DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker records about the First Baptist Church of Mt. Calm, out in Hill County. Settle in, because this congregation has been through just about everything a church can go through — a relocation, a fire, a merger, and more than a few fresh starts.
In 1878, the Rev. Dr. J.
J. Riddle led members of the Mt. Antioch Church in organizing this new congregation.
Now, back then, Mt. Calm village was sitting at what folks today call Old Town — not where you'd look for it now. That matters, because the story doesn't stay put.
In 1884, the St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad came through, and when a railroad comes to town, things move. The church was moved to this very site — lock, stock, and congregation.
Then, around 1900, during the ministry of the Rev. J. Frank Norris, the fellowship built themselves a brand new church house.
A proper building for a settled, growing community. But 1940 had other plans. Fire destroyed that building.
Just gone. Now here's where the story gets a little deeper. That original Mt.
Antioch Church — the one that had given birth to this whole congregation way back in 1878 — had been declining over the years. And in 1949, it merged with the Mt. Calm membership.
Two congregations, both carrying history, now carrying it together. They built again. And in 1954, this structure was completed.
One congregation, two origins, three buildings, and over a century of holding on.
What the marker says
In 1878, under the leadership of the Rev. Dr. J. J. Riddle, members of the Mt. Antioch Church organized this congregation. At that time Mt. Calm village was located at present Old Town. In 1884, with the coming of the St. Louis and Southwestern Railroad the church was moved to this site. The fellowship built a new church house about 1900, during the ministry of the Rev. J. Frank Norris (1877-1954). In 1940 a fire destroyed that building. The Mt. Antioch Church, having declined over the years, merged in 1949 with the Mt. Calm membership. In 1954 this structure was completed.