St. Paul Baptist Church - Melissa
Incised on back: FAITHFUL FAMILIES SANDERS CLAYTON THOMAS HAWKINS PERRY THORNTON JOHNSON CROCKETT FRAZIER CARTER JACKSON |
ST. PAUL BAPTIST CHURCH
ONE OF COLLIN COUNTY'S OLDEST BLACK CONGREGATIONS, THIS CHURCH WAS ORGANIZED IN 1872 BY THE REV. JEFF SHIRLEY OF KENTUCKY. MEMBERS WORSHIPPED BENEATH A BRUSH ARBOR BEFORE CONSTRUCTING THEIR FIRST CHURCH BUILDING N 1885 ON LAND PURCHASED FROM T. E. SHIRLEY. THREE YEARS LATER, SHIRLEY SOLD THEM ACREAGE ADJACENT TO MELISSA CEMETERY FOR A CHURCH BURIAL GROUND. AFTER THE ORIGINAL SANCTUARY WAS DESTROYED BY A TORNADO ON APRIL 13, 1921, A NEW FRAME BUILDING WAS ERECTED. FOR OVER 100 YEARS, THIS FELLOWSHIP HAS HELD AN ANNUAL HOMECOMING CELEBRATION IN MAY. Texas Historical marker, 1978 |
