First Baptist Church of Farmersville - Farmersville, TX - This Old Church on Waymarking.com

A 1977 Texas Historical Marker by the main entrance notes this sanctuary as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, and provides some history:

Fifteen charter members, meeting under a brush arbor at this site on May 14, 1865, organized the First Baptist Church and chose the Rev. John C. Averitt (1818-1895) as the first pastor. Worship services were held in private homes and later in the Masonic Hall on the east side of the town square. After a successful interdenominational revival, the Baptists decided to erect a permanent church building. The congregation bought the site of the old brush arbor and in 1877 built a simple frame church. A bell installed in the steeple heralded special events to the community.

Another successful revival in 1898 emphasized the need for a larger structure. More land was acquired and the present church building constructed in 1900. A combination of several architectural styles, the brick edifice is topped by a roof of pressed metal. The exterior walls of the sanctuary form a multisided projection flanked by matching towers with steeply pitched roofs. The bell from the 1877 church was transferred to the north belfry. Educational buildings were added in 1938 and 1955-56.

This congregation provides many community-oriented services, including a church-sponsored library. Several well-known Baptist leaders served as pastor here.

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The sanctuary is also a contributing building in the Farmersville Commercial Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places.

Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1900 Age of Church building determined by?: Cornerstone or plaque If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Baptist If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Sunday Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: 8:30 AM Street address of Church: 124 S Washington St Farmersville, TX USA 75442 Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link] If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: Not listed

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