Antioch Missionary Baptist Church

According to local tradition this congregation traces its origin to informal services held in various homes in Palestine as early as 1856. Although referred to as "Antioch Under the Hill" the congregation was formally named Antioch Baptist Church in 1873. The church built its first sanctuary that year on land deeded to the Rev. Bristow Smith, Bob Johnson, Virgil Campbell, and Thomas Hughes by John H. Reagan. Church membership increased and in 1885 and again in 1887 the congregation purchased town lots near here for the purpose of building a parsonage and a new sanctuary which was completed in 1895. Two ministers, the Rev. T. W. Dailey and the Rev. J. B. Atkins, are credited with substantially improving church facilities during the first quarter of the 20th century. The church building, which had served the congregation well, was destroyed by fire in 1962. Services were subsequently held in a community center until a new sanctuary was erected at this site in 1964. The structure was later remodeled for use as a fellowship hall with the construction of a new church building here in 1980. Antioch continues to serve the local African American community with a variety of Christian educational and family programs. (1993)

Antioch Missionary Baptist Church is a historical marker in Palestine, Anderson County, dedicated in 1993. It is one of 115 historical markers documented in Anderson County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 229 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.7669, -95.6239 near Palestine. The nearest cataloged historic site is Mount Vernon A.M.E. Church (historical marker), about 0.1 miles away. Others within a short drive include Mount Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church, Micham Main, and Purvey Lee (P. L.) Chism.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5001008734. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.