St.
Paul Baptist Church
Historical Marker Text
One of Collin county's oldest black
congregations, this church was organized in 1872 by the Rev. Jeff
Shirley of Kentucky. Members worshiped beneath a brush arbor before
constructing their first church building in 1885 on land purchased from
T.E. Shirley. Three years later, Shirley sold them acreage adjacent to
Melissa Cemetery for a church burial ground. After the original
sanctuary was destroyed by a tornado on April 13, 1921, a new frame
building was erected. For over 100 years, this fellowship has held an
annual homecoming celebration in May.
Incise on back: Faithful Families Sanders
Clayton Thomas Hawkins Perry Thornton Johnson Crockett Frazier Carter
Jackson
1978
Location: in the 2500 block of McKinney Street
(SH5), Melissa
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