Rock Hill Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Way out in Wood County, there's a congregation with roots sunk deep, deep into East Texas soil. We're talkin' 1870.

That's when Rock Hill Baptist Church got itself organized, meeting in a schoolhouse sitting right on Coke Road. No building of their own yet, just a handful of faithful people and a shared piece of ground. Now, four names show up as charter members, and you ought to say them out loud, because they earned that distinction.

Joe Bird. John Corley. W.

W. Grice. And R.

H. Galloway. Those four were there at the beginning, when it was just a dream and a schoolroom floor.

Leading them in those early days was their first pastor, the Reverend Jeff Warlick. A man who had a congregation before the congregation had a church. That church, the first proper building, didn't come until 1892.

Twenty-two years of gathering before the walls finally went up around them. And somewhere in that stretch, a man named L. F.

Banks became the earliest ordained minister from that congregation, receiving his ordination in 1888. By the time the new century rolled around, Rock Hill had found its stride. Ever since then, the average membership has held right around 170 souls.

Not a flashy number. Not a famous one. But steady.

And in Texas, steady is its own kind of tall tale.

What the marker says

Organized in 1870 in school on Coke Road. First church was built in 1892. Charter members: Joe Bird, John Corley, W. W. Grice, and R. H. Galloway. First pastor: the Rev. Jeff Warlick. L. F. Banks, earliest ordained minister (in 1888). Since turn of century average membership has been 170. (1970)