First Baptist Church of Jacksonville

Duane's take

The way I tell it, I'm going by what the official marker says, so let's let the record speak. Here's the story of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville, straight from the Texas Historical Commission's account. Now, it all starts with a railroad and a brand-new town.

In 1872, the International and Great Northern Railroad promoted Jacksonville along its rail line, and when they laid out the lots for that new town, they set some aside specifically for local churches. That was a deliberate act. Somebody looked at this town-to-be and decided the churches deserved a place in it before the first nail was hammered.

Two years later, in 1873, Deacons Enoch B. Simpson and Joel H. Wallace stepped up and purchased two of those lots for a Baptist church.

Two deacons, two lots, one vision. The congregation was originally known as the Jacksonville Baptist Church of Christ, and it took until September 28, 1884 for the congregation to organize officially, with twelve charter members signin' on. Twelve people.

You could fit them around a couple of tables. But watch what happens. By 1887, the membership had grown to sixty.

From twelve to sixty, and the story was just gettin' started. That growth pressed on the congregation in a very practical way: the building they had wasn't big enough anymore. So in 1914, they constructed a larger, two-story brick sanctuary.

Two stories of brick. That's a statement of permanence, a declaration that this congregation intended to be here a while. Other facilities joined that structure over the years, and then in 1950, the whole thing was replaced by yet a larger structure still.

Growth upon growth upon growth. By 1977, the congregation moved to this site, the one the marker now stands beside, because even that wasn't the end of the expandin'. Through all of it, the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville kept its hands in the wider world.

Missionary work. Community activities. Consistent support for Jacksonville College and other denominational endeavors.

What started with two deacons buying two lots in a brand-new railroad town turned into more than a century of building, rebuilding, and reaching outward. The railroad brought the town. The town made room for the church.

And the church, it seems, never stopped making room for more.

What the marker says

This congregation traces it history to the origins of the town of Jacksonville. When the International and Great Northern Railroad promoted the new town of Jacksonville along its rail line in 1872, city lots were set aside for local churches. Deacons Enoch B. Simpson and Joel H. Wallace purchased two lots for a Baptist church in 1873. Originally known as the Jacksonville Baptist Church of Christ, the congregation was organized officially by twelve charter members on September 28, 1884, and by 1887 the membership had grown to sixty. Increased membership necessitated the construction of a larger, two-story brick sanctuary in 1914. It was joined by additional facilities over the years and was replaced by yet a larger structure in 1950. Continued growth led to the need for expanded facilities, and the congregation moved to this site in 1977. Throughout its history, the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville has been involved in missionary and community activities. It consistently has supported Jacksonville College, as well as other denominational endeavors.