Once the Savior walked the earth with His disciples. He asked them a very significant question, “But whom do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” Jesus answered, “This confession did not come by flesh and blood but by the Heavenly Father.” Upon this confession Jesus set up His church, Himself being the chief cornerstone, and as He said, “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
Over one hundred & fifty years ago, the Spirit of God directed a small number of His children to this beautiful spot and planted a little missionary Baptist Church. The following is the history of New Hope Baptist Church. Most of the information is straight from the original church minutes, but some information also came from previous church histories, letters, articles and church members.
The journey started with a little church that was organized on the “Saturday before the Second Lord’s Day, February 1860.” Its original name was The Mars Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Christ and, according to records, its earliest members were: Reverend Louis Baldwin, who led the small congregation and Richard and Catherine (Waggoner)
Young, their son and his wife, Christopher and Frances Ann (Donoho) Young, Mr. & Mrs. William Burton and Vina Irving, who later became Mrs. S E Moss.
They worshiped in the home of Mr. Young until the spring of 1861. At this time they moved across the river in Bosque County to a schoolhouse, known as the Chapel, they stayed here only a few months before moving back across the river where they built an arbor near Baker-Lain Cemetery. They worshiped under the arbor during the summer months and in the homes of members when winter came. In 1870 they voted in conference to move their place of worship to a schoolhouse, near where the Brazos Valley School stood. In 1872 some church trouble came up causing a disagreement and the organized church moved its place of worship to what was then known as the Freeland schoolhouse. They worshiped at this place until 1913, at which time the church built a house of its own where it worships now.
The little church went by “Mars Hill Missionary Baptist Church of Christ” until 1872, when the name was changed to “New Hope Number 2”. The church went by this name until 1876 when the “Number 2” was left off and the church started using its present name of “New Hope Baptist Church”.
Much could be said about the many different families and members who have, along the way stood by and carried the work on, but time and space will not permit. Also, as we who love this church look back over the years, it is only by God’s grace and Christ’s love that it has been the lamp to our feet and a light to our path, and as a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden, in this community. Its members and influence is gradually encircling the globe carrying the Gospel as the church was commanded.
“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
