 The
majority of the church members felt it was best to move the
church to Cedar Mills, four miles east of Post Oak Grove, which was a
thriving community in the latter part of 1873. The congregation met in
a log cabin owned by Thomas P. Johnson while a new building was
being constructed. Frank Noel donated the land on which the church building stood to be used for a church, school, and cemetery. Alfred Pitts paid for the lumber used to build the church and school. Horace Johnson helped haul the lumber in a wagon from Jefferson City in East Texas. Mr. Johnson also gave $81 to help pay the carpenters who built the building. An organ was purchased for the church and school during the early years. During the following nine years, some members began moving west. Some remaining members became discouraged. Others remained strong and voted down the motions to dissolve during two seperate annual conferences. Rev. F. B. Hardee stated in records, "Let it be said and faithfully recorded that they were in favor of continuation of the church and were willing to wait and watch, to hope and to pray for God to send prosperity to them." The church did begin to grow again. Two deacons serving during this time were W. W. Crain and T. P. Johnson. In 1887, Shiloh Baptist Church had a membership of 97. The congregation met every Sunday and conferences were held on Saturday morning for church business. Prayer meetings were held on Saturday night and twice on Sunday. The preacher stayed in the homes of members from Saturday thru Monday. Revivals were held during the summer under cedar arbors. Church benches were moved outside under the arbor for seating. On the last Sunday of each revival meeting, there was dinner on the grounds. Members wishing to be baptised were baptised in the pond, branch or water falls at Cedar Mills. Sunday School was held every Sunday. Bible study classes were held for a time. At one point, a Methodist group held services in the church building on Sunday afternoon. A new school was built in 1921. Soon afterwards, the church moved too. Deacons of the church in 1923 were: Thomas Johnson, W. W. Crain, Joe Bonds, H. J. Johnson, J. W. Crain, John Golden, Frank Davidson. The church was meeting twice a month for service in 1934 but had Sunday School each Sunday. J. T. Bullard was pastor with 116 members. Shiloh Baptist Church History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |