ABC Wednesday: B is for Blue Ridge Baptist Church

Front view of the church.

Directions: From the southeast corner of the courthouse square in Hamilton (intersection of Hwy. 36 and Bell Street) proceed east (toward Gatesville) 3 blocks.  Turn right (south) on Reagan Street which will also be FM 932 & FM 1241.  After 5 blocks FM 932/1241 turns left on Standefer Street for one block and  right on S. Dempster Street.  Four block later FM932/1241 turns left (east) and leaves Hamilton.  Almost a mile out of Hamilton FM 932 turns left to Aleman and FM1241 continues straight.  Stay on FM1241 about 3.5 miles.  Watch for a church-shaped sign (across the road from a tall faded-pink water tower) pointing to Blue Ridge Baptist Church.  Two gravel roads join FM1241 at this point. The west portion of the Blue Ridge Cemetery will be on the left side of the road. Take the gravel road on the left and proceed east to the end of the road.

The Blue Ridge Baptist Church was organized 10 July, 1880, as the Blue Ridge Missionary Baptist Church of Christ and my great-grandparents, James Lemuel Grisham, Sr. and his wife Margaret Amanda Jones Grisham were among the charter members. When Margaret Amanda Jones Grisham died 18 November, 1936, she was the last remaining charter member. Other charter members were William Robert Richey, Sarah Ann Wright Richey, and likely W. S. Stephens.

Church Deed

Apparently Blue Ridge was admitted to the Hamilton County Baptist Association in 1880 (one of only two years for which associational minutes are not available.) This church has the last remaining tabernacle (which was built in 1912) in Hamilton County. On 24 January, 1891, a lot was purchased from John Hannah Brown for the sum of ten dollars. (Hamilton County Deed Records, Book 6, Page 172.) On 30 April, 1892, James William Massie was given a contract to build a church building by the building committee which was composed of John Hannah Brown, Christopher Columbus Powell, James Marion Allen, L. P. Foster, and E. A. Willis. Massie would be paid $100 on 1 November, 1892, and fifty dollars in work. He was to construct a 44 ft by 26 ft building within three months. In 1923 the church was remodeled with a south wing added so that the building was “T-shaped.” A Delco power plant was added at this time to provide lighting. Electricity was added in 1939. A Sunday School room was added on the east side in 1976. In 1988 the Texas Baptist Men built a fellowship hall with a kitchen, bathrooms, and water.

Blue Ridge Church with the Tabernacle to the left.

My father, Robert Verne Crain, was a deacon and treasurer in this church for many years. My mother, Clara Elsie Fergusson Crain, taught the ladies Sunday School and was Church Clerk for many years. I was church pianist during my years of high school

More About the Blue Ridge Community:

• B is for Blue Ridge Community
• More About The Blue Ridge Community
• Blue Ridge
• BLUE RIDGE SETTLERS
• BLUE RIDGE CEMETERIES
• BLUE RIDGE SCHOOLS
• MASSIE SCHOOL
• DRAKE HOUSE
• BLUE RIDGE CHURCHES
• CHAMBLISS, JAMES MONROE and MARIAM (JOHNSON)
• STRIBLING HOUSE
  

More About Blue Ridge Baptist Church:

• BLUE RIDGE BAPTIST CHURCH HISTORY
• PASTORS, MEMBERSHIP, PROPERTY VALUE
• SUNDAY SCHOOL, TREASURER, and CLERK
• CHAIRMAN OF DEACONS, MUSIC DIRECTOR, PIANIST
• EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER, RECREATION DIRECTOR, CHURCH       TRAINING DIRECTOR & ENROLLMENT
• IN MEMORIAM
• MESSENGERS TO THE ANNUAL ASSOCIATIONAL MEETING

See more ABC Wednesday.