Bethlehem Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's the story as the official marker tells it, and I'm proud to pass it along. Bethlehem Baptist Church, Fannin County, Texas. Now settle in, because this congregation has been at it a long time, and every chapter of the story is worth the tellin'.

It starts in 1871, when Revs. Billy Cox and H. E.

Cleveland organized this church. That first house of worship was a log cabin, sittin' on the estate of Mrs. Annie Garrett, right there between Preston and Lee streets.

Nothing fancy, but it was theirs, and they meant to grow. And grow they did. By 1872, the missionary society had bought the present lot.

The building that stood there got remodeled, the Rev. N. L.

Wirdlow and the congregation rolling up their sleeves and making something new out of what was already standing. Then comes 1926, and under the pastorate of the Rev. R.

E. Jones, a brand new church was erected. A whole new building.

That's the kind of thing that makes a community stand a little taller. But the story doesn't stop there. In 1949, while the Rev.

U. S. Cornelius was serving as minister, the congregation built yet again, the present church rising up to meet a new era.

And here's the part that deserves a moment of quiet appreciation: by 1952, the mortgage on that building was paid. Paid in full. On April 25, 1971, this congregation gathered to celebrate their centennial, one hundred years, with the Rev.

E. J. Rhodes leading them as minister.

From a log cabin on Mrs. Annie Garrett's estate to a paid-off church and a centennial celebration. That right there is a Texas story.

What the marker says

Organized in 1871 under the Revs. Billy Cox and H. E. Cleveland. First church was a log cabin on estate of Mrs. Annie Garrett, between Preston and Lee streets. In 1872 missionary society bought present lot. Building then here was remodeled by the Rev. N. L. Wirdlow and congregation. A new church was erected in 1926 during pastorate of the Rev. R. E. Jones. In 1949, present church was built while the Rev. U. S. Cornelius was minister. By 1952, mortgage on building was paid. On April 25, 1971, congregation celebrated centennial with the Rev. E. J. Rhodes as minister. (1972)