| Marker Number |
6198 |
| Atlas Number |
5085006198 |
| Marker Title |
Saint Paul Baptist Church |
| Index Entry |
|
| Address |
|
| City |
Melissa |
| County |
Collin |
| UTM Zone |
14 |
| UTM Easting |
725945 |
| UTM Northing |
3685568 |
| Subject Codes |
Baptist denomination; churches; African American topics |
| Marker Year |
1978 |
| Recorded Texas Historic Landmark |
No |
| Marker Location |
in the 2500 block of McKinney Street (SH5), Melissa; marker reported damaged 9/18/2025 |
| Private Property |
No |
| Marker Condition |
Damaged |
| Marker Size |
18" x 28" |
| Marker Text |
One of Collin county's oldest black congregations, this church was organized in 1872 by the Rev. Jeff Shirley of Kentucky. Members worshiped beneath a brush arbor before constructing their first church building in 1885 on land purchased from T.E. Shirley. Three years later, Shirley sold them acreage adjacent to Melissa Cemetery for a church burial ground. After the original sanctuary was destroyed by a tornado on April 13, 1921, a new frame building was erected. For over 100 years, this fellowship has held an annual homecoming celebration in May. (1978) Incise on back: Faithful Families Sanders Clayton Thomas Hawkins Perry Thornton Johnson Crockett Frazier Carter Jackson |
