St. John Missionary Baptist Church
Decatur, Wise County, Texas
Marker Inscription
ST. JOHN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH THIS HISTORIC CHURCH FORMED IN THE SPRING OF 1882. A GROUP OF WOMEN, LED BY MISSOURI BROWN, BEGAN A SUNDAY SCHOOL AND LATER INITIATED THE ORGANIZATION OF A NEW CHURCH. THE FIRST CHURCH BUILDING WAS USED AS A SCHOOL AND BECAME A CENTER FOR ALL DENOMINATIONS. REVEREND MORRIS ANDERSON OF GAINESVILLE SERVED AS THE FIRST PASTOR. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING WAS REPLACED WITH A ONE-ROOM STRUCTURE IN 1941 ON THE SITE OF TODAY’S CHURCH. UNDER REV. H.B. ALLEN, AN AUDITORIUM WAS ADDED IN 1947 AND A BRICK STRUCTURE REPLACED THE OLD CHURCH IN 1951. ST. JOHN MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH IS THE ONLY CHURCH IN THE AREA THAT IS PREDOMINATELY AFRICAN AMERICAN AND HAS SERVED THE COMMUNITY FOR OVER A CENTURY. (2012)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In the spring of 1882, a group of women led by Missouri Brown started a Sunday school that grew into St. John Missionary Baptist Church, with Reverend Morris Anderson of Gainesville as first pastor. The earliest building doubled as a school and a gathering place for all denominations. Through rebuildings in 1941, 1947, and 1951, it remained the area's predominantly African American congregation.
Why it matters
In a county with few Black residents, St. John was a vital center of African American faith, education, and community life for well over a century.
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Related people
- · Missouri Brown
- · Morris Anderson
- · H.B. Allen
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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