First Baptist Church of Colorado City
Colorado City, Mitchell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Founded as a mission station in 1881 by The Rev. George W. Baines (1809-1882), a former President of Baylor University and in 1880s a Baptist State Convention agent. The Rev. Peter Turner, an Englishmen, organized the church in 1882. Building site was donated by U.S. Senator and ex-Governor of Georgia Joseph E. Brown, a Texas & Pacific Railroad investor, developer of Colorado townsite. A.W. Dunn, J.T. Hutchins, J.B. Putnam, Alf H.H. Tolar, and G.W. Waddell were church trustees. The original small box structure was meeting place of all denominations until destroyed by tornado in May 1884. It was replaced by a similar frame building. In 1890, Pastor J.C. Burkett reported 140 on roll. This church joined that year with other members of Sweetwater Baptist Association to implement charter for Simmons College (now Hardin-Simmons University). In pastorate (1895) of The Rev. B.H. Carroll, Jr., a 4-room structure was erected. Classrooms and basement, added later, became emergency hospital for tornado victims on May 14, 1923. In 1924, this and neighboring county formed Mitchell-Scurry Baptist Association. Present church was built in 1928; annex in 1961. Congregation has included many community leaders; it has been active in home and foreign mission fields. (1973)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Begun as a mission station in 1881 by the Rev. George W. Baines — a former Baylor University president — this Colorado City congregation was formally organized in 1882 on land donated by railroad developer and ex-Georgia governor Joseph E. Brown. Tornadoes repeatedly tested the church, destroying an early building in 1884 and turning a later structure into an emergency hospital in 1923. In 1890 the congregation helped charter Simmons College, today Hardin-Simmons University.
Why it matters
The church links West Texas railroad-town settlement, Baptist higher education, and the region's recurring struggle against devastating storms.
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Related people
- · George W. Baines
- · Joseph E. Brown
- · B.H. Carroll, Jr.
Themes & tags
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