Cape First celebrates 100 years of worship

Ben Matthews

Sunday, March 15, 2020

More than 1,000 churchgoers attended Cape First Church's centennial services Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. Founded in 1920, the church celebrated 100 years with a display of church artifacts from the past century and a timeline of photos documenting the church's history in the area.

Pastors Gary and Rose Brothers, right, stand before the congregation at Cape First Church at the conclusion of the church's 9 a.m. centennial celebration service Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Pastor Gary Brothers listens as State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, reads a proclamation recognizing Cape First Church's centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Pastor Gary Brothers hugs State Sen. Wayne Wallingford, R-Cape Girardeau, after being presented with a proclamation recognizing Cape First Church's centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Musicians and vocalists lead churchgoers in praise and worship at Cape First Church's centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Musicians and vocalists lead churchgoers in praise and worship at Cape First Church's centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Musicians and vocalists lead churchgoers in praise and worship at Cape First Church's centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Pastor Gary Brothers preaches to congregants at Cape First Church's centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
After the conclusion of a 9 a.m. centennial celebration service, churchgoers gather in the lobby of Cape First Church where church artifacts sit on display Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
After the conclusion of a 9 a.m. centennial celebration service, churchgoers gather in the lobby of Cape First Church where church artifacts sit on display Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)

Churchgoers gather in the lobby of Cape First Church where church artifacts sit on display Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
A property deed from 1968 is seen inside a display case in the lobby of Cape First Church during the church's centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Financial documents signed and dated on April 29, 1941, are seen on display in the lobby of Cape First Church during its centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Church records from the 1930s are seen on display in the lobby of Cape First Church during its centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Artifacts from multiple decades are seen on display in the lobby of Cape First Church during its centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)
Cape First Church's original purchase documents are seen on display with other church artifacts during a centennial celebration Sunday, March 15, 2020, in Cape Girardeau. (Ben Matthews ~ Southeast Missourian)