Myrtle Springs Baptist Church

Quitman, Texas

A Brief History

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From the 2008 church directory, Grace Grimes editor                                                                  Created and updated by Sullytec 9/18/09

  Myrtle Springs Missionary Baptist Church of Christ, as originally named, was organized in the fall of 1861 after Mr. William Setzler deeded a plot of land for church purposes. Eleven charter members were recorded:  Chas. A. Blalock, Billie Setzler and wife, C.D. Willingham and wife, E. G. Sharp, John Sharp, Mr. Price, Tom Lindsom, and Mary Ann Galloway.  Brother Coker was the first pastor.

  When first organized, the church met in a nearby log school house located North of the Cemetery.  Services were held quarterly or at times when a visiting minister was available.  Baptisms usually followed protracted meetings (summer revivals) and were held in the branch formed from water from Myrtle Springs located behind the church or in nearby ponds belonging to church members.  After a few years a wooden building was erected near the log building.  Some years later another building was erected East of the cemetery in approximately the same location as the present church; however it faced West.  In 1928, another building was erected in this location.  The first service held in this building was the funeral of H. D. Thompson, Grandfather of current member, Sarah Boston.  This building was dedicated early in the year 1929.

  Providing lights and heating was a problem in the early days of the church.  A number of times services were not held because of bad weather or no lights.  A committee was appointed before each protracted meeting (revival) to arrange for lights.  Electricity was installed in 1939, and gas was added in early 1943.

  Different means of financing the new building were recorded in the minutes.  One way was the Crop Plan.  Early in the year a committee was appointed to be crop overseers.  They rented land for a crop, members provided the labor, and in the fall when the crop was harvested and sold, the money was put in the church treasury.  Another method to provide financing for the church was recorded in 1935.  Members donated cattle, and the minutes recorded the following announcement:"All members who have pledged cattle to have it in Quitman on the fourth Saturday of September."  Also, ladies in the church pledged their Tuesday eggs to be reserved and sold to raise money for the church.

  As the church continued to grow and prosper, new buildings were erected; it has occupied five different buildings during its almost 150 year history.  In 1949, a red brick building with a seating capacity of approximately 250 was built in front of the old building.  The deacons assumed responsibility for the note on the building in 1951, and the church was debt free.  An educational building was added for the church in 1955.  In 1969, a baptistry was added to the new building for use rather than nearby ponds or the branch formed by Myrtle Springs.

  The first parsonage was purchased in 1953 and was located in the vicinity of the church.  A new parsonage was built in 1961 on property located across the street from the church.  The house has central air and heating and was originally a three-beadroom brick veneer; however a fourth bedroom and an additional bath were later added.

  Another education wing was added to the church in 1973 under the leadership of Pastor Danny Pope.  This addition included a Pastor's office, Nursery, two Sunday school rooms, and a ladies restroom.  The auditorium was remodeled in November of 1974.  Another educational wing was completed in January of 1976.  Included in this addition were three Sunday school rooms, two restrooms, and a storage closet.

  Myrtle Springs church has conducted youth activities throughout its years of service.  Vacation Bible Schools were initially begun as evening sessions in the early summer.  In 1992 the church began conduction Vacation Bible School during the morning, which increased attendance considerably.  Girls Auxiliary for young girls was organized in May, 1957.  Susan Brady was elected sponsor and Arvia Lee Roberts her assistant.  After James Richey was called as pastor in 1974, his wife, Charmel Richey, and Georgie Ziegler organized the Sunbeam mission program for the younger children.

  A beautiful lighted church sign was built in front of the church building in May of 1978.  In the spring of 1985, an Educational and Fellowship Hall was erected behind the building, including eight new rooms, two restrooms, and a kitchen.  A covered drive-through was added to connect the two buildings, and a concrete drive to connect the West and East parking lots by way of the drive-through.

  During the 1980's the brick auditorium was renovated.  The windows were changed, a new baptistry was installed, and the choir loft was enlarged to provide space for a piano and organ.  The front was extended to include a large porch, and restrooms were added near the entrance along with a sound and projection room.  The newly renovated sanctuary was dedicated on May 7th, 1989.  In the Fall of 1998, a room on the East side of the church was renovated and refurnished, and a outside door was added to provide a Prayer Room to be available for members to use at any hour of the day.  In the summer of 2006, the Sunbeams sponsored the move of the children's playground from the East to the West side of the building a provided all new, colorful, and safe equipment for use by the young people.  New computers for the projection room were added, new chairs for the choir loft were selected, and a new church van for transporting member to and from church activities was also purched early in the year of 2008.

  On September 26th, 2004, Myrtle Springs Baptist Church (BMA) celebrated 143 years of contimuous service.  On that date a Historical Marker received from the Texas Historical Commission and placed at the front of the church was unveiled following a morning worship service, a church lunceon, and a dedication service.  Members presented a historical pageant recalling specific events or periods in the history of the church.  A music concert presented by Three As One trio preceded the move of the congregation outside for the unveiling.  Sylvia Blalock Horton, the member with the longest affiliation and a descendant of a early church leader, cut the ribbon to unveil the marker.  Toby McIntosh led the prayer of dedication.

  A complete list of pastors is not available; however, a partial list of those who have served Myrtle Springs includes: Bro. Coker (first pastor), Bro. Thompson, Bro. Tucker (a blind pastor), Bro. E. G. Sharp, Bro. F.F. Blalock, Bro. Aiken, Bro. Hopkins, Bro. Cagul, Bro. Castleberry, William S. Grice, J.T. Williams (1906-1909), J.H. Baker (2/1919-6/1920), W.B. Chatman (8.1929-8/1922), R.H. Montgomery (9/1922-9/1925), W.E. Stagner (12/1925-10/1929), W.R. Phillips (11/1929-3/1934), J.W. Reid (4/1934-10/1935), E.M. Bain (11/1935-9/1939), A.J. Alford (11/1939-11/1940), Elton Crump (12/1940-10/1942), J.C. Pollard (11/1942-9/1944), Elton Crump (10/1944-5/1946), R.B. Scroggins (8/1946-9/1948), Mark Wells (10/1948-1/1949), H.L. McNish (2/1949-9/1950), Nolan C. Sumner (12/1950-10/1953), Shannon O'Glee (12/1953-4/1955), H.L. Lee (10/1955-9/1958), R.E. Lunceford (10/1958-6/1963), Don Hymer (9/1963-8/1971), Danny Pope (9/1971-5/1974), and James R. Richey (7/1974-Present).

  James R. Richey currently serves as pastor, Johnny Ziegler serves as music director, and Charmel Richey serves as choir director.  Deacons are Mike Ziegler (Chairman), Jerry Blalock, Charles (Chuck) Boston, Charles Cain, Buford Delk, Lee Gilbreath, Kyle Hayes, Toby McIntosh, Marion Stanberry, Charles (Mack)Taylor, Milo Weaver, and Johnny Ziegler.

  Myrtle Springs Baptist Church is associated with the Wood County Baptist Missionary Association in local mission work.  The membership contributes to six phases of work of the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas.  International missions are supported through the Baptist Missionary Association of America with offices in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The Church supports missions, Christian education, and benevolence with regular offerings.

 

  Transcribed from the Directory by Keith Sullivan, any mistakes are more than likely mine.