This article appeared in the newspaper "The Bee"
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The Bee
106 Webb St.
Daingerfield, TX 75638
Phone: 903-645-3948 beenewspaper@etcnonline.com

Written By Marlene J. Bohr
mbohr@etcnonline.com 

This article appears here in its entirety and is used with her permission.A 100-year anniversary will be celebrated Saturday and Sunday at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church on Highway 11 east of Hughes Springs, according to the Rev. James Bynum, pastor of the church.

Events begin on Saturday with an ice cream social in the fellowship hall, and a two-hour service at 10 a.m. on Sunday. There will be singing, testimonials, choir specials, and preaching, along with former pastor Hiram Melton as the guest speaker. Lunch will be served in the fellowship hall following the service.

The original structure was built in 1907. Tom Watson, a Baptist preacher and sawmill operator, brought his men to help build the structure named Antioch Baptist Church of Christ. It provided services for the Baptist members and also the Church of Christ members, with everyone worshipping together.

Antioch can trace its roots back to 1840 where families who lived in the community of Lost Corner, later known as the Concord Community, sought to build a church and school. In 1903, J. F. “Frank” Ray, a sawmill operator, gave the materials for the original one-room school and Union church. It was built on the west side of the Concord Cemetery. The church members continued meeting on Saturday nights and also on Sundays, alternating services depending on the availability of pastors. In 1949 through 1958, the congregation met every other weekend, when in 1958, the move was made to meet every Sunday. The Woodmen of the World built a two-story building in 1908 that was used for both a school and a church. In September the forerunner of the two churches, the Antioch Missionary Baptist Church and the Church of Christ in Hughes Springs, was organized as a Union church under the sponsorship of the Caves Springs Missionary Church. Until 1963, the church held an annual call for a pastor. The first church clerk was T. F. Moody. Emma Dudley taught the students at the school that served students in the Concord School District, until it was consolidated in 1939 with the Hughes Springs Independent School District. The Rhyne family donated land to be used for the cemetery and the first school and church. Woodman purchased the land for its two-story building. A third school was built in 1920 and third church in 1927.

Charter members of the Baptist church were J. T. Morgan, C.D. Morgan, Moody Thomas, Jim Smith, J.D. DeLaney, Maggie Morgan, Barbara Morgan, Lizzie Peck, Ida O'Rand, Eunis Latham, Gaberella Rhyne, and Elma Smith. Church of Christ charter members included Archie Roberson, Metta Roberson, Frank Ray, Ella Ray, Thomas Ray, Evaline Ray, Sam Beaty, and Robert Beaty. Ernest Williams was the first superintendent.No services were held in 1918 or 1919, but in 1921 the first Sunday school was organized and has been held ever since.During 1927 and 1928, a larger church building was erected north of the Woodman hall, and in 1934, the Baptist members purchased the interest held by the Church of Christ members. In April of 1934, the deed was made to the Missionary Baptist Church. The present building was constructed within three miles of the previous structures and is approximately seven miles from Linden and seven miles from Hughes Springs. The congregation has added six Sunday school rooms, two bathrooms, and air conditioning. In 1958, a parsonage was built and a steeple was added in 1965. In 1980, the Texas Mission Builders bricked the white frame church. In addition, with the aid of the Texas Mission Builders, a baptistery was added. Since that time, the parsonage has had additions to make it a five-bedroom home. Pastors who served include O. H. Latham, T. C. Ayers, R.W. Bartholomew, W. D. Hollingsworth, G. F. Lee, T. G. Watson, W.W. Lineberger, L. W. Martin, Vernon Whitfield, J. N. Campbell, Tom Blair, Vernon Ball, N. A. Helms, Frank Waters, E. R. Watkins, James Bonner, H. B. Wilson, Harry McClellen and E. D. Collier. Fulltime pastors have included M. N. Dowden, Tom Hollis, Kenneth Griffith, A. E. Jones, Arthur Flanagan, Bobby Andrews, Hiram Melton, Darren Shaddix and current pastor James Bynum. In addition to Mr. Moody, others serving as church clerks were Ed Rhyne, M. G. Rhyne, Ada Fowler, Ollie Belle Echols, Maude Ray, J. E. McAnally, Florance Watson, O. B. Adams, Carrie M. Ray, Mrs. E. P. Adams, Bernice Adams, Merle Ray, E.G. Ray, Mrs. Marvin Barbee, Mrs. Bob Moon, Harold Neville, Frankie Ray, Bobbie Morgan, Pat Morgan, Marvin Morgan, Bennie Rhyne, and Velma Jo Adams, the present clerk. Carrie M. Ray was elected in 1940 as the first treasurer, a separate job from the clerk.

Rev. Bynum said that prior to 1963, preachers were voted in or out each year.

“Sometimes they were voted out while they were standing in the pulpit,” he said. “The preacher is in now until they are voted out or they decide to leave. “I have been there since July of 2004. Prior to that Darrin Shaddix was the preacher.  ”Rev. Bynum said there are approximately 80 people on the roll at the church and the average attendance is about 20.  Rev. Bynum said he read through past minutes of the church and found interesting tidbits.

In 1949 the church voted to move from one Sunday a month to two Sundays a month and pay the pastor $30 per month. “On Nov. 2, 1960, the church members gave the pastor permission to hang pictures in the living room in the parsonage. On Jan. 1, 1961, the members voted to take the Lord’s Supper using wine.”

The public is invited to celebrate this anniversary event.