New Cherry Grove Baptist Church

NEW CHERRY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH

IN 1889, HICKORY GROVE SCHOOL AND CHURCH WAS RELOCATED FROM THE WEST BANK OF COW BAYOU TO A MORE ACCESSIBLE LOCATION THAT WAS NOT BLOCKED DURING PERIODIC FLOODING. THE CHURCH MAY HAVE EXISTED EARLIER, BUT WRITTEN DOCUMENTATION BEGINS WITH THE BUILDING’S 1889 RELOCATION. THE NEW BUILDING WAS NAMED CHERRY GROVE SCHOOL AND CHURCH BECAUSE OF THE FOLIAGE AT THE NEW SITE. THE CHERRY GROVE STRUCTURE WAS MOVED TO ANOTHER SITE A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY IN 1900. THE ARRIVAL OF THE ORANGE AND NORTHWESTERN RAILWAY AND THE SUBSEQUENT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE COMMUNITY OF GIST MADE IT LOGICAL FOR THE CHERRY GROVE SCHOOL AND CHURCH TO RELOCATE TO GIST IN 1909.

WHEN THE TWO BAPTIST CHURCHES IN GIST DECIDED TO COMBINE CONGREGATIONS IN 1916, THE NEW CHURCH BECAME NEW CHERRY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH. THE STEADY GROWTH OF THE CONGREGATION REQUIRED A LARGER CHURCH FACILITY, AND THE OLD CHERRY GROVE BUILDING WAS AGAIN MOVED, TO A SITE AT THE CORNER OF STATE HIGHWAY 62 AND GIST ROAD (NOW COUNTY ROAD 826). THE FIRST SERMON WAS PREACHED AT THIS LOCATION IN JUNE 1923. CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE CHURCH PLAN THROUGH THE YEARS IN ORDER TO BETTER SERVE THE CONGREGATION.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH HAS BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF NEW CHERRY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH’S ACTIVITIES SINCE THE CONGREGATION’S FOUNDING. THE CHURCH BUILDING HAS SERVED AS A JASPER COUNTY POLLING SITE SINCE AT LEAST 1889. THE CHURCH MAINTAINS A BENEVOLENT FUND TO ASSIST CHURCH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN NEED AND ALSO SUPPORTS LOCAL CHARITIES AND FOREIGN MISSIONS. THROUGH SEVERAL CHANGES IN LOCATION AND NAME, NEW CHERRY GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH HAS FAITHFULLY SERVED THE RESIDENTS OF SOUTHEASTERN JASPER COUNTY.

175 YEARS OF TEXAS INDEPENDENCE * 1836-2011.