Hopewell Baptist Church Mountain Peak Contributed by Jean Caddel Hopewell Baptist Church was organized in 1872 with eight charter members as follows:  Ed Smith, and his wife, Nan; N. D. Clark and wife Beckey; J. D. Enloe and wife, Sarah; G. W. Moore and wife, Fannie; J. A. Moore and wife Maggie; Fannie Sewell, E. A. Moon and wife Jane. Serving as pastors from 1871 to 1891 were: Bro. Herndon, Bro. Josiah Leake, Bro. McClung, Bro. Mahanay; 1891 - Bro. Knight; 1897 - Bro. Bailey; 1900 - Bro. Shelby; 1901 - Bro. Caruth; 1902 - Bro. May; 1903 - Bro. McClung; 1906 - Bro. J. O. Hearns; 1910 - Bro. W. Z. Corbin; 1012 - Bro. Bob Burleson; 1917 - Bro. P. L. Tomlinson; 1919 - Bro. Hansley; 1922 - Bro. J. O. Hearne; 1924 - Bro. Sanders; 1925 - Bro. McClung; 1926 - Bro. H. R. Burleson; 195- - Bro. T. C. Jenkins; 1950-51 - Bro. Wharton; 1961 - Bro. Warblington [resigned] Bro. Stone. The first meetings were held in a log school building a mile north of Mountain Peak until 1873 when the building was moved to Mountain Peak.  Both Methodist and Baptist denominations worshipped in the building which was also used as a school until 1876.   At that time the two donimations  built what was known as the "Big Church: with two stories - the Masonic Lodge using the upstairs as a meeting place. In 1910 the Baptists sold their half and bought another building which was moved to Mountain Peak.  The Hopewell Baptist Church still had worship services  in 1954 with twenty-four members. Ellis County Deed Records Vol. H, pg. 312, March 8, 1875. J. W. Borks to M. R. P. Church and Baptist Church.  Land conveyed with express understanding that Baptists occupy the first and second Sabbath in each month annually and the Methodists the balance of month; and that house on said lot be built two-stories high, the lower floor to be used as a church and school and the upper to be used as a Grange and Masonic Hall. Trusteees to be one each from Baptists, Methodists and Grange. Ellis County Deeds: Vol. 56, pg. 296. (16 acres) W. R. Bentley and wife to Treasurer of Baptist and Methodist Churches. "In consideration of sum of fifty dollars paid by N. D. Clark and A. B. Forbes, Trustees of Baptist and Methodist Churches at Mountain Peak, Ellis Co. Tex. to said Trustees or their successors in office to be used as a grave yard. Witness our hand this 19 day of Nov. A. D. 1886. /s/Wm. R. Bentley and Ella S. Bentley."   Copyright © 2002-2016, Ellis County TXGenWeb. All Rights Reserved. This page was last modified: Thursday, 01-Jul-2021 13:16:07 MDT