Union Lee Baptist Church
Manor, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
According to oral tradition, this congregation began meeting together for outdoor worship services in 1874. In 1884, Leonard Eck donated land, the B. J. Lee family gave a building, and the church was formally organized with the Rev. Anthony Winn as pastor. In 1916, after several decades of growth, the congregation moved to this property, donated by M. M. and Josephine Mitchell and G. A. Mitchell. In 1928-1929, a Rosenwald school was built on the northwest corner of the church's acreage to serve students in this rural part of Travis County. Throughout its history, Union Lee Missionary Baptist Church has carried out ministries of education and community assistance and remains an important part of the area's cultural heritage. (2001)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Oral tradition traces this congregation to outdoor worship services begun in 1874, with the church formally organized in 1884 after Leonard Eck donated land and the B. J. Lee family gave a building. The congregation moved to its present property in 1916, and in 1928–1929 a Rosenwald school was built on the church's land to serve students in rural Travis County. Through education and community assistance, Union Lee Missionary Baptist Church has remained a cornerstone of the area.
Why it matters
The church and its Rosenwald school together tell how African American congregations in the rural South became the backbone of Black education when public schooling was segregated and underfunded.
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Related people
- · Leonard Eck
- · Anthony Winn
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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