CottonWood Baptist Church
Mooreville, Falls County, Texas
From Mooreville, take FM 2643 N. about 3 miles.
Year Erected: 1984
This congregation was founded by a group of German-speaking families who had
moved from the Washington County area to the rich farmlands of Falls County. The
organizational meeting was held March 4, 1884, at the of Anton Wittner. Fifteen
charter members named their congregation the German Baptist Church of
Cottonwood. For four years, worship services were held in the members' homes. In
1888, during the ministry of the Rev. F. J. Gleiss, the congregation's first
full-time pastor, a church building was constructed. Additional, larger
facilities were built over the years to accommodate the growing membership.
During World War I, the German church was suspected of hiding arms in the
sanctuary loft, despite the members' support of the war effort. In 1930 the
congregation began a gradual transition from services conducted in German to
those led in English. Renamed Cottonwood Baptist Church in 1945, the
congregation has provided significant service and leadership to the residents of
this area throughout its history. Descendants of some of the original German
families continue to worship here.