Valley View Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Valley View Baptist Church in Montague County. Now settle in, because this one starts with a vote and ends with a name, and there's a whole lot of Texas life in between. Back in 1895, the Tri-County Baptist Association, made up of churches in Montague, Clay, and Wise Counties, voted to plant a new church near Spanish Fort.

And right away they got to work. That same year, Red River Baptist Church was formally organized, born out of a revival service held under a brush arbor at Red River station. No walls, no roof to speak of, just believers gathered under branches with the summer heat pressing down.

From those humble beginnings, the congregation moved through a couple of borrowed schoolhouses. First the Rowland Schoolhouse, a mile to the west. Then the March Schoolhouse, a mile to the north.

Wherever there was room, that congregation found a way. Then, around 1919 or 1920, the Valley View Schoolhouse went up, and the Baptist congregation moved in alongside other local churches, sharing the space the way good neighbors do. Now here is where the story picks up some real texture.

In 1921, during the pastorate of the Reverend J.A. Russell, a couple named Mr. and Mrs. J.A.

York donated land right here at this site for a proper church building. Brother Russell was no ordinary pastor. He also served as Principal of Valley View School, and he lived in a teacherage on school property until 1927, when the congregation built him a parsonage.

When he finally moved on, he went to serve as Pastor of the First Baptist Church in nearby Nocona. And then came the name. In late 1928 or early 1929, the congregation voted to change the name from Red River Baptist Church to Valley View Baptist Church.

A new name, rooted in everything that came before. The marker notes something worth carrying with you down the road: Valley View has a long history of supporting outreach and missionary work, and many of its former pastors went on to serve in the foreign missionary field. A little church near Spanish Fort, and its people kept reaching further and further out into the world.

What the marker says

The Tri-County Baptist Association, comprised of churches in Montague, Clay, and Wise Counties, voted to establish a church near Spanish Fort in 1895. Red River Baptist Church was formally organized that year following a revival service held under a brush arbor at Red River station. Early worship services were held in the Rowland Schoolhouse (1 mile west) and in the March Schoolhouse (1 mile north). About 1919-1920, after the Valley View Schoolhouse was built, the Baptist congregation shared that facility with other local churches. In 1921, during the pastorate of The Rev. J.A. Russell, Mr. and Mrs. J.A. York donated land at this site for a church building. Brother Russell, who also served as Principal of Valley View School, lived in a teacherage on school property until 1927, when the church built a parsonage. He later resigned to become Pastor of the First Baptist Church in nearby Nocona. In late 1928 or early 1929 church members voted to change the name of the congregation to Valley View Baptist Church. The Valley View congregation has a long history of supporting outreach and missionary activities. Many of the congregation's former pastors later served in the foreign missionary field. (1995)