One of Conroe’s oldest churches — St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church — will receive a historical marker recognizing its 135-year history Saturday afternoon.
The dedication conducted by the Montgomery County Historical Commission will take place at 1 p.m. at 511 East Phillips in Conroe. The church has served the city’s Black community since 1889.
“Dating from 1889 and continuing to thrive in 2024, the St. Matthew Free Mission Baptist Church (now abbreviated to St. Matthew Baptist Church) has the distinction of being the first Black Baptist church in Conroe, Texas; it has now served the community for 135 years,” according to a history narrative of the church compiled by Andrew Rapoza, a member of the Montgomery County Historical Commission. “It still stands on East Phillips St. at the corner of 5th Street, a long-lasting monument to the faith, spirit and endurance of its members.”
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What is the historical commission?
The Montgomery County Historical Commission is an arm of Montgomery County government. Commission volunteers support numerous of preservation projects in the county.
Volunteers also maintain a county historical marker program placing plaques to mark the history at Montgomery County landmarks. The first county historical marker was placed at Shepard’s Barber Shop in downtown Conroe in October 2015.
Since that time, numerous other markers have been placed throughout the county.
Congregation’s launching in 1889
According to Rapoza’s research, the church was organized in March 1889 in the home of Deacon Ellis P. Palmer.
Born in March of 1855, he had lived the first decade of his childhood in slavery, along with his father, mother and siblings. Other participants in the organizational meeting probably included Rev. P. A. Northington and Deacons Calvin B. Byrd and Ed B. Baker, all of whom had similar roots in slavery thus the second word, “free,” in the church’s new name.
Northington was also involved in organizing Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church (Conroe, 1892), the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church (Montgomery, 1897), and the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church (Conroe, 1901).
In November 1889, Palmer, Byrd and Baker appeared before a notary public as trustees of the new church to purchase property. They acquired the lot on East Phillips Street from the Gulf Colorado & Santa Fe Railway Company.
Church members also developed a close relationship with the new Conroe Normal and Industrial College that opened less than a half-mile away. A 400-pound bell rang out as early as 1909 summoning parishioners for church.
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A new era for church
At the end of World War II, the church building was remodeled so that’s its front was on East Phillips and away from a busy spur off of Route 105.
Rapoza said of most importance is the historical quality of the individuals who have worshipped there as excellent examples of determination, courage and drive to improve their lives and to lift others along the way. He also linked the church’s connection with Conroe College as significant.
Architecturally the church building is timber-frame construction with clapboard siding and a gabled roof covered in corrugated metal roofing.
“The building is bruised and weather-worn, but it remains the firm foundation of faith for its members and a tribute to the long history of the great and humble who together have contributed their strength and received far greater blessings in return,” Rapoza said.
Glenn Taylor serves as the church’s current pastor.
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