Good Hope and Sweet Home

Good Hope and Sweet Home

Written by Karen R. Thompson, author/historian Thursday, 07 February 2008

In less than a decade after the end of the Civil War in 1865, the first organized African-American church was established in Round Rock. The Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1874 by well-known Austin minister Reverend Jake Fontaine. This first church met at a log cabin in the area that is now known as Old Town.

 Some of the earliest pastors of Good Hope were John Addison, Jesse Shakles, Stephen Smith, Nelson Scott, Andrew Hubbard, James Massey, A. L. Johnson, C. C. Reed, William Jennin.gs, T. G. Rogers and James Kelly. Kelly built an even larger church at 207 Chisholm Trail Road, near Brent Bustin Memorial Park.

In the 1930s, as the church congregation grew, the old wooden tabernacle was torn down and a rock church was built on the same site.

But tragedy struck on Feb. 9, 1973 when the church was completely destroyed by fire. Round Rock School Superintendent Noel Grisham allowed the church to meet at Berkman Elementary School while a new structure was being built.

The new Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church was officially dedicated during week-long evening services, Jan. 13-19, 1975.

This church continues to serve the Round Rock community after 134 years with many activities and programs. In December, Pastor Michael Butler left the church after thirteen years at the pulpit. The congregation’s activities include choir, Sunday school, children’s church, youth ministry and Valentine’s Hat Day.

Long time member Faye King said getting a new pastor will allow a new beginning for the church.

In 1885, the Saint Paul A.M.E. Church was established in Round Rock. This small church is located at 407 N. Sheppard St. in downtown.

In 1958, a cornerstone was laid when the church sanctuary was rebuilt.

The elders were Ollie Sauls, Tom Wheeler, Rueben Sauls, M. Dixon, W. Otto Sauls, M. Washington, Rev. H. Thomas, Rev. S. J. Matthews, and Mrs. J. M. Fulton. After 123 years, this small church continues to serve downtown Round Rock.

Of the four Round Rock historic churches that had primarily African-American congregations, Sweet Home Baptist Church has the largest membership with 700 people. It was Reverend S. W. Wormley who organized this church Jan. 8, 1905. He also served as the first pastor.

Sweet Home Baptist Church has out-grown many church buildings and now meets at a shopping center at Hesters Crossing while they plan on building a new church on Sunrise Road. The current senior pastor is Dante D. Wright.

In Pflugerville

During the early 1900s, the African-American workers were not allowed to live in Pflugerville.

In 1910, farmer and entrepreneur La Rue Noton set off one of his 1,200 acres west of the town to be divided into lots and sold to African-American workers for $50 a lot. This area was officially named the Colored Addition in the county records in April of 1910. The original settlers of the Colored Addition were Pete McDade, George Caldwell, Will Smith, Ned Tyson, Willie Allen and their families.

Around the same time, St. Mary’s Baptist Church was built to serve the settlement. Ten years later in 1920, St. Matthew’s Missionary Church was constructed. A third church, the African-American Methodist Episcopal Church was also added. These churches served members who lived in various communities around Pflugerville. St. Mary’s Baptist Church also operated a general store in the fellowship hall. St. Mary’s Baptist Church was remodeled in 2000 and is located on 1202 W. Pecan St.