Reverand Dana Haynes, Tawnya Haynes and daughter Tamar Haynes,5, stand in front of Shiloh Baptist Church in Butler.

The membership of Shiloh Baptist Church dwindled over the years until its pastor, Floyd Palmer, only saw five people a week sitting in the church's pews.

What's more, flood damage caused by the periodic overflowing of Sullivan Run left the 107-year-old building condemned by the city of Butler.

Still, the church's history and importance to the Black community of Butler have spoken to people not even affiliated with Shiloh Baptist.

Following the news that the church was scheduled for demolition, a group banded together in an effort to save it.

“That church is the one and only Black church in the Butler community,” said Dana Haynes, who helped start the group in June. “It is a part of history that we don't want to see go away.”

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Shiloh Bapitst Church in Butler. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 07/09/21

A city notice that the building is unfit for entry is posted on the Shiloh Bapitst Church in Butler. Seb Foltz/Butler Eagle 07/09/21