MILAM COUNTY TEXAS - A History of Rockdale Texas (Religious Development) ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES PROJECT NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ ************************************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lynna Kay Shuffield for the Milam County Genealogical Society milamco@yahoo.com July 26, 2001 *************************************************************************** There is an html version of this information with pictures at http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/milam/rockdale/ *************************************************************************** Religious Development (Researched by Mrs. Walter Flscher) The city of Rockdale has many fine churches. The foundation for such religious development was laid by early citizens who, from 1874 to 1876, were busily engaged in settling a new territory and building a new town; therefore, community church services were held on the second floor of the Branch Brothers Furniture Store. Surroundings were crude, but the religious life of the new town was not neglected. Services were conducted by a Baptist minister, a Mr. Vandivere, and the singing was led by a Mr. Stewart. In 1876 a union church was erected by Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopal, and Christian members. St. Thomas Episcopal was the first of the church groups to erect a place of worship and in 1879 they moved into their own sanctuary. Soon after all the other church groups erected places of worship, and the Presbyterians purchased the union building. To-day there twenty-six churches within the city limits, representing fourteen denominations. Each church has its own historical background. Presented here in short form is identical historical data from each church. Apostolic Faith: 400 West Davilla St. Date of origin: 1938 First pastor: Rev. Bill Prewitt Present pastor: Van E. Blythe First location: Same as the present. The first church building burned and in 1951 the present building was erected. Assembly of God Churches (branch of Penecostal Churches) ====================== Assembly of God: Childress St. Date of origin: 1948 First pastor: C. C. Gee Present pastor: Larry Thomas First location: 208 Houston St. Other locations: Moved from original location to the present location in 1959. Assembly of God (Latin American): 210 Houston St. Date of origin: 1960 First pastor: Victor Torres Present pastor: Sidronio Silva (presiding but not ordained) First location: Same as the present. The building was purchased from the original Assembly of God Church which moved to Childress St. and in 1960 the Latin American church originated. Baptist Churches ============== First Baptist Church: Green St. Date of origin: 1876 First pastor: Rev. R. B. Baxter Present pastor: Rev. D. D. Simpson First location: The community-built house of worship, Union Church Building. Other locations: In 1881 the First Baptist Church building was erected on the site of the present building with Dr. J. H. Stribling serving as pastor for eleven years. Meadowbrook Baptist Church: Colorado St. Date of origin: June 17, 1954 First pastor: Rev. A. L. Gatewood Present pastor: Rev. N. A. Mills First location: Elementary School Cafeteria Other locations: Junior High School Gymnasium, a residence on Bell St. next to the present Ernest Rinn home. The residence is now owned by Curtis Foster. In 1955 the congregation moved into the new building at the present location. Iglesia Bautista Antioquia: San Gabriel St. Date of origin: Work was begun among the people in 1905, became a mission from the First Baptist Church in 1955, became a church on December 18, 1966. First pastor: R. R. Martinez Present pastor: Alex Leal First location: 339 Rice St. Other locations: Moved to present location on February 18, 1968 Springfield Baptist Church: Third St. Date of origin: About 1872—by 1874 was a member of the LaGrange Area Association First pastor: Riley Williams Present pastor: T. R. Simmons First location: Same as the present. New Hope Baptist Church: East Third St. Date of origin: 1891 First pastor: Jessie Herron Present pastor: 1. M. Murray First location: A tent on Rice St. in the 700 block where the J. L. Banks home now stands Other locations: Was moved to the Henry Smith property at 317 Fifth St., then to the present location. Rising Star Baptist Church: Texas St. Date of origin: 1907 First pastor: W. M. Larry founded the church. It is not known whether he was the first pastor or just a member of the church. Present pastor: L. O. Lang First location: Originated in the Tracy community. Other locations: In 1960 was moved to the present location. Firm Baptist Area: East Bell St. Date of origin: November, 1964 First pastor: Rev. J. O. Morman Present pastor: Rev. J. O. Morman First location: Same as the present Other information: Rev. Morman is the only one ever to serve this area. He is the same as a missionary to the missions in the area of Falls, Independence (of Washington County), Robertson, and Milam counties. Gospel Baptist Church: East Cameron St. Date of origin: 1958 First pastor: Rev. Buck Hillin Present pastor: The church has been disbanded. Rev. Hillin was the only pastor to serve the church. First location: The Eiland building on Hwy. 79 W. Other locations. Moved from Eiland building to the last location on East Cameron St. where the church disbanded in 1967. St. Joseph's Catholic Church: San Gabriel St. Date of origin: 1880 First pastor: Missionary and pioneer work done by Fathers John and Jacob Lauth and Fathers Strelsky and