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Corinth Missionary Baptist Church History
It is impossible to write the history of Corinth Missionary
Baptist Church without including the information of the early
Temple Chapel Baptist Church, sometimes referred to as Temple
Baptist Church.
The Temple Chapel Baptist Church was organized in the early
1880 s and was the first Black Baptist Church in Temple. A
map of the Crawford Addition to the City of Temple was filed
on November 18, 1895 showing the location to be the
intersection of South Tenth Street and East Avenue D, just
north of the location of today s Corinth Missionary Baptist
Church.
By 1897 it was well organized and had its own Sunday school;
According the Proceedings of the Tenth Annual Session of
the Lincoln District Sabbath School Convention held in
Hempstead, Texas on July 5-7, 1897, and our delegate was Rev.
P. H. Collier.
On Thursday Night, September 22nd, 1898, a full
weekend of celebrations began with the laying of the
cornerstone. According to an early broadside, ministers from
around the state were invited to give their soul-stirring
sermons. There were also songs, papers, recitations, solos,
and selected readings, and large quantities food for the
entire four days. This corner stone to Temple Chapel Baptist
Church was located a few years back on the north side of
Temple, near what is known today as the Seven Star Cemetery,
on North Fourteenth Street and East Shell Avenue. The
trustees listed on the corner stone are, David Page, J. C.
Cole, Doc Robinson, Dennis Jones, Mrs. M. Montgomery,
Treasurer; and Rev. P. H, Collier, Pastor.
The records of Temple Chapel Baptist Church were destroyed in
a fire when the church burned in 1902. Shortly after
rebuilding, it was later named Corinth Missionary Baptist
Church, and the citizens throughout the community decided to
organize other churches so that they would not have to walk
long distances to worship. As a result the following churches
organized and were named: First Baptist Church, now Eighth
Street Baptist Church; Second Baptist Church now Corinth
Baptist Church which is the Temple Chapel Baptist Church;
Third Baptist Church now Mt. Zion Baptist Church.
In 1916, Rev. Joseph Edwards rebuilt Corinth Baptist Church.
And in 1950 under the leadership of Rev. Baylor L. Williams,
the Church was remodeled. It was reconstructed in 1957 when
Rev. S. M. Harnsberry was pastor. And, in 1964 it was again
remodeled, this time under the leadership of Rev. Ira C.
Green, Sr.
According to the earlier records of Corinth, dating back to
the 1920 s through 1950 s some of the deacons listed were J.
C. Cole, Alex Sagers, Will Bridges, Walter Alexander, Ben
Chappel, J. C. Cline, William Randle, Warner Reed, John O.
Greenlow, Peter J. Dean, M. C. Crawford, E. J. Morris and
Isadell Merida.
In 1954 another church spawned from Corinth, that church was
named Macedonia Baptist Church
In November 1965, Rev. Herbert Boykin was called to pastor
Corinth Baptist Church. Through faith and under his
leadership, the following auxiliaries were organized: Junior
Mission, Young Women s Auxiliary, Home Mission, Women s
Uplift, Mission Chorus, Sanctuary Choir and Youth Choir.
Also, several deacons were ordained and six ministers
licensed. The church was again remodeled and enlarged as was
the parsonage. An area of land was purchased and paved for
parking. Pastor Boykin was known as an able administrator,
decisive leader, and able Bible teacher and preacher. He
effectively led the church out a deep financial crisis. When
the mortgage was paid off, the church celebrated with a
mortgage-burning event. The church gained recognition and was
very active in the Lincoln District Association.
Once again the church was in need of a leader. Rev. A. A.
Norris was selected to pastor Corinth Baptist Church in
December 1989. He was an energetic and vibrant leader who
loved to sing, and fellowship with other churches. Under his
leadership, a part-time secretary position was established.
He passed away in April 1990.
Again, the church was without a leader, Dr. U. C. Barnes, Sr.,
was called to pastor Corinth Baptist Church. He is a strong
and progressive administrator, a man of vision with a
compassionate loving spirit, and a strong Bible teacher.
During his present tenure, the church and parsonage were
renovated, and additional land purchased for future
expansion. On July 6, 1997, a church dedication and
cornerstone service was held, and a new cornerstone placed.
Since the calling of Dr. Barnes to Corinth, he has established
scholarship funds for deserving high school graduates, both at
Corinth and in the Lincoln District Association. He is
presently moving the church into a more ministry-based
structure. He has instituted the following ministries:
Transportation, Door-to-Door, Homebound, Jail, Leadership
Training, Marriage Counseling, New Membership, Visitors, Men
of Faith, and Procurator. He firmly believe that music is an
important component of worship, and to this end the Barnes
Celestial Choir and Ambassadors Choir were organized. Dr.
Barnes has a genuine concern for youth to develop to their
fullest potential. As a result, he has been instrumental in
organizing a primary drill team, secondary drill team, a
liturgical dance team and most recently organized the Youth
and Adult Development Ministry.
Also under his administration, eleven ministers have been
licensed to preach, four deacons ordained, a library
established, a church newspaper developed, and an
administrator s position created.
The Corinth Missionary Baptist Church has been under the
administration eighteen pastors. Namely:
Rev. P. H. Collier
Rev. D. W. Whiting
Rev. Joseph E. Edwards
Rev. William Taylor
Rev. W. B. Wren
Rev. White
Rev. S. L. Gates
Rev. John W. Wesley
Rev. P. H. Hinton
Rev. J. L. Alexander
Rev. S. M. Harnsberry (For two tenures)
Rev. R. L. Sadberry
Rev. Baylor L. Williams
Rev. A. T. Thomas
Rev. Ira C. Green, Sr.
Rev. Oscar Ward (Interim pastor)
Rev. Herbert Boykin
Rev. George N. Allen (Interim pastor)
Rev. A. A. Norris
Dr. U. C. Barnes, Sr. (present)fa of this, our church has grown in all areas. It is my
prayer that the Lord will continually b
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