First Baptist Church of Midland
Midland, Midland County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The First Baptist Church of Midland began serving the city shortly after Midland's founding in 1885. That year, Baptists from Pecos, Big Spring and Midland agreed to hire the Rev. S.B. Callaway to serve the three congregations. Under his leadership, a group organized this church in 1886, erecting a building shortly afterwards. Over the years, the church expanded and moved twice to accommodate growing membership. During the years following World War II, church growth mirrored Midland's impressive city development due to the region's expanding petroleum industry. Through all this time, the church has been a spiritual and community leader, a position it continues to hold today. (2006)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Soon after Midland's founding in 1885, Baptists from Pecos, Big Spring, and Midland pooled their resources to hire the Rev. S.B. Callaway to serve all three towns, and under him this congregation organized in 1886 and quickly built its first house of worship. As Midland grew—especially with the petroleum boom that followed World War II—the church expanded and relocated to keep pace. It has remained a spiritual and civic anchor of the city ever since.
Why it matters
The church's growth mirrors the rise of Midland from a railroad watering stop into a capital of the West Texas oil economy.
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Related people
- · Rev. S.B. Callaway
Related events
- · Founding of Midland (1885)
Themes & tags
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