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 First Baptist Church - Gonzales, Texas Posted by:  iconions
N 29° 30.053 W 097° 27.066
14R E 650139 N 3264480
This one-story buff brick Gothic Revival brick building located on Church Square - 422 St. Paul Street in Gonzales, Texas.
Waymark Code: WMZA4R
Location: Texas, United States
Date Posted: 10/07/2018
Views: 2
Organized on July 31, 1847 with nine charter members, First Baptist Church of Gonzales has the distinction of being one of the oldest churches in Texas. In 1851, a 99-year lease was secured from the corporation of Gonzales on the south half of the Church Square, and in August of 1854, the first building was erected. At the time of the church building's dedication in 1854, the church was given the name Baptist Church of Christ.
Rev. Z.N. Morrell was the first pastor of our church. An article in the July 27, 1972, edition of the Gonzales Inquirer commemorated the history of the Baptist movement in Gonzales. The article stated that Z.N. Morrell was an interesting combination of missionary, frontiersman, and preacher. The Inquirer article included the following about Morrell: "...he will stand in the history of Gonzales as the first Baptist to preach in this area, and one of the organizers of the first church here." Z.N. Morrell's book, Flowers and Fruits in Wilderness, gives an eyewitness account of the problems faced by frontier missionaries during the early days of the Republic of Texas. On December 19, 1883, after an historic 50-year ministry, Z.N. Morrell died in Kyle, Texas. He is buried in the Texas State Cemetery at Austin.
Another highlight of our history was Thomas J. Pilgrim, who organized the first Sunday School in Texas. Mr. Pilgrim was one of the charter members of our church.
First Baptist has long had the reputation of being a mission-minded church, supporting state and home missions as well as foreign missions.
* In 1877 our church voted to take up a contribution for the starting of First Baptist of San Antonio.
* In 1902, the church voted to begin a mission work on the west end of town and one north of the cotton mill (now Eastside Baptist Church).
* Another mission of First Baptist in Gonzales is now Memorial Heights Baptist Church.
- First Baptist Church Website
section 7 page 18:
Block/Site# - 32/200
Address - 422 St. Paul
Property Type - Church
Stylistic Influence - Gothic Revival
Date - 1903/1913
Category - Contributing
section 8 page 38:
First Baptist Church
1903/1913/1958
422 St. Paul, Church Square (Site 200)
An imposing example of early 20th century church architecture in Gonzales, this building was built in 1903 with half of the construction cost donated by Gonzales merchants and cattlemen G.N. Dilworth and H. Lewis. Located on Church Square, east of the courthouse, the building displays Gothic Revival stylistic features including a brick and limestone turret and steeple, corbelled cornice, and lancet openings with stained glass windows. An addition was added in 1913 to the north side and rear of the building, while a larger addition built about 1958 connects to the original building on the north side.
- National Register Application
Date Built: 01/01/1903
Age of Church building determined by?: Historical Society
Service Times:
Sunday Morning Worship:
8:30am - Heritage Service (Traditional)
10:50am - Celebration Service (Contemporary)
Website: [Web Link]
Church Address:
422 St. Paul Street
Gonzales, TX USA
78629
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