Cedar Grove Baptist Church
Milam, Sabine County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Although Cedar Grove Colored Baptist Church’s founding date is unknown, first records of the African American church show the land is on property granted to James Mason in 1830. Church records suggest the church was established around 1890. In 1904, the congregation moved three miles southeast to its present location and by 1915, the church served as a school for black students. Notable construction includes the rear portion of the building in the early 1930s, and the establishment of the cemetery in the early 1960s. Cedar Grove Baptist Church is one of the first black churches in Sabine County and a significant place of support for the African American community. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2014
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Established around 1890 on land granted in 1830, Cedar Grove was among the first African American Baptist churches in Sabine County. After moving to its present location in 1904, the congregation's building doubled as a school for Black students by 1915, making it a cornerstone of education and community support in the era of segregation.
Why it matters
Rural Black churches like Cedar Grove served as spiritual homes, schoolhouses, and gathering places, sustaining African American communities through the long decades after emancipation.
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Themes & tags
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