Farmersville First Baptist Church
|
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
OF FARMERSVILLE FIFTEEN CHARTER MEMBERS, MEETING UNDER A BRUSH ARBOR AT THIS SITE ON MAY 14, 1865, ORGANIZED THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH AND CHOSE THE REV. JOHN C. AVERITT (1818 - 1895) AS THE FIRST PASTOR. WORSHIP SERVICES WERE HELD IN PRIVATE HOMES AND LATER IN THE MASONIC HALL ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE TOWN SQUARE. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIVAL, THE BAPTISTS DECIDED TO ERECT A PERMANENT CHURCH BUILDING. THE CONGREGATION BOUGHT THE SIDE OF THE OLD BRUSH ARBOR AND IN 1877 BUILT A SIMPLE FRAME CHURCH. A BELL INSTALLED IN THE STEEPLE HERALDED SPECIAL EVENTS TO THE COMMUNITY. ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL REVIVAL IN 1898 EMPHASIZED THE NEED FOR A LARGER STRUCTURE. MORE LAND WAS ACQUIRED AND THE PRESENT CHURCH BUILDING CONSTRUCTED IN 1900. A COMBINATION OF SEVERAL ARCHITECTURAL STYLES, THE BRICK EDIFICE IS TOPPED BY A ROOF OF PRESSED METAL. THE EXTERIOR WALLS OF THE SANCTUARY FORM A MULTI- SIDED PROJECTION FLANKED BY MATCHING TOWERS WITH STEEPLY PITCHED ROOFS. THE BELL FROM THE 1877 CHURCH WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE NORTH BELFRY. EDUCATIONAL BUILDINGS WERE ADDED IN 1938 AND 1955-56. THIS CONGREGATION PROVIDES MANY COMMUNITY-ORIENTED SERVICES, INCLUDING A CHURCH -SPONSORED LIBRARY. SEVERAL WELL-KNOWN BAPTIST LEADERS SERVED AS PASTOR HERE. Texas Historical marker, 1977 |
|
