Early Church of Graham
Graham, Young County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Erected in 1885 for use by the First Baptist Church (established 1880). Dedicated May 10 at service preached by Elder W. M. Farmer. Originally structure had a bell tower and its red brick was not painted. Land was donated by Col. E. S. Graham, founder of town. J. H. Wood served as contractor. In 1908, when Baptists erected a new building, this one was sold to Church of Christ, which has now worshipped at same site longer than any other church in town. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1971
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Built in 1885 on land donated by town founder Col. E.S. Graham, this red-brick church first served the First Baptist congregation, organized in 1880 and dedicated with a sermon by Elder W.M. Farmer. When the Baptists built anew in 1908, the building passed to the Church of Christ, which has since worshiped here longer than any other congregation in town. Its original bell tower and unpainted brick marked it as one of the young frontier community's earliest permanent institutions.
Why it matters
A first church building was often the anchor of a newly founded frontier town, and its survival across denominations records the slow settling of the West Texas frontier.
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Related people
- · Col. E.S. Graham
- · Elder W.M. Farmer
- · J.H. Wood
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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Site of Third County Courthouse
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