As published (expect where formatting was web prohibitive) in Cass County Connections. Cass County Connections is a quarterly publication put out by the Cass County Genealogical Society of Cass County, Texas. Permission granted by Cass County Genealogical Society to Dana Thomas for publishing on The Cass County, TXGenWeb Project Pages.

Transcribed by: Carol Lee Colunga

QUEEN CITY BAPTIST CHURCH BEGAN IN 1879 WITH 21 MEMBERS
By Mrs. Wesley Clements
(As printed in the Citizen's Journal August 31, 1971)

The town of Queen City, Texas, was established in 1876, but the Baptist Church was not organized until 1879. In 1878 the Presbyterians built the first church building (where Mrs. J.L. Harris' home now stands), and all denominations had the privilege of using their facilities. In 1894 a storm destroyed this Presbyterian Church and the Baptists purchased the remains of this destroyed building and erected the First Baptist church on the present site in 1894.

Rev. Nelse Porterfield was the first pastor of the group of 21 members. Some of the charter members and early members were: Mr. and Mrs. S.T. Wood, Sr., Mr. and Mrs. Bill Mapps, Dr. J.C. Strawn, Mrs. M.F. Powell, Dave F. Hanes, Virgil Hanes, Carlie Hale, Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Pritchard, Mr. and Mrs. J. G. McKinney, Mrs. Lou Clements, Mr. and Mrs. Jack Barnes, Mrs. Joe McWilliams, Mr. and Mrs. John Powell, Mr. and Mrs. E. Eargle, Mrs. Mattie Page, Dale Page, Charlie Roach, Mr. and Mrs. Gus Kennedy, the Vance family, Mr. and Mrs. J.K. Whatley, the Hagerman family, Mrs. A. Boyd, Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Washington, Simpson Daughtery, Dan Guyton, Mr. and Mrs. J.D. Gowan, Mr. and Mrs. R.H. Taylor, Jessee Stanley, Jim Powell, Mr. and Mrs. A.W. Patterson, Mrs. Pearl Oliver, Mr. and Mrs. L.F. Manley, N.A. Whitehorn, Mrs. Cora Hale, C.F. Polk, Edith Polk, Edna Polk, Mrs. Irene Thaggard, G.L. Young and Mrs. Mattie Young.

In the early years of the church, pastors received produce as a salary supplement. The church planted and harvested a cotton crop in 1924 to help pay the pastor's salary.

The Women's Missionary Union was organized in the early 1920's and the Baptist Young People's Union in 1939.

The first church building was remodeled several times; a two-story annex was added years later. This was used until 1954 when a new building was erected. The present auditorium will seat 260 persons; the Choir will seat 36; on each side of the front entrance, there is a Sunday School room. Cost of the empty building was $15,032.30. Building completely furnished (at the time of building) was $20,079.30.

The building committee to oversee the construction included Houston Gibson, Wesley Clements, Merrell Clayton, Thurman McCasland and David Bryant. Finance Committee: Ray Caver, W.T. Stovall, Nolan Williams, Will Draper, Miss Thelia Land, Waco Brown, and Winnie Stanley, Treasure.

The educational wing was added in 1955; the three-bedroom brick Parsonage was built in 1958. This building committee was composed of W.T. Stovall, Wesley Clements, Thurman McCasland, H.E. Whitlow, W.E. (Bill) Woody, Merrell Clayton, Houston Gibson, and David Bryant. Treasurer-Mrs. Wesley Clements.

The Adult wing was added in 1966. New pews were installed and cushioned later; carpet was laid on the rostrum by a Sunday School class. Many members gave pews, hymnals, carpet and windows in memory of their loved ones.

The church secured a piano at an early date, but the electric organ was not purchased until 1953. The church was air-conditioned when the first wing was added in 1955; choir robes were purchased; the Nursery was furnished and more pianos were added.

Men who have served as pastors include: Perry Hawkins 1879-1883; J.A. Jackson 1884-1885; J.F. McClung, 1886-1890; D.J. Austin, 1892-1893; J.B. Armstrong, 1894-1896; W.F. Hatchel, 1897; W.B. Simmons, 1898; Q.A. Reagan, 1900; J.F. Hailey, 1901; W.B. Simmons, 1903; Z.J. Amerson, 1904; C.S. Hagaman, 1905-1906; P.J. Corley, 1909; J.D. Ford, 1910-1911; C.S. Hagaman, 1912; T. P. Jolly, 1913; L. McHan, 1914-1917; J.P. Olive, 1918; Rev. Eaves, 1919; L. McHan, 1920; J.D. Stringer, 1921-1922; J.J. Autrey, 1923-1924; J.H. Watson, 1926; J.N. Cornelius, 1927-1929; E.P. Wooten, 1930; J.S. Taylor, 1931; J.C.Vandiver, 1932; V.S.Temple, 1933-1934; J.P. Olive, 1935-1936; C.T. Hatchel, 1937; Dr. L.L. Burkhalter, 1938-1950. Recent pastors were: C.E. Barnett, 1951-1956; Medford Hutson, 1956-1957; Wesley Hodges, 1957-1958; Charles Russell, 1958-1961; Albert Warnken, 1962-1965; C.D. Waters, 1965; B.R. Barnett, 1966-1967; and Newton Hambrick, 1967-1971.

The church has grown from its original 21 members to a membership of 556. Rev. Ken Goode is the present pastor.