Galilee Missionary Baptist Church

Duane's take

The official marker's the source here, and I'm just the voice that brings it to life. This is Duane, and this is the story of Galilee Missionary Baptist Church. It starts, as so many Texas stories do, with people arrivin' somewhere new and decidin' to put down roots.

The first African-American families came to Hitchcock in 1892. They weren't many, but they were there. By 1900, more families had joined them, and something was taking shape in that community.

A gathering. A purpose. A church waiting to be born.

In 1901, Galilee Missionary Baptist Church was organized. The Reverend J. L.

Luckett stepped in as the first pastor to that young congregation. Now, they didn't have a building yet. They met in homes.

Living rooms, front parlors, wherever there was enough space to bow a head and raise a voice. Charles Monroe and Walter King served as the first deacons, helping hold things together from the very start. Then, in 1902, something happened that changed the picture.

The congregation was given land and a building. Given. That word carries weight.

That building was moved onto the new church property and it served the congregation faithfully. But the church kept growing, kept reaching, and around 1910, they purchased land on North Railroad Avenue and constructed something brand new. For the first fifty years, baptisms were held in nearby Highland Creek.

Think on that for a moment. Generation after generation, walking down to that creek, making that public declaration of faith in the open air and moving water of Hitchcock. Then 1932 came, and it brought a hurricane.

The sanctuary was severely damaged. That is the kind of blow that breaks some things permanently. But the members and friends in the community came together, and the church was rebuilt.

That is not a small thing. That is a community deciding, together, that this place matters. Over the years, as the congregation grew and ministries expanded, additional buildings and facilities were constructed to serve the church's needs.

In 1968, the congregation moved to this site, the one where the marker now stands. Music. Worship.

Outreach. Fellowship. Those are the words the marker uses to describe what Galilee has stood for.

And from 1892, when the first families arrived, right on through to today, this church has been woven into the religious and cultural history of Hitchcock. That's not opinion. That's the record.

What the marker says

Galilee Missionary Baptist Church The first African-American families moved to Hitchcock in 1892, and by 1900 additional families had joined them. Many would form the nucleus of the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church when it was organized in 1901. The Rev. J. L. Luckett served as first pastor to the young congregation, which met in homes for worship services. Charles Monroe and Walter King served as the first deacons. In 1902, the congregation was given land and a building for their purposes. The building was moved onto the new church property and served until the church purchased land on North Railroad Avenue and constructed a new building about 1910. The 1932 hurricane severely damaged the sanctuary, but with the help of members and friends in the community, the church was rebuilt. Over the years, as the congregation grew and ministries were expanded, additional buildings and facilities were constructed to serve the church's needs. Baptisms were held in nearby Highland Creek for the first 50 years. In 1968, the congregation moved to this site. With strong historical associations to the development of Hitchcock, and with its emphasis on music, worship, outreach and fellowship, the Galilee Missionary Baptist Church has played an important role in the religious and cultural history of the community. (2002)