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On the evening of Monday, June 22, 1931, John R. Rice began a revival service on the Grayson County Courthouse square. The revival took place where the 1870s courthouse had stood. That building was burned to the ground in May 1930 during mob violence that caused the death of an African American man who had been accused of a crime. Businesses and homes of African American residents were also destroyed. The revival's location -- in the center of Sherman -- was a perfect one. Large crowds of people attended, and the revival lasted for over a month. When Rice asked attendees to present themselves to organize a new church, forty people answered the call, and on July 16, 1931, the Fundamentalist Baptist Church was organized. On the evening of July 28, a tank was constructed on the courthouse lawn and a Baptismal service was conducted. The congregation soon built a tabernacle at the corner of South Montgomery and East Cherry, and the first service in the building was held on Sunday, September 12, 1931. The church has changed locations several times through the years, and the current structure was constructed in 2004 on East Highway 82. During the late 1940s the church's name changed to Central Baptist Church, and again changed in 1973 to Grayson Bible Baptist Church. The church has actively supported mission work and outreach. During the 1950s a church bus was sent to nearby Perrin Air Force Base to bring soldiers to church services. Grayson Christian Academy was established in 1973 as an outreach ministry of the church. (2009) |
