Pennington Baptist Church
Pennington, Trinity County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1860 eight settlers began the Salem Baptist Church. Elder R.A. Clifton served as the first pastor. After landowner Daniel Dailey laid out Pennington in 1866, the congregation bought this land. They moved from the original church house near the cemetery and erected a structure. The name changed at the conference in 1869 to "Pennington Baptist Church". A third building was completed in 1913. The church began in 1947 providing full-time services under the pastorate of The Rev. E.P. Coe. In 1955 the fourth building was dedicated.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Eight settlers gathered in 1860 to form the Salem Baptist Church, with Elder R. A. Clifton as first pastor. After Daniel Dailey laid out the town of Pennington in 1866, the congregation bought this land and rebuilt, taking the name Pennington Baptist Church at an 1869 conference. Successive buildings in 1913 and 1955 traced the community's endurance across nearly a century.
Why it matters
The church's long life records how a frontier congregation anchored a small East Texas town through generations of change.
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Related people
- · R. A. Clifton
- · Daniel Dailey
Themes & tags
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