Historical Marker

First Baptist Church of Sweetwater

Historical marker location:
Corner of 3rd & Elm St., Sweetwater, Texas
( Corner of 3rd & Elm Streets, Sweetwater)
Marker installed: 1982

Organized on December 11, 1881, by the Reverend Peter Turner (1812-1892), a native of England, this church served settlers of the pioneer railroad town of Sweetwater. The congregation's first church building, a frame structure with an ornate steeple, was completed in 1882 on the corner of 4th & Elm Streets. Several other denominations shared the building for a time. Church members have organized four Baptist missions in Sweetwater beginning with the Lamar Street mission in 1912. To accommodate the increasing membership, new sanctuaries were built in 1924 and 1960.

(1982).