Holly Springs Baptist Church
Pittsburg, Camp County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The Bluff Springs Baptist and Philadelphia Baptist churches, both established near here by post-Civil War immigrants, merged in 1903 to form the Holly Springs Baptist Church of Christ; the Rev. B. H. Sims served as its first pastor. The congregation joined the Liberty Baptist Association in 1903 and built its first sanctuary here, on land donated by Mrs. Harriet Coffman, sometime prior to 1916. A new sanctuary, built here in 1928, was the site of the association's 1929 and 1957 annual meetings. the church, known as a training ground for young ministers, continues to serve the local community.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Holly Springs Baptist Church was formed in 1903 when two older congregations founded by post–Civil War settlers merged under the Rev. B. H. Sims. On land donated by Harriet Coffman, the congregation raised its first sanctuary and joined the Liberty Baptist Association, replacing it with a new building in 1928 that twice hosted the association's annual meeting. Long known as a training ground for young ministers, it has served the Camp County community for over a century.
Why it matters
Churches built by settlers rebuilding their lives after the Civil War show how faith communities helped stitch the rural South back together.
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Related people
- · B. H. Sims
- · Harriet Coffman
Themes & tags
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