“Upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matthew 16:18
Since 1880 - 146 years and counting - Rock of Ages Baptist Church has stood as a house of worship, a refuge, and a family for the people of Morristown. What follows is the story of how God has carried this congregation through seasons of growth, trial, and renewal.
Note: milestones here are drawn from public records and local reporting; the church historian is helping confirm details and add what only the church remembers - founding members, the pastors who served before 2009, and the story of the building itself.
A Sacred Trust Begins
Years before the church was founded, Morristown’s City Cemetery opened east of what is now Heritage Park. Today that nine-acre burial ground - resting place of some of Morristown’s earliest clergymen and of veterans from the Civil War through World War II - is known as the Rock of Ages Cemetery, owned and cared for by this congregation as one of its most sacred trusts.
The Founding
In 1880 - around the same time Morristown College was taking root just blocks away - a gathering of believers came together with a shared conviction: to build a church on the unshakable foundation of Jesus Christ. They took their name from the beloved hymn, Rock of Ages, cleft for me, and a congregation was born that has now endured for 146 years.
Generations of Faithful Service
Through Reconstruction, two world wars, and the changing seasons of Morristown, Rock of Ages stood as a cornerstone of its community at 420 W 13th North Street - known for its choir, its open table, and its heart for the neighborhood. Its people gave lifetimes to it: Deacon Charles Kenneth Bragg alone served this church faithfully for more than seventy years.
A New Shepherd
In December 2009, the church called Rev. William P. Butler, Sr. as pastor. The congregation had dwindled to just fourteen members. Under his preaching and care, the church family grew to more than one hundred thirty within a decade - a season of true revival at the Rock.
The Flood
During the COVID years, a flood destroyed many of the church’s physical records - minutes, rolls, and written history kept for decades. It was a painful loss, and it taught the congregation a lasting lesson: a church’s story is precious, and it must be protected.
Honoring the Departed
The church’s care for its historic cemetery continues: wreaths laid on the graves of veterans each December, and a restoration effort begun in 2026 that is uncovering headstones hidden for generations - recovering names that time had nearly erased.
146 Years on the Rock
In 2026, Rock of Ages celebrated its 146th anniversary - a century and a half of worship, witness, and family in Morristown. The church is writing its next chapter: welcoming new families, raising up leaders in every ministry, and preserving its history digitally so that no flood, fire, or passing of time can ever erase the story God is telling here.
The Story Continues
Every Sunday adds a page. We would love for you - and your family - to be part of what God writes next at the Rock.
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