Wolf—first regular priest to serve the church was Monsignor Gleisner Present pastor: Father Paul McCallum First location: Same as the present Other information: First church built in 1880, torn down and rebuilt in 1912, building moved and present new structure erected in April, 1967. First Christian Church: West Bell St. Date of origin: March 30, 1887 First pastor: A. J. Bush, Sr. Present pastor: Timothy Griffm First location: In the old Presbyterian Church on San Gabriel St. Other locations: Moved to its first building on northwest corner of Bell and Scarbrough Streets in 1891, moved into its second building on the same site in 1925, moved into the third and present building on the same site in 1958. Churches of Christ =============== The Church of Christ: 1301 Murray St. Date of origin: 1922 First pastor: Howard Mitchell Present pastor: George Hall First location: In a school building located where Richards Hospital and Clinic are now located on Main St. Other locations: City Hall, Grace Lutheran Church Building, Sandy Creek Church, old Presbyterian Church on San Gabriel St., back to Lutheran Church for several years, and in 1954 to the new building on Murray St. which is the present location. West Bell Church of Christ: 345 West Bell St. Date of origin: June 19, 1963 (known as Downtown Church of Christ) First pastor: Charles A. Gibson Present pastor: Ray Mayse First location: Present Boys Club building (old educational building of old St. John's Methodist Church on Hwy. 79 E) Other locations: Used the Grace Lutheran Church building, then moved to the present site on Bell St. Pecan Street Church of Christ: Pecan St. Date of origin: August, 1948 First pastor: Luke Miller Present pastor: Eugene Knox First location: In the Matilda Cook home on 6th St. Other locations: Moved to the Masonic Hall for the colored, then moved to the present Pecan St. Iocation. Church of the Nazarene: Coulter St. Date of origin: Spring, 1955 First pastor: C. A. Raines Present pastor: Frank Taylor First location: Same as present Deliverance Tabernacle Church: Crockett and Belton Sts. Date of origin: July, 1969 First pastor: Clarence Alonzo, Jr. Present pastor: Clarence Alonzo, Jr. First location In G. T. Alexander store on 2nd St. Other locations: Moved to present location in 1971. St. Thomas Episcopal Church: East Davilla St. Date of origin: 1873 First pastor: Alex Gregg Present pastor: James F. Mitcheil First location: Not known, but by 1875 services were held in community chapel established over McCauley's corner in downtown Rockdale Other locations: In 1879 the present site was given by Solon Joynes, a church was built, and in 1952 extensive remodeling converted the church into the present building. Full Gospel Chapel: 811 North Burleson Date of origin: July, 1956 First pastor: Rev. Millard Brown Present pastor: Rev. Millard Brown First location: Same as present. Holy Temple of Jesus Christ Church Penecostal Inc.: 111 Plum St. Date of origin: December, 1972 First pastor: Mrs. G. T. Alexander Present pastor: Evangelist Mrs. G. T. Alexander First location: Same as present. Lutheran Churches =============== Peace Lutheran Church: Meadow Drive Date of origin: 1883 First pastor: Immanuel Glatzel Present pastor: Gary E. Mayer First location: At Bushdale Other locations: In 1909 moved to Wilcox St. in location and building of present Grace Lutheran Church, in 1937 moved to old Presbyterian Church building on San Gabriel St., in 1967 moved to present new building on Meadow Drive. Grace Lutheran Church: N. Wilcox St. Date of origin: October, 1954 First pastor: Paul Stengel Present pastor: Wayne Pafk First location: Same as present location which was originally the site of the Murrav St. Church of Christ. Methodist Churches ================ St. John's United Methodist Church: Parkway Date of origin: 1876 First pastor: Rev. R. F. Beasley Present pastor: Robert W. Koch First location: The community-built house of worship on San Gabriel St. Other locations: Southeast corner of Cameron and Green Sts., moved to present location in October, 1960. Allen Chapel A. M. E. Church: East Third St. Date of origin: 1875 First pastor: J. H. Connor Present pastor: J. A. Peterson First location: In Henry McFadden's home near the present site Other locations: Moved into a building on the present site which was remodeled and used until the new edifice was built, laid corner stone for present new building on Sunday, August 13, 1972. First Presbyterian Church: Alcoa Date of origin: 1874 First pastor: W. E. Copeland Present pastor: Ernest L. Helsley First location: Services were held in various places until first building was constructed on the site of present Iglesia Bautista Antioquia in 1876. Other locations: In 1914 the present building was constructed on the same site as the original church, in June, 1954, moved into the new building on Alcoa and the building of 1914 has become a Latin-American church. CHURCHES WHICH SERVE COMMUNITIES OUTSIDE THE CllY OF ROCKDALE Hillcrest Baptist Church: Praesel Addition Date of origin: 1958 First pastor: 1. D. McBride Present pastor: Thomas Dusek First location: In the Arlie McKinnon home in Praesel Addition Other locations: Moved to what is now Acme Sheet Metal Co. on South Wilcox until present building was erected Mt. Zion Baptist Church: Old Cameron Highway FM 1712 Date of origin: 1872, under the name Pleasant Grove Baptist First pastor: N. J. Dyer Present pastor: Dean Evans First location: At Murray Cemetery on Tracy Highway Other locations: In 1895 moved to present location and the name was changed to the present name.