First Baptist Church of Mexia

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First Baptist Church of Mexia. Now settle in, because this story starts before the church itself does. Way back in 1846, a congregation was putting down roots in a little town called Springfield.

Good people, faithful people, the kind who build communities and mean to stay. And for a while, they did. But then came 1871, and the Houston and Texas Central Railroad came rolling through the region, and it did not roll through Springfield.

It bypassed that town entirely. And when a railroad passes you by in those days, well, the town doesn't argue with the tracks. Springfield got absorbed by Mexia, and some of those Springfield church folks carried their faith right along with them.

On January the fourteenth, 1872, the Reverend W. Henry Parks organized what would become the First Baptist Church of Mexia. Some of those very charter members had roots in that old Springfield Church, founded back in 1846.

They didn't start with a building. No, at first the congregation met in a lodge hall, which, if you've ever sat through a long service on a hard wooden chair, tells you something about the determination of those early members. By 1873 they had built themselves a proper church.

And that was just the beginning. Over the years, four buildings have been erected on that same site. Thirty-two pastors have served this congregation.

The church has helped found two other churches. And then there are the missionaries. Mildred Cox Mein went to Brazil, serving from 1934 all the way to 1971.

John E. Mills went to Africa, beginning in 1947. From a lodge hall in a town that inherited its congregation from a railroad detour, the First Baptist Church of Mexia has been reaching out ever since.

What the marker says

Organized Jan. 14, 1872, by the Rev. W. Henry Parks. Some charter members came from Springfield Church (founded 1846), as that town was bypassed by Houston and Texas Central Railroad in 1871 and absorbed by Mexia. After meeting at first in a lodge hall, congregation built a church in 1873. Four buildings have been erected on this site. Thirty-two pastors have served this church. The congregation has helped found two other churches. It also has sent out missionaries Mildred Cox Mein (Brazil, 1934-71) and John E. Mills (Africa, 1947- ). 1972