Damascus Baptist Church

This congregation was organized by 12 charter members in 1890. The Rev. David Skiles was chosen as the first pastor and M. W. Wadsworth as first elder. Services were held in the nearby Nebo community schoolhouse until about 1895 when the addition of 40 new members during a revival meeting prompted the congregation to begin plans to build a larger, more permanent church building. Amy Wells donated three acres here for church and cemetery purposes in 1895. Water for the congregation was provided by a spring on 1.5 acres located across the road and donated by Mr. and Mrs. D. B. McDowell. The first sanctuary was completed in 1896. At that time the church was named Damascus by Army Wells, presumably for the Damascus in a Bible story related to the conversion of the Apostle Paul. The Rev. Robert Gorsline was chosen the first full-time pastor in 1948. Baptisms were held in a nearby creek and pond until 1956, when an indoor baptistry was included in the church's new brick sanctuary. Over the years additional facilities have been built to house educational and fellowship programs. The congregation is active in missionary work and continues to provide spiritual guidance for the community.

Damascus Baptist Church is a historical marker in Lindale, Smith County, dedicated in 1994. It is one of 90 historical markers documented in Smith County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 272 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.5143, -95.3570 near Lindale. The nearest cataloged historic site is Damascus Cemetery (cemetery), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Morris, Bethesda Presbyterian Church and Cemetery, and Mallory-Old Myrtle Springs.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5423007717. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.