Through determination and community collaboration, Conroe’s 122-year-old Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church is now recognized as a historic landmark in the city.
On Nov. 12, the Montgomery County Historical Commission and members of the church hosted a dedication ceremony for the county’s newest Montgomery County Historical Marker in front of the church at 509 South Third Street in the city’s historically Black neighborhood of Dugan on the southeast side of the city.
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The church was formed in 1901 and for all this time has been a cornerstone of this neighborhood nurturing not only parishioners’ souls but supporting the community through many outreach programs.
“When this church was built, they weren’t making churches like this,” said Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church pastor B.J. Plattenburg. “This was considered state of the art. To be able to honor the people who have given their life for the sustaining of this church and to be a part of this kind of legacy is mind blowing. It’s an honor that God allowed me to be that one.”
Rev. P. A. Northington started the church in 1901.
According to a narrative of church history, he established churches in Conroe and Montgomery and actively participated in conferences and conventions of Black Baptists held in Houston and Brenham. In 1892, he and “a band of Christian believers” established the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church in Conroe’s one Black school, just north of the Santa Fe Railroad tracks.
Six years later in 1898, he bought land for the purpose of a church building in the heart of the Dugan quarter of Conroe. Before purchasing a church site, services for Pilgrim Rest took place in a small house. In 1903, the first Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church building was erected.
During World War I, Private Lee McCowan, a stevedore, died while serving in France and his funeral was held at the Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Dugan. Rev. Northington extended a special invitation for “white friends” to attend and prominent figures from both races spoke. The church also hosted a patriotic meeting during this time.
During Conroe’s oil boom, the Dugan community benefited along with the rest of Conroe. According to the narrative, a new school was built for Black students and under Rev. Robert S. Cole. The church was completely rebuilt under the leadership of Rev. Cole. New pews were installed, the church was insured, a Junior Church was organized, four preachers and four deacons were ordained, and many members were added.
In 1989, Plattenburg and his wife, Rosie, arrived to lead the church and they remain foundations of the ministry team today.
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, Pilgrim Rest expanded its community outreach beyond the walls of the building. The church set up a drive-through food pantry where volunteers placed boxes of food, clothing and small appliances in the participants’ cars. At the height of the pandemic, they placed pantry goods in as many as 200 vehicles in a day. In 2021, the church began a similar outreach to veterans, which focused on finding and assisting in building them housing.
The food line continues each Tuesday at 9 a.m. and volunteers are always needed. They are also preparing for their first toy distribution to take place on Dec. 2.
Plattenburg said the project to recognize the church’s history began about 10 years ago. Member Chris Smith started researching the church’s history.
“The sad part is we didn’t get serious about the church’s history until many of the older members like Algeno McPherson and N.L. Archie were already gone,” he said.
Working with historical commission members, a committee from the church including Rosie Plattenburg, Bobbie Benoit, Uylonda Antoine and Henry Calyen formed a determined alliance.
Sponsors for the marker include Precinct 1 Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack, Collins and Johnson Funeral Home, Duke Coon, Conroe councilman Howard Wood and Conroe councilman Harry Hardeman, Jerry and Jill O’Neal, Robert Bartholet and members from Temple of Faith Church, First Christian Church and Houston Restoration Church.
With research from commission member Annette Kerr and a historical narrative written by commission member Andy Rapoza, all the pieces finally came together for the marker.
The dedication took place during the church’s homecoming weekend held each fall.
“Our mission is to preserve, promote and enhance the history of Montgomery County and the great state of Texas,” said Larry Foerster, chairman of the historical commission. “We hope there will be other markers in this community that recognize the contributions that the citizens of this community — primarily African Americans but others — have provided and done for the last roughly 100 years of the city of Conroe.”
Visit the Pilgrim Rest Facebook page for more on the church’s activities. Visit the historical commission’s website for more on the group.
