 Basin Springs Community The
organized church in the home of Richard Chaney was located on Mineral
Creek about two miles southeast of the Basin Springs Community.
The church was given the name Mineral Baptist because it was
located so near to the Mineral Creek and it retained this name
throughout its history. In October 1860, during the first revival service, there were twenty additions by baptism recorded in the church records. The log church building was moved to Basin Springs in the 1870s. The next church building was made of hewn logs and roofed with hand-made boards. The church benches were of split logs with seasoned hickory legs. The first frame building, which, according to the deed, was used as a church and school. The lumber was hauled in oxen-drawn wagons from East Texas, possibly from the Jefferson City area. The land donated for the building was given by Martin Funk, father of Ora Funk Chisolm. Services were held in this building until 1925. People traveled from miles around to attend church services. Some arrived in wagons on Saturday afternoon due to their having to travel quite a distance. These people would camp on the church grounds for the night. Community folk would invite some to go home for Sunday dinner. The Mineral Baptist Church was instrumental in helping organize the Cedar Mills (Shiloh Baptist) Church and the First Baptist Church in Gordonville. A larger frame building was completed in 1925. At this time, the building housed only the church. A parsonage was built next to the church in 1951. Remodeling of the church building and the addition of rooms and a baptistery were added in the 1950s. The original ceilings were lowered and recessed, fluorescent lighting was added. Also installed were ceiling fans and an evaporative cooling system. Carpet was placed on the center aisles, front of the auditorium and the choir loft. The upright piano was restyled and reconditioned. Wainscoting paneling was put on the walls. After a record of 117 years of unbroken service to the community, services were discontinued in 1973. Due to a decrease in area population, there were very few active members remaining. These members voted to cease regular worship services. The last minister was Rev. Carl Green. source: Churches & Communities of Northwest Grayson County, information provided by Ora Funk Chisolm Mineral Baptist Church History Churches Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |