First Baptist Church of Archer City
Archer City, Archer County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Soon after Archer City was laid out in 1879, a building intended for a saloon was bought by residents for use as a schoolhouse. In February 1880, eight members organized First Baptist Church in the school building and worshiped there until a meetinghouse was erected in 1890. The structure was destroyed in a storm and rebuilt. The Rev. Joe B. (Uncle Joe) Benson, the first pastor, also preached in nearby communities. The Sunday School began in 1899. Westfork, Baxter, and New Bethel Community Baptist Churches joined this fellowship. Sanctuaries were erected in 1929 and in 1972. (1980)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
When Archer City was surveyed in 1879, residents bought a building meant to be a saloon and turned it into a schoolhouse — and there, in February 1880, eight people organized the First Baptist Church. They worshiped in the school until a meetinghouse rose in 1890, only to see it wrecked by a storm and rebuilt. Under 'Uncle Joe' Benson, the congregation reached into neighboring settlements and eventually absorbed several country churches.
Why it matters
The story of a saloon-turned-school-turned-church distills how raw frontier towns improvised their institutions from whatever was at hand.
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Related people
- · Rev. Joe B. Benson
Themes & tags
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