150 Years of History at
First Baptist Church
by: Bobby McDonald
It was less than two years before the news of the beginning of the Civil War would come to Hopkins County, when a group of twelve individuals, banded together to form what today is known at First Baptist Church, on August 8, 1859. Sulphur Springs was still a frontier town with dirt streets and lawlessness everywhere, when this faithful group of individuals met in a building on Magnolia Street, and had a vision for establishing a Baptist Church in what was then known as "Bright Star, Texas." The building that they met in was owned by the Methodists, but used by several denominations and there were already some three other Baptist churches established in Hopkins County, but too far for residents of the little town to travel. The closest one being about 7 miles south of town in the Union Community.
Organizers included: Rev. William Askew, Rev. Joshua Johnson, and Rev. James Hargrove. The charter members included: Askew and his wife, Mr. Posey and wife, Mr. Denton and wife, Captain Finney and wife, and Mr. Connally and wife. Mr. Posey was elected to the office of deacon and Captain Finney was elected as clerk. Mr. Askew served as the first pastor, until his death in 1860. The church's next pastor was Rev. Roe, who began service in 1862.
This building, located on the southeast corner of
Magnolia and Spring Streets and built by the
Methodists in 1852, was the site of the organization
of First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs. The
Baptists eventually bought the building, but it burned
as they were constructing their new building in 1897.
(Photo from "A Century of Memories" by Kenneth & Sidney Brice)
The Baptists eventually bought the lot and building on Magnolia Street from the Methodists and continued to worship there. However, they soon outgrew the facilities and purchased a lot on the corner of Oak Avenue and College Streets, that constitutes the present day location. The lot was purchased from Mr. John Buford and contained his home. The Baptists moved the home to the adjoining lot, to the south, and began construction of their new building. This purchase was completed in 1895, at a cost of $3,500.00. Plans were selected on September 5, 1897 and the contract was let on November 17, 1897, and the first construction payroll was paid on December 4, 1897. It was in the spring of 1898, that work was suspended on the new building, because of a lack of funds. But, Mr. Sid Williams came and conducted a great revival and over $3,000.00 was raised to continue construction.
However, tragedy struck while they were building the first building on the new lot, as an accidental fire destroyed the building on Magnolia Street. Legend has it that a coal-oil lamp was left burning and started the fire, and the fire was contained in the building and did not burn the parsonage, right next to the church, where Brother Kincaid was living. The congregation met in the Hopkins County Courthouse until the construction project was completed.
Members were ready for the completion of the new building on March 4, 1899, as the doors were opened for worship. The building , constructed at an approximately cost of $12,500.00, was described as follows: "The highest tower is 104 feet; the main auditorium is 52 x 52 with Sunday school room opening into it 28 x 48 feet and separated from it by a sliding partition. On the lower floor are two dressing rooms, connected with the baptistery 12 x 12 and 8 x12, respectively. On the second floor are five rooms consisting of an assembly room 24 x 28, ladies parlor 18 x 18 feet, pastor's study 11 x 16 feet, a kitchen 8 x16 feet, and a pantry. The walls are of Thurber red pressed brick, the roof of Montrose shingles. The interior is of native pine with hard oil finish, the ceiling of corrugated steel, the windows are of cathedral glass, leaded, with appropriate emblems, and are the work of an artist."
One hundred and fifty years later, First Baptist Church has grown to approximately 2500 members, with a regular Sunday morning Sunday School attendance of about 900 individuals, the largest church in Hopkins County.
Minutes of the Rehoboth Association list Rev. William Askew and E.T. Combs as members of the congregation, at a joint meeting with the Pittsburg and Upshur County Churches, in October 1859. Records reflect that there were no meetings of the Rehoboth Association during the years of the Civil War, but Sulphur Springs delegates to the 1870 meeting were J. H. Posey and F.E. Finney. And, the 1871 delegates included B.H. Elder, H. Grogan, and J.H. Posey, reflecting growth to three delegates. The 1874 records reflect a membership of 140 members in the Sulphur Springs Church and a report of "36 baptized, 36 received by letter, two restored, five dismissed by letter, one excluded, and two died."
It was in 1884, that the local Sulphur Springs First Baptist Church hosted the Rehoboth Association meeting and Sulphur Springs delegates were listed as J. H. Boyett, James Christian, W.I. Feazell, J.M. Hopper, A.B. Williamson, Gilbert Anderson, A.A. McDaniel, H.P. Acker, and Brother Boyett as pastor. The annual report for the local congregation revealed " 17 baptized, 21 received by letter, 2 restored, dismissed 13 by letter, one died, and a total membership of 220 members."
