Shiloh Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and here's how I'm gonna pass it along to you. Out here in Collin County, there's a congregation with roots that go all the way back to 1884; and friend, those are deep roots. That year, a group of faithful people came together and organized what they called the Mt.

Zion Colored Baptist Church. Leading them was the Reverend Z.T. Stuart, and the charter members (the founding souls who put their names to this thing) were Ammon Drake, Lula Drake, Minnie Drake Stuart, and Kanzetta Bowen.

Four names. Four people who decided that something lasting needed to be built right here. Now think about that for a second.

They chose this very site, and they have never left it. Every building this congregation has ever worshiped in has stood on this same ground. That's not coincidence.

That's conviction. The first sanctuary was a small structure; nothing grand about it on the outside. Light came from coal oil lamps, and on cold mornings, a wood burning stove was doing all the work it could.

But small rooms and dim light have never once stopped a determined congregation, and this one was nothing if not determined. Over the years, they worshiped in four different buildings on this spot, each one a chapter in a longer story. The current church building went up in 1964, and it stands here still.

Through all of it, through more than a century of worship, education, and outreach, Shiloh Baptist Church has kept serving its community. They changed the name somewhere along the way, but the mission? That never changed a bit.

Started with four charter members and a coal oil lamp. Still here. That's the whole story, right there.

What the marker says

This congregation was organized in 1884 as the Mt. Zion Colored Baptist Church. Led by the Rev. Z.T. Stuart, the charter members were Ammon Drake, Lula Drake, Minnie Drake Stuart, and Kanzetta Bowen. Located at this site since its organization, the congregation has worshiped in four buildings. The first sanctuary was a small structure lighted by coal oil lamps and heated by a wood burning stove. The current church building was constructed in 1964. Throughout its history, Shiloh Baptist Church has served its community with worship, education, and outreach programs. (1988)