First Baptist Church of Kilgore
Kilgore, Gregg County, Texas
Marker Inscription
On October 11, 1902, the five charter members of this congregation met and formed the Missionary Baptist Church of Kilgore. They were Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Choice, Mr. and Mrs. J. I. Choice, and Miss Lizzie Clinkscales. The Rev. P. J. Vermillion served as first pastor. The church's first sanctuary was constructed in 1906, during the pastorate of the rev. J. A. Lee. It served the small village congregation for nearly 30 years, until the Kilgore oil boom of the 1930s increased tremendously both the population of the town and the membership of the First Baptist Church. The original church building, located at South Martin and Main streets, was sold in 1931. The congregation met for worship services and Sunday School in the homes of its members and in various public buildings until a new brick structure was completed at this site in 1933. throughout its history the First Baptist Church of Kilgore has actively supported home and foreign missions, assisting in the formation of several other local Baptist fellowships. As an integral part of this community, the congregation has grown and developed to provide service and leadership for the changing needs of the people of Kilgore. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Five charter members founded this Baptist congregation in the small farming village of Kilgore in 1902, raising their first sanctuary in 1906. The 1930s brought the East Texas oil boom, which swelled Kilgore's population — and the church's rolls — almost overnight, prompting a new brick sanctuary in 1933. The congregation went on to help seed other Baptist churches in the region.
Why it matters
The church's sudden growth captures how the East Texas oil strike transformed sleepy farm towns into booming cities within a single decade.
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Related people
- · P. J. Vermillion
- · J. A. Lee
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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The New Deal Era in Kilgore
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