Zion Hill Baptist Church

Duane's take

Here's how that marker reads, the way Duane tells it. Out here in Comanche County, there's a story that goes back to the summer of 1873, and it starts not with a building but with eight people standing together on a hill. August 2nd of that year, C.

S. Fritts, J. M.

Lumpkin, Dennis O'Brian, Sarah Fritts, Jane O'Brian, Sarah Lumpkin, Stacy Martin, and Mary E. Hardin organized what would become Zion Hill Baptist Church. They did it right there at Zion Hill Cemetery, about a half mile west of where you're standing now.

Eight names. One purpose. And they didn't wait long to raise a roof over it, either.

The first frame building went up right there at that cemetery site. Now, that alone would be a fine enough story. But here's where it gets interesting.

Word of what was happenin' at Zion Hill spread out across the county, and in 1875, delegates from the area's various Baptist churches came together right here to form the county's first Baptist Association. The second oldest Missionary Baptist church in Comanche County, and it was already becoming the place where the broader community came to find common ground. The church held its ground at that original site for decades, and then in 1912, it made the move to this very spot.

Same faith, new ground. Some things travel well.

What the marker says

Second oldest Missionary Baptist church in county. Organized by C. S. Fritts, J. M. Lumpkin, Dennis O'Brian, Sarah Fritts, Jane O'Brian, Sarah Lumpkin, Stacy Martin and Mary E. Hardin, August 2, 1873, at Zion Hill Cemetery (1/2 mi. W.). First frame building was erected at that site. Delegates from area's various Baptist churches met here in 1875 to form county's first Baptist Association. Church moved to this site, 1912. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1968