Downsville Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, the way I heard it at Downsville Baptist Church in McLennan County. Now, May 6, 1894, is when this story gets its start. Elder A.J.

Moore gathered nineteen members of the Robinson Baptist Church, just three miles to the northwest, and together they organized a brand new congregation right here. Nineteen people. That's a modest beginning, sure, but here's the thing about a good revival.

Later that same year, thirty-nine new members joined during a summer revival meeting, and just like that, a small gathering became a genuine church community. Then in 1896, the congregation put down real roots. E.J.

Webb and W.C. Crunk and Fannie M. Crunk deeded the land, and on that ground the people erected a sanctuary and a schoolhouse.

Two buildings at once. When a community means business, it doesn't do things halfway. Over the years, the church kept growing into itself.

A fellowship hall came along, and a town hall, and Sunday School facilities, all built at this same site. What started as nineteen souls drawn away from Robinson Baptist grew into something that now shares its buildings and its worship with a whole range of communities across the area. Elder Moore and those original nineteen might have started with a meeting, but what they left behind is a place people keep coming back to.

What the marker says

This congregation was organized on May 6, 1894, by elder A.J. Moore and 19 members of the Robinson Baptist Church (3 miles NW). Later that year 39 year new members joined the congregation during a summer revival. A sanctuary and schoolhouse were erected here on land deeded by E.J. Webb, W.C. Crunk and Fannie M. Crunk in 1896. Over the years a number of church facilities, including a fellowship hall, town hall, and Sunday School, have been built at this site. The church shares its facilities and religious services with a number of communities in the area.