History
First Baptist Church Sweetwater celebrated 125 Years of Service on March 4, 2007.
As First Baptist Church of Sweetwater celebrates its 125th anniversary, let's thank God for the railroad. The city's history dates back to 1876 when pioneers, buffalo hunters, soldier and early rancers came to the wilderness, which would become Nolan County. On January 10, 1881, Nolan County was officially organized, and Sweetwater was designated the permanent county seat on April 12, 1881.
Railroads altered the American landscape. Just as previous pioneers rode inland among mighty rivers, 19th century settlers trailed behind steam locomotives. New towns sprang up and old communities thrived everywhere, surveyors selected sites and laborers laid tracks. Soon, businesses opened. Schools bloomed. And, true to their nature, people of faith planted churches.
In 1881 when the railroad arrived, Sweetwater began growing and local Baptists started a church. Reverend Peter Turner, an employee of the Texas Baptist Association was working in Colorado City and helped organize our church and became our first pastor. The first service for First Baptist Church Sweetwater was held wherever a local building was available on December 11, 1881. Many times during the first year the members met in a vacant building, the T & P Railroad Depot, or a town's first schoolhouse, which was located on land where the church presently sits.
Our church received a piece of property donated by Texas & Pacific Railroad at Fourth and Elm Street in 1882, which is currently the parking lot east of First Baptist Church which we have since repurchased. The first structure was completed in time for a special community service on Monday, December 25, 1882. It is believed that this was the fisrst church building in Sweetwater. We can only imagine the excitement of the founding members who had given up homes, churches, friends, families, and doctors to come to this land of mesquite thickets, rattlesnakes, Indian raids, scarce water, biting northers, burning sun, sandstorms, almost eternal winds, and Christmas with no organ music, no bells and no caroling choirs.
The church was incorporated on February 6, 1883 and the trustees for this incorporation were W. B. Simpson, G. H. Connell, J. B. Scarborough, J. A. Galloway and J. H. Beauchamp. Scarborough was the father of Dorothy Scarborough, who wrote the controversial West Texas novel, "The Wind".
In 1887-1888 a severe drought was blamed for a loss in membership at First Baptist Church, but due to the staunch financial supporters the church kept its pledges and gave $200 to Abilene Baptist College which becam Simmons College, $37.40 to state missions and $10.00 to associational missions.
In 1902, without a pastor, and Sweetwater still having no water works, no ice plant, no paved
streets, no electric lights, no gas, the church was at its lowest ebb. The church had
a membership of only 67. That year the church was blessed with the joining of Judge Crand, who
was fond of saying that afterwards the church showed growth every year. By 1912, a new pastor,
H. C. Compton, was on the scene and A. D. Ellis was the Sunday School Superintendent. Attendance was
averaging 258.
In 1916, the church would acquire the property east of the Post Office and build a parsonage and church plant. The women of the church had been raising money for a long time and gave the first $2,000 for the site purchase. Pastor Moroney guided the church through the tasks of raising the money. The war and another drought would take its toll on the church. In 1924 when the new church building was finally ready, C. R. Simmons, E. C. Brand, W. H. Jobe and E. I. Hill were all on the building committee.
First Baptist Church with the guidance and leadership of God has been instrumental in helping start many missions. Lamar Street Baptist, Calvary Baptist, West Side and Highland Baptist were all missions, which began from First Baptist Church.
We are so thankful to God for providing us with each member through the years who has ministered to our community. We are so thankful for all God has done for us during the past 125 years, but realize that we do not live in the past. We are marching toward the future. The God who walked alongside those sisters and brothers who founded our church and worshipped here throughout the decades is the same God who will journey with us into the future.