DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Now, Canadian, Texas — Hemphill County — and the year is 1894. Picture seven women.
Just seven. No grand building, no established congregation, no guarantee of anything. But they had a mind to organize a Baptist church, and so they did — with a little help from the Rev.
Hatcher, a Baptist minister who made the trip down from Amarillo. Seven women and a traveling preacher. That's your foundation.
You want to talk about building on bedrock, that's about as solid as it gets. Now, shortly after those seven got things rolling, something happened that you couldn't have scripted better if you tried. A revival came to town — held by a fellow named Rev.
Abe Mulkey — and when the dust settled and the hallelujahs quieted down, about thirty-two newly converted souls came walking right through the door of that brand-new congregation. Thirty-two people. From seven to thirty-two, just like that.
For years, the church made do — holding services and Sunday School classes at several different locations around the area, wherever there was room, wherever there was a roof and willing hearts. That went on until 1911, when they finally completed a brick sanctuary. Something permanent.
Something that said we are here and we are staying. And they were. In 1954, the congregation erected a fellowship hall and education building.
Then in 1960, a new sanctuary went up. Each decade, something more. The church has grown right alongside the community of Canadian, and it continues to support outreach and missionary projects to this day.
Seven women in 1894. That's where it started. Sometimes that's all it takes — the right seven people willing to begin.
What the marker says
This church was organized by seven women in 1894 with the help of the Rev. Hatcher, a Baptist minister from Amarillo. Shortly thereafter, about 32 people, converted at a local revival held by the Rev. Abe Mulkey, joined the new congregation. Early services and Sunday School classes were held at several area locations until 1911 when a brick sanctuary was completed. The congregation erected a fellowship hall and education building in 1954 and a new sanctuary in 1960. The church has grown with the community and continues to support various outreach and missionary projects. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845-1995