Western Grove Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about Western Grove Baptist Church in Walker County. Now settle in, because this story's got roots that go deep, and it's traveled farther than you might expect to get where it stands today. Following emancipation, African Americans across this part of Texas were looking for a place to gather, to breathe, to worship together.

And so they built churches. Western Grove Baptist Church was founded in 1885, making it the oldest African American church in New Waverly. But here's the thing: it wasn't always called Western Grove, and it wasn't always on the west side of town.

Back at the beginning, it went by Eastern Grove Baptist Church, and it sat on the east side of town, near the International-Great Northern Railroad, on one acre of land that was given to the congregation. The people who made that early organization happen, Reverend James Alford, Reverend Joe James, Sr., and Deacons Dick Hill, Will Hargrove, Jack Burl, and Edd Bailey, were instrumental in getting it off the ground. In 1914, Reverend B.F.

Briggs became pastor, followed by Reverend Abe Parker, and then Reverend Briggs came back around again. Then in 1930, Reverend Loveless Lewis took the pulpit, and he and Mrs. Annie Herndon organized the choir, which tells you something about the spirit of that congregation.

Now. 1936. That's where the sky turned against them. Strong winds blew the church down.

Just leveled it. The building sat unused for a full year, a congregation without its walls. Then they moved what remained to the west side of town with the intention of rebuilding.

They purchased land from Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kmiecik, and with that move and that new ground, the name changed too: Western Grove Baptist Church. By 1937, under the leadership of Reverend J.

Jones, the new building was completed. The congregation had taken a blow that would've finished a lesser fellowship, and they came back standing. In the 1950s and early 1960s, they kept building, adding a choir stand, a pastor's study, a choir room, and a bell tower.

And even that wasn't the last move. In 1958, when Interstate 45 was constructed through that area of the county, the church was moved again, this time to its present location. Blown down.

Moved twice. Renamed. And still ringing.

That bell tower didn't end up there by accident. It ended up there because this congregation refused to be finished.

What the marker says

Following emancipation, many African Americans sought a place to gather and worship, and they formed churches. The Western Grove Baptist church was founded in 1885 and is the oldest African American church in New Waverly. The church began as Eastern Grove Baptist Church before it moved to the west side of town. Reverend James Alford, Reverend Joe James, Sr., and Deacons Dick Hill, Will Hargrove, Jack Burl and Edd Bailey were instrumental in the church organization. One acre of land was given to the church on the east side of town near the International-Great Northern Railroad. In 1914, Reverend B.F. Briggs became pastor followed by Reverend Abe Parker and then Reverend Briggs. In 1930, Reverend Loveless Lewis became pastor and he, along with Mrs. Annie Herndon, organized the choir. Tragedy struck in 1936 when the church was blown down by strong winds. The building remained unused for a year and then was moved to the west side of town with the intention of rebuilding it. The church purchased land from Mr. and Mrs. Frank Kmiecik and the name of the church was changed to Western Grove Baptist Church. The new building was completed in 1937 under the leadership of Reverend J. Jones. In the 1950s and early 1960s, additions were made to the church including the choir stand, pastor's study, choir room and bell tower. The church was moved to its present location in 1958 when interstate 45 was constructed through this area of the county. This historic church congregation continues to be a spiritual beacon for the community.