Chatfield Baptist Church

Duane's take

Now, I'm going to tell you what the official marker says about Chatfield Baptist Church, out here in Navarro County — and this one's got more layers than a good brisket. It starts with a man named Robert Hodge. By the accounts recorded on this marker, Hodge was reportedly the owner of one hundred slaves and twelve hundred and eighty acres of land when he settled in this area in 1849.

That's a staggering amount of both land and human suffering to carry into one story. But here's what the marker tells us next, and it matters: Hodge allowed his slaves to organize two churches — a Baptist church and an African Methodist Episcopal Church. They shared a building called the Colored Community Church of Chatfield, with the Reverend Z.

T. Pardee serving as pastor. Now, mark the year 1858, because that's when things shifted in a lasting way.

The Baptist congregation that had been formed by Hodge's slaves became part of the Chatfield Baptist Church — and that same year, the Chatfield Baptist Church joined the Richland Baptist Association. During this whole period, white pastors were preaching to both white and black congregations, one service in the morning and one in the evening. Two communities, one building, the same Gospel, and a very different world waiting outside the door.

Then came emancipation. And when freedom arrived, many of those formerly enslaved people stayed right there. They became sharecroppers and landowners both — putting roots into the same Navarro County soil they had worked before.

Among those who remained or were born into that community, one family stands out. Allen R. Griggs, born in 1850 and died in 1922, was a Baptist minister who devoted himself to the education of Black Texans.

His son, Sutton Elbert Griggs, was born right there in Chatfield in 1872. The son followed the father into ministry, became heavily involved in Texas Baptist life, and went on to become a noted African American writer. Sutton E.

Griggs lived until 1933 — a life that stretched from a small town in Navarro County out into a much wider world. The church itself kept growing and reorganizing. In 1887, the Navarro Baptist Association was formed, and the Chatfield Baptist Church transferred its membership to that new organization.

Two years later — well, not exactly two years later — by the 1890s, the town of Chatfield had reached its peak, with a population of five hundred souls. The town may have peaked, but the congregation didn't stop. The Chatfield Baptist Church continues to uphold the traditions of its founders through worship and service to the community.

A church that began in bondage, that survived emancipation, that produced a noted writer and minister, and that's still standing. Some roots, it turns out, go awful deep.

What the marker says

Reportedly the owner of one hundred slaves and 1280 acres of land, Robert Hodge settled in this area in 1849. Hodge allowed his slaves to organize two churches -- a Baptist church and an African Methodist Episcopal Church. They shared a building known as the Colored Community Church of Chatfield with the Rev. Z. T. Pardee as pastor. By 1858 the Baptist congregation formed by Hodge's slaves was part of the Chatfield Baptist Church. In that year the Chatfield Baptist Church joined the Richland Baptist Association. During this time, white pastors preached to both white and black congregations, one in the morning and one in the evening. After emancipation many freed slaves remained in the area. They became both sharecroppers and landowners. One distinguished local family was that of Allen R. Griggs (1850-1922), a Baptist minister dedicated to the education of black Texans. His son, Sutton Elbert Griggs (1872-1933), was born in Chatfield. A minister who was heavily involved in Texas Baptist life, Sutton E. Griggs became a noted African American writer. The Navarro Baptist Association was formed in 1887 and the Chatfield Baptist Church transferred its membership to the new organization. The town of Chatfield reached its peak in the 1890s with a population of 500. The Chatfield Baptist Church congregation continues to uphold the traditions of its founders through worship and service to the community. (1999)