Coryell Baptist Church
Oglesby, Coryell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
County's First Baptist Church. Organized, June 1885, by Elders John Clabaugh and S. G. O'Bryan. Charter members were Green and Adaline Franks; Rebecca Gibson; J. G. and Sarah Ann Green; Naomi Hall; Martha Hicks; Catherine and Jesse James; Jesse and Margaret Lee; James, Jane Margaret and Minerva McIlhaney. Congregation met for 30 years in homes and schoolhouse; in 1885, erected this building. Site was donated by Green Franks and Hall. The historic church building was dismantled in 1982,and the lumber was used to repair the tabernacle.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Recognized as Coryell County's first Baptist church, this congregation was gathered by two elders in the mid-1800s, with a roster of charter families whose names still dot the county. For years the members met in homes and a schoolhouse before raising a permanent building on land donated by two of their own. When the historic church was finally dismantled in 1982, its lumber was reused to repair the local tabernacle â a fitting second life for a pioneer sanctuary.
Why it matters
As a county's founding congregation, the church marks the arrival of settled community and worship on what had recently been the Texas frontier.
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Related people
- ¡ John Clabaugh
- ¡ S. G. O'Bryan
- ¡ Green Franks
Themes & tags
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