Memorial Baptist Church

Memorial Baptist Church. . Originally known as First Baptist Church, Goose Creek, Memorial Baptist Church was established in February 1918. Prior to this date, Protestants in Goose Creek (now part of Baytown) met and worshipped in private homes, tents or under brush arbors. On February 15, 1918, Reverend John Wesley Anderson of Houston arrived in Goose Creek and preached his first sermon on the street. Soon after, eight charter members organized First Baptist Church, Goose Creek. By 1926, the church grew to more than 500 members and expanded its campus on Texas Avenue to include a Sunday School building, tabernacle and baptistery. In 1928, with membership growing, the church constructed a two-story brick building on the corner of W. Pearce and S. Jones Streets., Over the next decade, the country was deep in the Great Depression and the church struggled; however, each hardship was overcome with help from congregants and the community. In May 1945, the church purchased part of Pruett pasture, which is now at W. Sterling at N. Whiting, for a new sanctuary that was dedicated in 1955. Also, following world war two, Goose Creek was annexed and incorporated into Baytown, prompting the congregation to rename the church Memorial Baptist Church in 1948. As membership steadily grew, new buildings were added and the church voted to establish a mission in the south end of Baytown, which eventually became Baker Road Baptist Church. In addition, the church helped establish Ebenezer Baptist Church (now in Houston), Iglesias Bautista Ebenezer Mission and Trinity Baptist Mission. Other outreach projects began such as the prayer ministry, scholarship fund, revivals, Vacation Bible School, disaster relief and worldwide missions, reflecting the church's century-old mission of faith and service.