ABC Wednesday: E is for Evant First Baptist Church

Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church was the third church organized near Langford Cove/Evant. Rev. Noah Turner Byars organized this church on 12 April, 1877, in the home of Mr. and Mrs. George Washington Griggs  who lived in Hamilton County about six miles northeast of the present town of Evant. In addition to Bro. Noah Turner Byars and Mr. and Mrs. Griggs, other adults present were Mr. and Mrs. Dave W. White and Mr. and Mrs. Donahue.  In 1848 Byars was the first missionary appointed by the Texas Baptist Convention.

The Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church participated in the organization of the Hamilton County Baptist Association on 4 July, 1877, at the Cottonwood Springs School.  Noah Turner Byars was an itinerant preacher who traveled from one settlement to another holding “protracted meetings” and organizing churches. As the congregation outgrew the Griggs’ log cabin home and a brush arbor, and then a church building were erected about three or four miles west of the Griggs’ home. The first pastor was likely Presley O’Keefe, who also taught school in Langford Cove.

In 1885 Sweet Home Baptist Church built the first church building in the town of Evant. Being paid for by subscription, the church was dedicated by Dr. R. C. Buckner on the second Sunday in May, 1892. Since services were held only once a month, the Baptist congregation shared their building with the Methodist congregation.

In 1913 the name of Sweet Home Baptist Church was changed to Evant Baptist Church.

llen Boone DeHart pastored this church from September 20, 1931, through August, 1935. Some of those who became members during his ministry were: Mrs. Josh Massingill, Mr. Charlie Massingill, Mrs. Monroe Smith, Miss Vollie Perkins, Mr. William McDonald, Miss Bernice Kinsey, Miss Jessie Massingill, Mildred DeHart, Doris Jean Sawyer, Iona Frasure, Van Dean Winters, Charles Curtis Longmire, Lawrence Lane, Mr. Putman Sawyer, Robert Norman Hamilton, Troy Massingill, Mrs. Mary Penson, Miss Fay Massingill, Mr. Charlie Huell, Mr. Happy Stewart, Mrs. Joe Griffis, and Mrs. John Henry.

P. W. Springfield was the first full-time pastor in 1943. His salary was ninety dollars a month plus rent and utilities. During his ministry an educational annex and baptistry were added. A second annex was added in 1948.

In 1955 a new brick building was built with 7760 square feet. The first service in the new sanctuary which seated 300, was held on 2 October, 1955, when Billy Butts was pastor.

Early pastors of Sweet Home Baptist Church were:

• Presley O’Keefe–1878-1879
• D. I. Haralson–1881-1886, 1886
• D. W. White–1887, 1890–1897
• G. W. Herrington–1888
• J. C. Combs–1889
• W. N. White, 1898
• Pinkney Hawkins, 1899

Early church clerks were:

• W. B. Wright–1881
• J. W. Brooks–1882–1883
• S. C. Smith–1884, 1886
• S. E. Smith–1885
• J. R. Carter–1887–1891
• P. H. Young, 1892–1894
• James White, 1895
• J. R. White, 1896–1897
• R. S. Griggs, 1898
• A. T. Stamp, 1899

Early messengers to the association were:

• 1878–D. W. White, J. W. Howard, and W. N. White
• 1879–D. W. White, J. W. Howard, and J. P. Murphree
• 1881–D. W. White, and J. P. Murphy; Elder D. W. White and W. B. Wright
• 1883–W. B. Wright and D. E. Eliott
• 1884–D. W. White, W. B. Wright, and George Griggs
• 1885–D. N. White and W. B. Wright
• 1886–D. W. White
• 1887–Elder D. W. White, A. J. Culpepper, and J. W. Maness
• 1888 and 1889–D. W. White
• 1890– D. W. White, S. E. Smith, A. J. Culpepper
• 1891–D. W. White, T. W. Kirkland, J. R. Carter
• 1892–D. W. White, P. H. Young
• 1893–D. W. White, W. N. White, P. H. Young, J. R. White
• 1895–D. W. White, W. N. White, Dr. R. L. Howell, P. H. Young
• 1896–D. W. White, W. N. White, J. T. White, P. H. Young
• 1897–Rev.’s D. W. White, W. N. White, W. M. Howell, Brethren G. H. Singleton, P. H. Howell
• 1898–Rev. W. N. White, Brethren P. H. Young, J. A. Sheffield, R. S. Griggs, G. H. Singleton
• 1899–A. T. Stamp, P. H. Young, E. B. White, and Rev. W. N. White.

More About Evant:

• COVE
• LANGFORD COVE
• EVANT CHURCHES
  • EVANT CHURCH OF CHRIST
  • First Baptist Church
    
  • EVANT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
  • SARDIS PRIMITIVE BAPTIST CHURCH
• EVANT LODGES
• EVANT POST OFFICE
• EVANT SCHOOLS
• EVANT REGISTERED VOTERS in 1937
• MURPHREE CEMETERY
• LANGFORD CEMETERY
• EVANT SCHOOL YARD CEMETERY

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