Palestine in Anderson County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church
Photographed By Jeff Leichsenring, March 26, 2023
1. Antioch Missionary Baptist Church Marker
Inscription.
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church. . According to local tradition this congregation traces its origin to informal services held in various homes in Palestine as early as 1856. Although referred to as "Antioch Under the Hill" the congregation was formally named Antioch Baptist Church in 1873. The church built its first sanctuary that year on land deeded to the Rev. Bristow Smith, Bob Johnson, Virgil Campbell, and Thomas Hughes by John H. Reagan. Church membership increased and in 1885 and again in 1887 the congregation purchased town lots near here for the purpose of building a parsonage and a new sanctuary which was completed in 1895. , Two ministers, the Rev. T. W. Dailey and the Rev. J. B. Atkins, are credited with substantially improving church facilities during the first quarter of the 20th century. The church building, which had served the congregation well, was destroyed by fire in 1962. Services were subsequently held in a community center until a new sanctuary was erected at this site in 1964. The structure was later remodeled for use as a fellowship hall with the construction of a new church building here in 1980. Antioch continues to serve the local African American community with a variety of Christian educational and family programs.
According to local tradition this congregation traces its origin to informal services held in various homes in Palestine as early as 1856. Although referred to as "Antioch Under the Hill" the congregation was formally named Antioch Baptist Church in 1873. The church built its first sanctuary that year on land deeded to the Rev. Bristow Smith, Bob Johnson, Virgil Campbell, and Thomas Hughes by John H. Reagan. Church membership increased and in 1885 and again in 1887 the congregation purchased town lots near here for the purpose of building a parsonage and a new sanctuary which was completed in 1895.
Two ministers, the Rev. T. W. Dailey and the Rev. J. B. Atkins, are credited with substantially improving church facilities during the first quarter of the 20th century. The church building, which had served the congregation well, was destroyed by fire in 1962. Services were subsequently held in a community center until a new sanctuary was erected at this site in 1964. The structure was later remodeled for use as a fellowship hall with the construction of a new church building here in 1980. Antioch continues to serve the local African American community with a variety of Christian educational and family programs.
Erected 1993 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 8734.)
Location. 31° 46.014′ N, 95° 37.432′ W. Marker is in Palestine, Texas, in Anderson County. Marker is at the intersection of East Murchison Street and East Calhoun Street, on the right when traveling west on East Murchison Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 907 East Murchison Street, Palestine TX 75801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
I bet that you will not be able to guess what the outside temperature was, when I took the picture!
Credits. This page was last revised on April 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 29 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on April 1, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.