| Marker Text |
Organized April 18, 1869, as "Hearne Station Baptist Church," with 11 charter members. After great revivals under the Rev. "Major" Penn, and gift of a site by incorporators of Southern Pacific Railroad, a sanctuary was built in 1877. Pastor H. R. Carroll and congregation laid cornerstone Sept. 2, 1907, for a new auditorium, adopting name "First Baptist Church." On Jan. 23, 1966, present church was dedicated under leadership of the Rev. James Scirratt. This congregation organized and in 1969 erected a building for a Mexican Baptist mission. |
