Antioch Cemetery and Church of Christ

This church and cemetery, dating back to the first years of Texas statehood, were established between 1846 and 1848. The church, First Church of Christ in Lamar County, was founded by Elder Thomas Barrett of Titus County. Instrumental in the organization was the pioneer family of Mrs. Rebecca Stone Biard and her three sons (whose first names were Andrew Jackson, John Gaines, and William Washington) and her daughter (Minerva B. Stephenson). They came to Texas from Alabama and started Biardstown community in 1846. All three brothers became noted landowners. William W. Biard gave his first home, a 20'x20' log cabin, for use as a church. It had seats made of split logs and an old-fashioned "stick and dirt" chimney. At his mother's death in 1848, he also gave land for the cemetery, in which hers was the first grave. Some years later, the last church building was erected. In early years, both it and the first log church housed community schools. Although the church disbanded about 1920 due to declining membership, burials in the cemetery are continued today. As of 1969, graves number about 300, including those of the original members and many descendants of the Biard family. (1969)

Antioch Cemetery and Church of Christ is a historical marker in Biardstown, Lamar County, dedicated in 1969. It is one of 46 historical markers documented in Lamar County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 89 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 33.5473, -95.5090 near Biardstown. The nearest cataloged historic site is Biardstown School (historical marker), about 0.8 miles away. Others within a short drive include Pierce, Rockford Church and Cemetery, and Shady Grove Cemetery.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5277008181. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.