Melissa in Collin County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

First Baptist Church of Melissa

Photographed by Gary Estep

1. First Baptist Church of Melissa Marker

Inscription. Organized as the Melissa Baptist Church of Christ on Oct. 18, 1884, this congregation began with 22 charter members. Levi Dunn served as first pastor. The fellowship met once a month until 1898, when services began to be held twice monthly. Weekly worship services began in 1948. A 1921 tornado destroyed the original church building, but by 1924 the congregation had erected a new sanctuary. Known since 1952 as the First Baptist Church of Melissa, the congregation has provided service and leadership to the community throughout its history.

Erected 1984 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 1655.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 33° 16.903′ N, 96° 33.987′ W. Marker is in Melissa, Texas, in Collin County. It can be reached from East Melissa Road (Farm to Market Road 545) 0.2 miles east of Miller Road. The marker is located in the dropoff area of the parking lot which is between the two church buildings. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2101 East

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Melissa Road, Melissa TX 75454, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region

and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Melissa School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Melissa Christian Church (approx. half a mile away); Scott-Barker House (approx. half a mile away); St. Paul Baptist Church (approx. half a mile away); Melissa Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); Highland Cemetery (approx. 2.1 miles away); Corner Post of Uncle Charlie Wysong's Blacksmith Shop (approx. 2.1 miles away); Orenduff Cemetery (approx. 2.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Melissa.

Also see . . . Melissa, TX.

Melissa is on U.S. Highway 75 seven miles northeast of McKinney in north
Photographed by James Hulse, March 29, 2022

2. First Baptist Church of Melissa Marker
central Collin County. The rich soils of the Blackland Prairie and the waters of the Elm Fork of the Trinity River attracted settlers to the area in the 1840s, when the Peters colony was opened to settlement. The town was laid out in 1872, when the Houston and Texas Central Railway reached the area. Source: The Handbook of Texas

(Submitted on March 29, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Photographed by James Hulse, March 29, 2022

3. First Baptist Church of Melissa Marker

The view of the First Baptist Church of Melissa and Marker from the parking lot image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, March 29, 2022

4. The view of the First Baptist Church of Melissa and Marker from the parking lot

Credits. This page was last revised on January 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 865 times since then and 61 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 4, 2026, by Gary Estep of Anna, Texas. 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 29, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.