DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Antioch Church of Christ in Madison County. Now settle in, because this story starts long before 1865, and it doesn't end anytime soon. This congregation — believed to be among the oldest independent African American churches in the whole state of Texas — got its start on the Hayes Plantation.
Named Antioch, after a biblical passage. A name with weight to it. A name chosen with purpose.
And then came 1865, and the church moved. Off the plantation, into the wider world, relocating to Midway, where trustees went out and acquired property. That's a congregation planting its flag.
Now, the building they worshipped in did double duty for years — serving the community as a school as well. That went on until 1915, when a bungalow schoolhouse was erected and the children had a proper place of their own. Just two years later, in 1917, a second Church of Christ formed in the area.
Two congregations, same community, same faith. And in 1924, those two merged. Came together as one.
Then the very next year, the school was replaced as a Rosenwald School. New structures went up in 1937. And again in 1990.
That's a congregation that keeps building — literally. Century after century, through every kind of change Madison County has seen, Antioch Church of Christ is still there, still serving, still reaching out. Some things in Texas just endure.
What the marker says
Believed to be among the oldest independent African American churches in Texas, this congregation was established on the Hayes Plantation and named Antioch after a biblical passage. The church moved from the plantation in 1865 and relocated in Midway, where trustees acquired property. The church building also served as a school until a bungalow schoolhouse was erected in 1915. In 1917 a second Church of Christ was formed in the area. The two congregations merged in 1924 and the school was replaced as a Rosenwald School the next year. New church structures were erected in 1937 and again in 1990. The active congregation continues to serve the community with a variety of outreach and worship programs. (1999)