First Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm passing it straight along to you. Back in November of 1852, six charter members gathered under the Rev. J.

R. Briscoe and organized what would become the First Baptist Church of Fannin County. Six people.

That's it. A small handful of folks with a big idea and, apparently, a good eye for real estate, because they picked up this very lot for fifty dollars. Now, at the time, that lot sat outside the city limits entirely, and an old Indian trail ran northeast of it.

They weren't exactly in the thick of things. But they built. The first church they put up was a log structure, right here on this site, and it pulled double duty as the local school.

One building, doing the work of two. That's a Texas-sized arrangement if ever there was one. By 1855 they were ready for something a little more refined, and a new frame church went up.

Baptisms in those days were held in Saunder's pool on West 7th, and the congregation had a generous spirit about the place, welcoming other denominations in to worship alongside them. The years kept rolling. A new church rose in 1882, and then another in 1921.

That 1921 church was dedicated by George W. Truett, a noted evangelist, which tells you something about the kind of standing this congregation had built for itself. Then came 1959, and the present church was dedicated under the Rev.

Jack M. Carson, pastor. From six charter members and a fifty-dollar lot on the edge of town, to a church that a noted evangelist came out to dedicate, and then another one after that.

Some foundations, it turns out, hold.

What the marker says

Organized November 1852 under the Rev. J. R. Briscoe with six charter members. The first log church on this site doubled as the school. Cost of this lot-- then outside city limits -- was $50. Indian trail lay northeast. In 1855 a new frame church was built; baptisms were held in Saunder's pool on West 7th. Other denominations were also allowed to worship here. New churches were built in 1882 and 1921, the latter being dedicated by George W. Truett, noted evangelist. The present church was dedicated 1959 under the Rev. Jack M. Carson, pastor.