Rural Shade Baptist Church

Duane's take

Now, I'm tellin' this one straight from the official marker, so let's set the record right. Somewhere around 1870, out on Tarkington's Prairie, at least fourteen charter members got together and decided they were going to build something that would last. They called it Rural Shade Baptist Church, and friend, they were not wrong about the lasting part.

The congregation has been going continuously ever since, which is a thing worth sitting with for a moment before we move on. About 1870. Right there on the prairie.

Fourteen people, minimum, and a whole lot of faith. That's where this story starts. Now, it took a few years, but in 1878 the land was deeded for a structure that was going to pull double duty.

One building, two purposes. They erected a two-story arrangement, and here is where it gets interesting: the church took the first floor, and the Masonic Lodge moved in upstairs. Which makes a certain kind of sense, because many of those early church members were also active in the Lodge.

The two communities were not strangers to each other. In fact, a man named D. D.

Forman was both a Master Mason and the first church pastor, serving from 1874 to 1876 and then coming back around again in 1882. In those early years, the congregation didn't wait for someone to be sent to them. They elected their pastors from right within their own membership.

Worship services ran once or twice a month, usually on Saturdays. And when the spirit called for something bigger, they held what they called Meeting of Days, which in later years folks would come to call revivals, right there in that same building. Then in 1908, a man named Washington Berry deeded the Ryan Cemetery to the Rural Shade Baptist Church.

The cemetery sits five miles south, and the church held ownership of that land for decades, right up until 1989, when it was transferred to the Ryan Cemetery Association. Through all of it, founding to present day, the congregation kept its eye on something larger than itself. Supporting Christian programs for its own members, yes, but also reaching out in mission work, domestic and foreign both.

Fourteen people on a Texas prairie decided to build something around 1870, and what they built has never stopped.

What the marker says

At least 14 charter members founded this church in the Tarkington's Prairie community about 1870. Land was deeded in 1878 for a combination Baptist church and Masonic Hall structure. That year a two-story building was erected, with the second floor housing the Masonic Lodge and the church on the first floor. Many early church members were also active in the Lodge. D. D. Forman was a master Mason and the first church pastor from 1874 to 1876 and again in 1882. In the early years pastors were elected from the congregation members. Worship services were held once or twice a month, usually on Saturdays. "Meeting of Days," later called revivals, were held at the church building. In 1908 the Ryan Cemetery was deeded to the Rural Shade Baptist Church by Washington Berry. Located five miles south, the church held ownership to the land until 1989, when it was transferred to the Ryan Cemetery Association. Since its founding, the congregation has continuously supported a variety of Christian programs for its members, as well as outreach mission work in domestic and foreign fields.