Old North Baptist Church
The oldest active Baptist church in the state of Texas
The people that drive past the Old North Baptist Church, a couple of blocks off of North 59 on County Road 205, may only see a picturesque old building of classic 19th century design and wonder if church is still held there in that quaint white wooden structure. There is indeed a service held every Sunday and has been since 1838, and in that very building since 1852. A deep history indeed and continuous dedication to our Faith and God’s Word.
We begin Sunday school at 10 AM and our church service begins at 11. We are blessed to have great talent in our small church, with our song leader John Jasper and our pastor Dr. Arliss Hibbard.
Our pianist, Faye Matlock, has been playing in churches for close to seventy years, a dedicated and gifted woman for the Lord.
We study the Holy Scriptures and sing old hymns, that are sermons themselves. We have a sweet spirit within those old walls and pray for each other and any that are suffering. We are a praying church, and all are welcome. If you are seeking a church home where tradition is upheld, guided by the Holy Spirit, then we would love to have you join us.
History
The following articles were found on different historical websites. Full credit is given as well as a link to the original article.
Old North Baptist Church, on U.S. Highway 59 four miles north of the city limits of Nacogdoches, is the oldest active missionary Baptist church in Texas. It was originally called Union Baptist Church because settlers from various religious denominations made up the first congregation. It was founded by Mrs. Massey Sparks Millard, who came to Texas in 1832 and settled north of Nacogdoches, near where the church now stands. She constantly prayed that a church would be established at the spot where she, some other women, and their children hid in a thicket during Indian and Mexican raids while the men tried to repel the raiders. Mrs. Millard arranged for Rev. Isaac Reed to preach to a small group of Americans at the springs just after the battle of San Jacinto, on April 21, 1836. These people decided to build a place of worship and a one-room school. Liberty School House was built in October 1836 of red oak logs spliced together because they were too short and laid on a rock foundation. This building was used until 1852, when a frame building was constructed on the same foundation. In 1882 the building was remodeled and painted.
At a meeting at Liberty School House on Sunday, May 6, 1838, the church was officially organized when ministers Isaac Reed and Robert G. Green preached and invited people with church letters who wanted to constitute a church to come forward. John and Betsy Eaton, Charles Whitaker, Sarah Tipps, Mary Crain, Emily Knight, Ruth Anderson, and Anthony and Chancy, the last two slaves, came forward. Charles Whitaker was elected church clerk. Several people joined the church between May and September 1838, during a revival started by Rev. James L. Bryant, a teacher at Liberty School House. Twenty people were baptized at the church in June and July; these were the first Baptist baptisms in East Texas. Richard Sparks donated five acres of land in 1837 or 1838 at the springs where Old North Church was built. In 1843 the need for a general organization led to the formation of the Sabine Baptist Association at the church with five other churches participating. The organization was later dissolved. John M. Sparks, Richard's son, deeded and registered the land in the names of the trustees of the church on February 29, 1892. The Old North Church Cemetery, established in 1836 before the church was organized, is the oldest Protestant cemetery in Nacogdoches County. On the first Sunday of May 1923, the church began its first annual homecoming meeting; the centennial homecoming was held on May 1, 1938, and the sesquicentennial anniversary on May 1, 1988.
By: Samuel B. Heslter
Published: May 1, 1995
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/old-north-baptist-church
Old North Baptist Church, four miles north of the Nacogdoches city limits, is the oldest active missionary Baptist church constituted in Texas. (Elkhart’s Pilgrim Baptist Church is the oldest anti-missionary Baptist church in existence in the state. Read about Daniel Parker and Pilgrim Baptist Church here.)
Old North originally was called the Union Church, because settlers from varied Christian denominations comprised the first congregation. The story of the Baptists who formed a congregation here is a fascinating one, filled with danger, drama, devotion to Christ and, in its earliest days, inspired by a 19-year-old newlywed—Massie Millard.
In 1834, a group of settlers made their way from South Carolina and Mississippi, across Louisiana, to the western borders of the new Republic of Texas, where they hoped to start a new life. One of the young couples who made the journey was James and Massie Wadlington Sparks. Once they arrived, they acquired land and settled with extended family in Sparks Settlement, in what is now Nacogdoches County. James died from an arrow wound four years later, leaving Massie with two small sons.
During Indian raids, Massie showed herself a woman of courage and prayer, gathering local women and their children together and hiding them in thickets on her property until the raids were over. While the women huddled together, sometimes for days at a time, they formed prayer, Bible study and mission groups. They longed for a church to be established in their part of Texas.
Soon, their prayers were answered. Massie’s late husband’s brother, Richard Sparks, donated five acres of land upon which a church could be built in Sparks Settlement, just north of the growing village of Nacogdoches. Massie invited Isaac Reed to preach the first Baptist sermon to a small group of Americans on April 21, 1836, beneath a huge spreading post oak tree at the nearby springs. This tiny congregation determined to build a one-room cabin that could be used both as a schoolhouse, which they later named Liberty School in honor of the Battle of San Jacinto fought that day, and a church building. The log structure was raised later that year. Old North Church constituted in 1838, with Isaac Reed and Robert Green presiding. John and Betsy Eaton, Charles Whitaker, Sarah Tipps, Mary Crain, Emily Knight, Ruth Anderson and two slaves, Anthony and Chancy, brought letters for membership. Charles Whitaker was elected church clerk.This cabin was used until 1852, when the church constructed a frame building on the same foundation. In 1882, the building was remodeled and painted. In 1933, the sanctuary was situated to face the oak tree, where it remains today. When Hurricane Rita swept through Texas in 2005, the historic old post oak tree that had stood since long before 1838 was destroyed.Nearby is the site of the earliest baptisms in East Texas, and the Old North Church Cemetery, adjacent to the church. Established in 1836 before the church was organized, it is the oldest Protestant cemetery in Nacogdoches County. Veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Texas Revolution, and some 47 Confederate Civil War soldiers are buried here. The early Baptists of Texas credited this work to Massie, whom they named “the greatest of the great pioneer women.”
Visit the church and find Massie Millard’s headstone in the cemetery nearby. It is a tall rectangular pillar that reads: “Massie Millard, died October 1878. In memory of her great faith when she knelt at the foot of this old hill.” Also visit the Historic Millard’s Crossing Historical Village, a collection of 19th century buildings brought together and arranged in the pattern of a small village on part of a 37-acre estate by Mrs. Albert Thomas. All of the restored structures are from Nacogdoches County and are an effort to preserve and display early buildings, antiques, tools and memorabilia that are part of the state’s cultural heritage. The Ruby M. Mize Azalea Garden in Historic Nacogdoches, the largest azalea garden in Texas, is a wonderful last visit to make this historic jaunt complete.
By: Ken Camp
Published: June 16, 2016
Contact/Location
We are located at:
332 Old North Church Road,
Nacogdoches, TX 75965
We are located at:
332 Old North Church Road
Nacogdoches, TX 75965
Sunday Schedule
10:00 a.m. Sunday School
11:00 a.m. Worship Service
Our services are streamed on Facebook.
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