First Baptist Church of Longview

This congregation has been in continuous existence since 1871, when fifteen people led by the Rev. D. S. Snodgrass gathered together to form a new church. In 1874 the Texas and Pacific Railway Company deeded two town lots to the Baptist church at the corner of Fredonia and South streets. The first sanctuary, a small frame building, was erected late that year. Also in 1874, the congregation called its first full-time pastor, the Rev. dr. A. Eagan Clemmons. Over the years, the church purchased additional property adjacent to its original two lots. As the congregation grew, more church buildings were erected and later replaced with larger structures. A red brick sanctuary which replaced the original frame structure in 1901 was in turn replaced by a larger building in 1914. continued expansion led to further building programs over the years. In addition to serving its own members, the First Baptist Church has been instrumental in establishing new congregations in the community, including Northside Baptist Church, Valley View Baptist Church, Moberly Avenue Baptist Church, and Oakland Heights Baptist Church. It continues to serve the community with a variety of religious and educational programs.

First Baptist Church of Longview is a historical marker in Longview, Gregg County, dedicated in 1989. It is one of 81 historical markers documented in Gregg County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 124 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.4928, -94.7398 near Longview. The nearest cataloged historic site is Longview Municipal Building and Central Fire Station (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Northcutt House, Site of James S. Hogg Newspaper, and Frank Taylor Rembert and Kate Womack House.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5183009951. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.