First Baptist Church of Junction

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it: the story of the First Baptist Church of Junction, right here in Kimble County. Back in 1880, several local residents gathered at the courthouse (not a grand cathedral, mind you, just the courthouse) to organize themselves a Baptist church. Leading the effort was the Reverend Z.M.

Wells, pastor over at Menardville, which folks today call Menard. He took on the task of conducting services monthly, riding that circuit and keeping the congregation together. Now, four years later, the courthouse burned.

Gone. And rather than let that be the end of things, Junction residents did what Junction residents do; they erected a community church building, shared on a rotating basis among the faithful. That's the kind of town this was.

Then in 1887, the Baptist congregation planted something a little more permanent right here on this very site: a white, frame sanctuary. Simple, clean, theirs. Decades rolled by, and in 1929 the members built a Spanish-style building on the same ground, a real statement for a Texas Hill Country town.

Thirty years after that, in 1959, up went a brick structure. The church kept growin', kept addin' facilities as the need arose. And all the while, through every building and every generation, the members kept serving; through mission work, worship, music, and service programs.

From a courthouse meetin' in 1880 to brick and mortar and community deep enough to last, that's the story this ground holds.

What the marker says

In 1880, several local residents met at the courthouse to organize a Baptist church. The Rev. Z.M. Wells, pastor at Menardville (Menard), led the group and continued conducting services monthly. Four years later, the courthouse burned, and Junction residents erected a community church building, used on a rotating basis. In 1887, the Baptist congregation built a white, frame sanctuary on this site. Members built a Spanish-style building here in 1929 and then a brick structure in 1959. As the church has grown, it has also added other facilities. Over the years, members have served the community through mission work, worship, music and service programs. (2005)