Cottonwood Baptist Church
Mooreville, TexasFrom 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.