AUBURN – The annual service of the Penley Corner Church will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 13.

The Penley Corner Church, “sitting by the side of the road” on Route 136, is a plain but beautiful edifice built in 1833. Capt. John Penley gave the land and $1,000 for the building, also the land for the cemetery beside it.

Penley was a wealthy man of the day, living at the corner in a two-story house (notable at the time), which was known as a palace. He gave land in the vicinity to all of his children. He was a member of the state militia, hence his title.

The Rev. David Borger, pastor of the Buxton Center Baptist Church, will conduct the service this year. He was schooled at the University of Wisconsin and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He served in several churches before coming to Buxton. Borger and his wife, Roberta, live in Shapleigh. They have nine children, all adopted, ages 20 to 31.