Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, Anderson County, Palestine, Texas. Pull over if you need to, because this one's worth your full attention.

In the years following the Civil War, a community took root in the part of Palestine known as South End. African Americans came here, working as laborers in the shops and railyards, building lives in a place that was, by any honest measure, thriving. But a thriving community without a church is a community still looking for something, and the people of South End knew it.

No church existed to serve them, and traveling for worship services could be difficult. So several residents did what determined people do. They enlisted help.

The man they turned to was the Reverend Richard H. Boyd, someone the marker describes plainly as instrumental in establishing churches in Anderson County. That's not a small thing.

That is a reputation earned. With his help, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church was organized in 1892. Now, they didn't have a building yet.

Not at first. The congregation began meeting in the South Union Church sanctuary, under the Reverend D. W.

Whitting, and then moved services into a private residence. Winters inside, summers in a tent. Think about that for a moment.

These folks were worshipping in a tent in a Texas summer, and they kept coming. That tells you everything you need to know about what this church meant to them. The first proper building went up on South Fulton Street in 1898.

Then in 1928, they built a new facility, right here on this spot. And then in 1941, fire destroyed the church building. Just like that, gone.

But the congregation rebuilt. The Reverend Shelbia H. Graham, described as a respected local pastor, was ministering during this time, aiding in the development and growth of the church through those hard years of loss and rebuilding.

Later, another noted pastor stepped into that pulpit. The Reverend Joseph F. Wade ministered at Pilgrim Rest from 1965 through 1988, further fostering congregational growth.

Decades of steady, committed work. Through it all, Pilgrim Rest has been more than a place to sit on Sunday morning. The church has hosted meetings for local business organizations and for church conventions.

Its members have provided goods and donations for those in need. And the reach of this congregation has stretched far beyond South End, far beyond Palestine, with missions in places as far as Africa and Mexico. Today, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church continues to serve as a spiritual and civic focal point for Palestine.

A tent in a Texas summer, and look what grew from it.

What the marker says

Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church organized in 1892 to serve residents of the area of Palestine known as South End. Following the Civil War, many African Americans moved here, working as laborers in shops and railyards. No church existed in the thriving community and it was sometimes difficult to travel for worship services. Several residents enlisted the help of the Rev. Richard H. Boyd, who was instrumental in establishing churches in Anderson County, to organize Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church. Members first met in the South Union Church sanctuary under the Rev. D.W. Whitting before conducting services in a residence. Services were held there in the winter and in a tent during the summer. The group erected its first building on South Fulton Street in 1898, but built a new facility here in 1928. In 1941, fire destroyed the church building and members rebuilt. The Rev. Shelbia H. Graham, a respected local pastor, ministered during this time, aiding in the development and growth of the church. Another noted pastor, the Rev. Joseph F. Wade, ministered at Pilgrim Rest from 1965 through 1988, further fostering congregational growth. Through the years, the church has been an important institution in the community and state. It has hosted meetings for local business organizations, as well as for church conventions. Members have also been active in helping others, providing goods and donations for those in need. Additionally, the church has long been involved in missions in places such as Africa and Mexico. Today, Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church continues to serve as a spiritual and civic focal point for Palestine. (2007)