Westside in Houston in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
First Baptist Church of Houston
In February 1841, the Rev. James Huckins visited the fledgling City of Houston, where a small group of Baptists had been meeting informally since 1838. Under Huckins' leadership, a congregation was organized on April 10, 1841, with 16 charter members. Noted Texas Minister William E. Tryon became the Houston church's first resident pastor in 1845. His first concerns were the erection of a church building and increasing the membership. The new structure, located at the corner of Travis Street and Texas Avenue, was dedicated in May 1847, and membership increased dramatically. Pastor Tryon succumbed to yellow fever in 1847. Under the leadership of his successor, Dr. Rufus C. Burleson, membership grew to 140 by 1852.
Membership declined during the Civil War and Reconstruction, reaching 100 again in 1871. The church began a mission in nearby Richmond in the 1870s, followed by two mission chapels north of Buffalo Bayou and Tuam Mission in South Houston in the 1890s. These and other missions sponsored by the First Baptist Church became self-supporting Baptist churches. In 1907 the church joined with others in establishing the Star of Hope Mission and the Baptist Sanitarium (later Baptist Memorial Hospital). The congregation persevered during the Depression and World War II. The congregation experienced unprecedented growth in the early 1970s, and on April 3, 1977, relocated to this site from 1010 Lamar in downtown Houston. Membership increased to 21,000 by the year 2000. In addition to evangelism, discipleship and missions, the church became known for other specialized ministries, including music and pageantry, programs for the deaf, community service and support to smaller churches.
Erected 2001 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12380.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion. A significant historical month for this entry is February 1841.
Location. 29° 46.958′ N, 95° 27.638′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in Westside. Marker is on Memorial Woods Drive, 0.1 miles south of Katy Freeway (Interstate 10), on the left when traveling south. The marker is located at the main entrance to the Church. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7401 Katy Freeway, Houston TX 77024, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Emily Clay Family Scramble (approx. 1.6 miles away); Upper Buffalo Bayou in the Mid-1800s (approx. 1.9 miles away); The Pleasant Bend Plantation (approx. 1.9 miles away); Emancipation and African-American Migration (approx. 1.9 miles away); Grace Morse's Cemetery (approx. 1.9 miles away); Morse-Bragg Cemetery (approx. 1.9 miles away); Camp Logan (approx. 2.2 miles away); The Rummel-Hildebrandt-Bauer Sawmill (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 383 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 29, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.