Corinth Missionary Baptist Church

Corinth Missionary Baptist Church has its roots in Temple Chapel Baptist Church, which organized around 1881 as one of the area’s earliest African-American congregations. African Americans needed a place of worship as they migrated to the new town of Temple, established by the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe railway, primarily to work as laborers. Membership grew and the church, also known as Second Baptist Church, had a Sunday school by 1897, but by the early years of the 20th century, it began to experience difficulties. Some members left to form another congregation. In 1908, the church was destroyed by a fire. In 1913, leaders and members of Temple Chapel Baptist Church continued worshipping at the same location under the name Corinth Missionary Baptist Church. A new building was erected in 1916; the structure was replaced in 1951 and renovated in 1964 and 1996. During its history, Corinth Missionary Baptist Church has played an active role in the community, offering youth activities related to drug awareness and programs on civil rights and African-American history; the church has also offered scholarship funds for area students. The congregation has hosted annual meetings of the Lincoln District Missionary Baptist Association and events related to social issues. The church has also focused on teaching ministries and on outreach through auxiliaries and participation in missions, including the 1954 plant of Macedonia Baptist Church of Temple. Today, Corinth Missionary Baptist Church continues to serve as a spiritual and social leader in the Temple community.

Corinth Missionary Baptist Church is a historical marker in Temple, Bell County, dedicated in 2010. It is one of 226 historical markers documented in Bell County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 411 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 31.0915, -97.3377 near Temple. The nearest cataloged historic site is Wayman Chapel A.M.E. Church (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Eighth Street Baptist Church, Grace United Methodist Church, and Knob Creek Lodge No. 401, A.F. & A.M..

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5507016470. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.