First Baptist Church of Elkhart

AFTER THE CIVIL WAR, THE CROMWELL FAMILY MOVED TO ELKHART IN ANDERSON COUNTY. FINDING NO ORGANIZED BAPTIST CHURCH IN THE COMMUNITY, J.W. CROMWELL DECIDED TO ORGANIZE A BAPTIST CHURCH. IN APRIL OF 1886, CROMWELL AND SIX OTHER CHARTER MEMBERS FOUNDED THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF ELKHART AND CALLED ON REVEREND JULIUS BURK TO SERVE AS THE FIRST PASTOR. A CHURCH HOME WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1876 ON THE QUARLES PLANTATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF A SCHOOL AND CHURCH, KNOWN AT THAT TIME AS THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, SOUTH. IN 1897, LAND WAS SOLD TO THE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH AND A WOODEN STRUCTURE WAS ERECTED. THE CHURCH MOVED A THIRD TIME WHEN THE WOODEN STRUCTURE BURNED IN 1943. SADLY, ALL OF THE CHURCH RECORDS WERE LOST. THE CHURCH THEN MOVED TO THE OLD MERCANTILE BUILDING BUT IT ALSO BURNED IN 1963. AFTER BRIEFLY USING THE ELKHART HIGH SCHOOL AUDITORIUM, THE CHURCH PURCHASED LAND FROM THE FUNDERBURK FAMILY AND BUILT A NEW STRUCTURE. THE NEW CHURCH BUILDING WAS DEDICATED ON JUNE 21, 1964.

THIRTY-FOUR PASTORS HAVE SERVED THE CONGREGATION AND THE CHURCH IS ONE OF THE OLDEST TO BE ESTABLISHED INSIDE THE CITY. FROM 1886 TO 1890, THE CHURCH BELONGED TO THE NECHES RIVER ASSOCIATION AND FROM 1891 TO THE PRESENT, IT HAS HELD MEMBERSHIP IN THE ANDERSON COUNTY BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, LATER RENAMED SALINE BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. THE CHURCH’S HISTORY IS MARKED BY NUMEROUS CHURCH ACTIVITIES AND COMMUNITY EVENTS INCLUDING SUMMER REVIVALS, WEDDINGS, FUNERALS, EASTER AND CHRISTMAS SERVICES, VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLS AND AN ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FOOD DRIVE. FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY, THE CHURCH HAS BEEN A BEACON OF LIGHT IN THE COMMUNITY.

(2012).