First Baptist Church of Alpine

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First Baptist Church of Alpine, out there in Brewster County. Now, before there was an Alpine, there was an Osborne. That's where this story starts: 1882, when the railroad came through and a settlement took root near some natural springs.

Didn't stay Osborne long. By 1883 the name had changed to Murphysville, and with a new name came new people, and with new people came something this raw West Texas country hadn't seen much of yet; missionaries. They came from numerous denominations, rolling into a community that was still figuring out what it even wanted to call itself.

Among those early arrivals was the noted Reverend George W. Baines. And in 1883, right there in Murphysville, he held what was reportedly the first Protestant meeting in the community.

Reportedly. That word does some heavy lifting out here in the Trans-Pecos, where records were scarce and memories ran long. Whatever you call it, it was a beginning.

The town kept changin' its name; became Alpine in 1888; but that seed Baines planted kept growin'. Ten years after his meeting, on April 14, 1893, the First Baptist Church of Alpine was officially organized. The following year, 1894, it called its first pastor, the Reverend D.B.

Rose. That same year, the congregation affiliated with the Sweetwater Association, and for a while they were a church without a fixed address, meetin' in various locations around town. Then in 1896 they changed that.

The congregation purchased this very site, and they dedicated their first sanctuary right here: an adobe structure, sturdy and humble, built for a community with big sky overhead and serious intentions. By that time they already had a Women's Missionary Union running, along with regular Bible and Sunday School classes. These were folks who didn't wait around.

The years kept coming. Membership increased. In 1910 they added a parsonage right next to the sanctuary.

Sunday School enrollment climbed toward nearly two hundred members, with youth and service groups filling out the calendar. By 1915 they were already working on a larger sanctuary; one that would be in use by 1917. Architect James E.

Greene designed it with ample sanctuary seating, Sunday School rooms, a baptistery, a Ladies Aid parlor, and a pastor's study. That's a building that meant business. And Alpine kept growin' too.

When Sul Ross Teachers College opened in 1920, the congregation expanded its programs to meet the needs that came with it. No local public library? Members established a borrowing library themselves.

They sponsored Boy Scouts, ran children's and youth programs, carried out mission work both in Alpine and in Mexico, and maintained activities at what would become Sul Ross State University. From that first reported Protestant meeting in a settlement that hadn't yet settled on a name, to a congregation woven into the life of an entire region; the First Baptist Church of Alpine has been here through all of it, leading its local and regional communities through programs, services, and dedicated members. Some beginnings, it turns out, are exactly as consequential as they feel.

What the marker says

When the railroad came through this area in 1882, the settlement of Osborne was established here near natural springs. The community's name changed to Murphysville in 1883, and at that time, as the population began to grow, missionaries arrived from numerous denominations. Included among them was the noted Rev. George W. Baines. In 1883, he held what was reportedly the first Protestant meeting in the community, which became known as Alpine in 1888. Ten years after Baines' meeting, the First Baptist Church of Alpine was officially organized on April 14, 1893. It called its first pastor, the Rev. D.B. Rose, in 1894. That same year, the church affiliated with the Sweetwater Association, and the congregation met in various locations until purchasing this site and dedicating its first sanctuary, an adobe structure, here in 1896. The congregation by that time had a Women's Missionary Union and held regular Bible and Sunday School classes. Membership increased, and next to its sanctuary in 1910, the congregation added a parsonage. The church grew, with nearly two hundred members enrolled in Sunday School and youth and service groups. In 1915, it began work on a larger sanctuary, in use by 1917. Architect James E. Greene's design included ample sanctuary seating, as well as Sunday School rooms, a baptistery, a Ladies Aid parlor and a pastor's study. The congregation added facilities and expanded its programs to meet the needs of the community, including the Sul Ross Teachers College, which opened in 1920. With no local public library, members established a borrowing library. Other programs included children's and youth programs, Boy Scout sponsorship, mission work in Alpine and in Mexico, and activities at Sul Ross State University. Participating in Baptist work locally and internationally, First Baptist Church continues to lead its local and regional communities through its many programs, services and dedicated members. (2003)