that location for the first 100 years until an April 27, 1908, tornado rolled through the area and took out the church.

Newspaper reports stated four large homes, four churches and one store were destroyed. The storm also claimed the lives of 30 people.

When the storm cleared, there was still standing — God’s altar — the pulpit with the Bible on it.

That same Bible sits in front of the pulpit to this day where a new brick church took shape on the foundations of the old.

“The fact that we still have that Bible is amazing,” Blanton said. “It shows God’s providence that we were able to stay here and continue operating.”

Blanton joined the church in 1981 shortly after leaving the Navy, where he first realized his connection to the Presbyterian faith.

“I was raised Baptist, but I began leaning toward Presbyterianism in the Navy,” Blanton said. “When I returned, I found the same warmth and love of God I experienced in the Navy right here at home in this congregation.”

Blanton became a deacon of the church in 1986 and an elder in 1989.

Today, he is one of only a dozen congregation members who have faithfully kept the church going despite fewer members arriving each Sunday.

The exodus of area residents leaving from the closure of International Paper years ago coupled with the church’s lack of a full-time pastor has led to dwindling numbers at the church.

But Blanton remains faithful.

“Once we get a full-time pastor who can go out and talk to members, we’ll be much better,” Blanton said. “We just can’t wait for the people to come to the door.”

The church will host a congregational communion service to celebrate its 207th year at 11 a.m. Sunday at the church, which is located off Martin Luther King Jr. Road near the intersection of Foster Mound and Airport roads.

Blanton invited the public and other church members to visit and help celebrate a historic milestone for Natchez.