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First Baptist Church of Granbury Early Texas settlers often worshipped in homes, or outdoors and under brush arbors. In this area, a group of men and women met for services near where Lambert's Branch joins the Brazos River. When the Rev. J.N. Chandler was traveling through the area in 1866, he came across the small group of worshippers and agreed to serve as their pastor, which he did for almost 20 years. Other early pastors and leaders were S.l. Tarrant, H.A. Thompson, M.M. Robinett and J.F. Nutt. During Chandler's tenure as minister to the young missionary Baptist church, the congregation organized a Sunday school in 1878 and joined the Paluxy Association in 1880. In 1882, the church began plans for building a sanctuary, and members of the Nutt family sold property to deacons I.M. Steele, C.W. Miller and Thomas Lockett. The congregation dedicated their house of worship in April 1884, and the building served them until 1904, when they selected a different lot and built a larger structure. Church members have actively supported missions at various levels, local through international. The Granbury auxiliary of the Foreign Missionary Society organized in 1890, later combining with the Home Missionary Society. The Woman's Missionary Society helped raise funds for the church sanctuaries and parsonage, also serving the community through a hospital pledge. The congregation has also supported mission churches in neighboring communities Thorp Spring and Fairview. The First Baptist Church of Granbury moved to this site in the 1990s. After more than 100 years of worship, it continues to serve its members and community. (2003) |
