Salem Baptist Church
Annona, Red River County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1856, the Rev. Thomas Wilson Anderson (1815-1890) organized Salem Baptist Church with twelve charter members. The first church building was located Northeast of Boxelder; by 1871, the congregation had moved to this location. By 1918, the church had a two-story structure and the local Woodmen of the World chapter met on the upper floor. The congregation built the current structure in 1945. From its early years, the church served as the focal point of the rural Boxelder community. Members have ministered to the sick and needy of the area, and have also focused on missions. Today, Salem Baptist Church continues to be a spiritual leader in Boxelder. (2009)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The Rev. Thomas Wilson Anderson organized Salem Baptist Church with twelve charter members in 1856, and by 1871 the congregation had settled at its present location in the Boxelder community. Its two-story building of 1918 shared its upper floor with the local Woodmen of the World chapter, and the current structure went up in 1945. For generations the church has been the focal point of rural Boxelder, ministering to the community and supporting missions.
Why it matters
Salem Baptist reflects how a single country church could anchor the social and spiritual life of a small Texas farming community for well over a century.
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Related people
- · Thomas Wilson Anderson
Themes & tags
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