HistoricSiteMarkers
Early Republic

Blanconia (Old N2) Church

Beeville, Bee County, Texas

Marker Inscription

The first Baptist church in Refugio County was organized on April 22, 1855, and met in the Doughty Schoolhouse near Refugio. In 1865, the first sanctuary was erected (5 mi.W) and named for the cattle brand of member and benefactor N. R. McDaniel. the Blanco Baptist Association was organized at the "N2" Church in 1873. In 1888 the fellowship moved to Blanconia where the first sanctuary on this site was built in 1891. One of the oldest Baptist churches in South Texas, Blanconia Church served as a nucleus for growth of area churches and has ordained several pastors. (1985)

Erected by Texas Historical Commission

The Story

Refugio County's first Baptist congregation organized in 1855, meeting first in the Doughty Schoolhouse before raising a sanctuary in 1865 named for benefactor N. R. McDaniel's "N2" cattle brand. The Blanco Baptist Association formed at that church in 1873, and in 1888 the fellowship moved to Blanconia, building on this site in 1891. One of the oldest Baptist churches in South Texas, it seeded many area congregations.

Why it matters

Frontier churches were the first institutions to knit scattered South Texas settlers into lasting communities.

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Related people

  • · N. R. McDaniel

Themes & tags

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