In describing the early history of the church, Brother C.O. James wrote: " The greatest increase in membership was had during two revivals held by Sid Williams, of San Antonio. He was assisted by Brown with his harp. When R.W. Merrell came from Mississippi, he was detained in a quarantine camp, in Texarkana, during a yellow fever epidemic and one of the members had to go to Texarkana to have him and his family released from the stockade. At west Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where Wallace Basset was pastor, before coming here, one Paul Revere, was one of the deacons. He was a descendent of the noted Paul Revere, who made the famous ride from Boston to Concord. When Brother Bassett came to the church, he was less than twenty-six years of age. During the year 1910, we had four pastors....A.A. Duncan, the first of the year, followed by Wilson Fielder, who in turn was followed by Charles A. Pearce and Wallace Bassett. Charles a Pearce and Wilson Fielder were both unmarried at the time they were here."
Other notes compiled by James included: "When the new church (1899) was completed, Bro. Gillon, pastor at Sherman, preached the dedicatory sermon. He had just recently held a revival for our church. Of some of the notable who have occupied our pulpit, Sam Jones lectured one Saturday night and preached the next day to a crowded house. Dr. Gambrell spoke or preached one Sunday to the Confederate soldiers. Dr. T.T. Eaton lectured on Our Poor Kin. Frederick Ward, noted Shakespearean Actor, lectured one night on the Seven Stages of Man, taken from Shakespeare's 'As You Like It.' Brother Ward has been an actor on stage for over 60 years and was one time connected with William Booth at the Booth Theater, in New York. When Sid Williams held his first revival here, something near 100 were baptized in an upground baptistery at the old Spring Lot. B.F. Crosby, J.T. Hargrove, and Dave Smith, were the building committee, when the church at the corner of Oak Avenue and College was built. The pipe organ was installed in the church while Bro. Bassett was here. Andrew Carnegie helped us substantially to buy the organ, which is a very valuable one."
Church history reflects that the first organist was Miss Pauline Searles, who later married Ward Gober.
A list of pastors at First Baptist Church include:
William Askew - 1859-1860
William Elder - 1860-1861
Rev. Roe - 1862
Jacob Ziegler - 1870-1871
Stephen H. Brooks 1871-1872
David S. Snodgrass 1872-1873
Joshua F. Johnson 1874-1875
Dr. Samuel Johnson 1875-1884
Dr. John H. Boyett -1884-1887
John C. Wingo - 1887-1889
James "Buck" Riddle - 1889-1894
Dr. Benjamin R. Womack 1894-1896
James P. Kincaid - 1896-1898
Robert W. Merrell - 1898-1902
Dr. John H. Boyett - 1902-1904
Dr. George S. Tumlin 1904-1907
Dr. Charles T. Alexander - 1907-1908
Dr. Asa A. Duncan - 1909-1910
Dr. Charles S. Pearce - 1910
Bro. Wilson Fielder - 1910
Dr. Wallace Bassett - 1910-1915
Dr. Russel B. Whiteside - 1915-1918
C.C. Young - 1918-1919
Bonnie Grimes - 1919-1923
Dr. J. Howard Williams - 1923-1926
Oscar Payne - 1926-1927
Dr. Hubert Redden - 1929-1942
Dr. Clifford W. Freeman - 1942-1947
Joe Weldon Bailey - 1948-1952
Dr. Darold H. Morgan - 1953-1958
Dr. Edwin J. Mays - 1959-1963
Dr. Richard A. Jackson - 1963-1967
Dr. Charles M. Killough - 1968-1970
Dr. John Sullivan - 1971-1975
Dr. Jack Robbins - 1976-1980
Dr. Charles Redmond - 1981-1989
Dr. David W. Hardage - 1990-2004
Dr. Bob McCartney - 2005-2008
Dr. Bill Anderson - Current Interim Pastor
Special services planned at First Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs, to commemorate the 150 Anniversary include: a reception on Saturday afternoon, August 8th, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., for former pastors and staff; a Sunday morning service at Hopkins County Regional Civic Center with coffee and refreshments beginning at 8:45 to 9:45 and worship 10:00 to noon; and a BBQ Luncheon at noon at the Civic Center.
Editor's Note: Much of the material for this article was obtained from the "Hopkins County Heritage" by June England Tuck.
_____
Congratulations,
First Baptist Church
on 150 Years Service to Our Community!!!
___