Palestine Missionary Baptist Church

Twenty-one former slaves gathered together at the corner of Convent and Depot streets on June 27, 1868, and formally organized the First Colored Baptist Church in Victoria County. It was renamed Palestine Missionary Baptist Church on September 11, 1868. That same month property was conveyed for the town's first freedmen's school, named Brauns Colored School. Early Baptist worship services were held in Brauns school and at Frazier Colored Methodist School at the corner of Convent and River Streets. Under the leadership of the Rev. Mitchell Harrison, the members of Palestine Missionary Baptist Church built their first sanctuary between 1871 and 1873. It was replaced in 1886 with a larger structure built on the corner of Convent and Navarro Streets. A new brick church building was erected at the corner of Convent and Depot streets in 1953. Throughout its history, this church has maintained programs with an emphasis on educational, social, civic, and missionary responsibilities. Members of the church have played an important role in community activities, and over the years four additional congregations were formed from the Palestine Missionary Baptist Church fellowship. (1991)

Palestine Missionary Baptist Church is a historical marker in Victoria, Victoria County, dedicated in 1991. It is one of 99 historical markers documented in Victoria County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 240 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 28.7939, -97.0019 near Victoria. The nearest cataloged historic site is Victoria Colored School (historic place), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Diebel--Hyak House, Alonso, Frank, House, and Hiller House.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5469003916. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.