Concord Baptist Church and Cemetery

Three families named Fitzgerald moved to Texas in the 1840s and purchased land at Mound Prairie Creek, eleven miles north of Palestine. The area in which they settled became known as Fitzgerald. As other families moved to the area, interest grew in organizing a church. Fifteen charter members met at the Fitzgerald schoolhouse in 1871 and formed a Baptist church. It is believed they named it Concord for a community in Louisiana, the former home of some members of the church. By 1883 the congregation was holding services in its own church building. A wooden frame sanctuary was erected at this site in 1901-02 that served the congregation until 1940 when it was destroyed by fire. A brick structure was begun in 1940. The cemetery and church were located on land previously owned by pioneers William A. and Michael R. Fitzgerald. The oldest marked grave is that of Joel Kelley in 1872, although it is believed the site was in use before that time. Among those buried here are early settlers and their families and three Confederate Civil War veterans. The site continues to serve the Concord community and is maintained by a cemetery association.

Concord Baptist Church and Cemetery is a historical marker in Palestine, Anderson County, dedicated in 1997. 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 31.9132, -95.6824 near Palestine. The nearest cataloged historic site is Concord Cemetery (cemetery), about 0.3 miles away. Others within a short drive include Elrod-Gaines Cemetery, Green Cemetery at Pace's Chapel, and Elmtown.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5001008743. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.