| A. W. Fechner and family returned
to Coleman and he saw the need of a Baptist Church in the south part of
Coleman and awakened the interest of the people in that area. He
solicited funds from Baptist and friends and by donated labor, a splended
tabernacle was built. On Sunday, July 31, 1927, the first service
was held. Bro. Nolan Barmore led the singing, with Eirys Sparkman at the
piano, Bro. Cyrus Sewell led in prayer after which Bro. Fechner preached.
After the sermon a missionary Baptist church was organized with 22 charter
members. Bro. Fechner was called as the first pastor. The church
was first named the South Coleman Baptist Church. The first tabernacle
was located on the corner of 11th and Pecos Streets. Later, Papa
George Hipsher donated a lot between Concho and Commercial streets where
the church erected a building for worship. It was small and a huge
tabernacle was erected just north of the building and George Hipsher did
most of the work on the tabernacle without any pay.
South
Coleman Baptist Church - 1950
In 1954, upon democratic vote of the assembly,
the name of the church was changed from the South Coleman Baptist Church
to the Concho Baptist Church. On May 30, 1956, a new tabernacle was
completed on the corner of Concho and West 10th Streets. Dedication
services for the new tabernacle of the Concho Baptist Church were held
on August 26, 1956. A list of the charter members is as follows:
Mr. and Mrs. John Machen; Mr. and Mrs. George Hipsher, Truett and Paul;
Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Sewell; Lelys Richardson; Mrs. A. F. Watson; Mr. and
Mrs. F. M. Yancey; Mr. and Mrs. Gay Hipsher; Rev. and Mrs. A. W. Fechner;
Mr. and Mrs. George Pridemore; Mr. and Mrs. Willie Day; and Ruth May Dunoway.
Concho
Baptist Church - 1983
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