Celebrating its 150th anniversary, Spring Creek Baptist Church represents a rural pillar of faith & community as the river runs through it in Bosque County

As you enter the small church building, surrounded by live oak trees, grass fields, you can’t help but notice the impressive, enlightened painting covering the entire wall behind the altar of the Jordan River. It seems like the river is flowing right into the baptistery. The painting is all the more appropriate, bringing a river into a church called Spring Creek Baptist.

On a beautiful Sunday morning May 26, the congregation, former congregational members and well-wishers gathered in one of the remaining pillars of the small Bosque County community, to celebrate the church’s 150th anniversary. It was a true reunion of young and old with ties to the church; like Margie and Terry Flory who were part of the congregation for 25 years. They rejoiced in the sweet, sweet spirit of the church. And on this glorious, celebratory day, one of the hymns sung during the service couldn’t have been more fitting.

“Shall we gather at the river, where bright angel feet have trod; with its crystal tide forever, flowing by the throne of God? Yes, we'll gather at the river, the beautiful, the beautiful river; gather with the saints at the river that flows by the throne of God. On the margin of the river, washing up its silver spray, we will walk and worship ever, all the happy golden day. Ere we reach the shining river, lay we ev'ry burden down; grace our spirits will deliver, and provide a robe and crown. Soon we'll reach the shining river, soon our pilgrimage will cease; soon our happy hearts will quiver with the melody of peace.”

Mary Cree Cosby. Cosby started baptistery painting at the age of 56, and in her lifetime painted 411 of them - many depicting the River Jordan. As the site of the baptism of Jesus Christ, the Jordan River is the source of all holy water in Christianity. The Spring Creek Church painting dating from 1952 was discovered, rolled up in storage and lovingly restored by Nell Bates in 1999. Now the holy river looks to be flowing its message of cleansing and freedom straight into the baptistery.

On this 150th milestone of the community’s lighthouse, representative for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, Dr. Roy Cotton offered congratulations from the convention’s 21st Executive Director Dr. Julio Guarneri.

“You continue to make an impact, tough lives and transforming a relationship with Jesus,” Cotton said. “Today we celebrate the past and look forward to the future.” Former Pastor G.W. McDowell was present offering the opening prayer.

A community established in 1870 after the Civil War, on church, school, cotton and corn, everything in the Spring Creek Community in Bosque County in the community revolved around the family, the farm, the church, the attached school and later the community post office. Four acres of land already being used for religious and educational activities was bought for $5 from J.F. Williamson, one of the nine charter members. In the 1870s, the place of worship and school at Spring Creek was a one-room wooden building 100 yards from the creek bed in a grove of live oak trees.

Founded as Spring Creek Missionary Baptist Church of Christ on May 24, 1874, the church had the purpose of providing “a congregation of baptized believers, associated by covenant in the faith and fellowship of the Gospel.” It became Bosque County’s 11th Baptist church. Located next to the structure was the community cemetery, which received a Texas historical marker in 1987.

“According to local tradition, the first burial was that of a horse thief hanged in the vicinity,” the marker states. “The earliest marked tombstone however, is that of two-year old Will Bullard who died in 1881. In its role as a reflection of the area’s heritage, Spring Creek Cemetery is the burial site of many early settlers, war veterans, school teachers and church members. “Many of the early burials were of children under the age of six.

Cemetery work days is another for Spring Creek residents to visit with other community members as they rake the grass, pull weeds and do repairs. This tradition on the first Saturday in May has survived time, and is still a bi-annual affair for the present Spring Creek Baptist Church congregation. Other recurring traditions are the Pot luck lunch last Sunday of the month following the service, the annual fall fish fry and the annual spring wild game dinner.

Even though the Baptists owned the land and the building, joint-use of three different Protestant religious denominations – Baptists, Methodists and Primitive Baptists holding religious services on alternating Sundays continued for the next 26 years. Because, for most Spring Creek residents found the general worship and socializing before and after the service more important than adhering to a certain doctrine. But finally in 1909, the new Baptist church house – the present building – was dedicated.

Whereas dancing was frowned upon with the Protestants, singing was encouraged, especially through hymns. Revivals were held during the cotton crop laying-by time, when the farmers could be absent for several days. The revival events usually ran from Sunday to Sunday, with services every night. The revivals usually concluded with baptisms of church members. An open-air covered tabernacle for summer services and revivals was built in 1916, but unfortunately could not stand the passing of time.

After the depression, WWI and WWII many youths moved away to gain better paid employment outside of their community, and county. The Spring Creek School consolidated with the Iredell Independent School district sometime in the 1930s. Additionally, agriculture was moving from small acreage farms to larger highly mechanized, irrigated larger farms.

In Bosque County, much tilled land reverted to pasturage for raising livestock. And the Spring Creek community began its decline. The Post Office and local store at “the crossroads” which sold gasoline shut down. The initial membership was nine people, growing to 126 in 1910, only to drop to 23 in 1926. The church closed because of lack of attendance in 1970.

But because Bosque County remained instilled in their souls, and many returned to enjoy retirement here the church reopened in 1986. Since the reorganization, an active church meeting every Sunday since that time and a member of the Bosque Baptist Association. The church was incorporated in 2016 under the name Spring Creek Baptist Church of Bosque County.

Since then, it has been an active church meeting every Sunday with its congregation, loving members who cherish their little church in the country side and embrace its motto Experience Family, Experience Faith, Experience Spring Creek. The church seeks to be a caring community, coming together to grow in faith, hope, and love, that they might serve and witness to one another, our county, and the world in the name and way of Jesus Christ.

Over the years the church opened its doors to Divinity graduate students of the George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University, giving them an opportunity to go grow as preachers and ministers while they study; offering them the practical training and experience they require.

The church’s present pastor since Feb. 2023, Kevin Brown attends both Baylor University pursuing a Masters in Business Administration and a Masters of Divinity. After serving in the United States Army from 1995 to 2010, he went in to ministry. Currently, Brown and his family live in Waco.

Freida Golden is a fourth-generation member of the church and is keeper of records as it were, gathering articles, photos and minutes from the past. She is an invaluable source of church history for the congregation members and preachers alike. In the former school house, which received a beautiful double door entrance recently, she has a wall dedicated to the church and congregation’s history.

Visitors to the 150th anniversary celebration enjoyed reminiscing over the photographs on display before the delicious barbecue lunch. While Golden was not able to attend because of illness, her daughter Jessica Robinson and her family were there to celebrate their church.

Today, the Spring Creek Baptist Church remains a very important hub for the residents living close by. It is also the place of worship for area church goers, who enjoy the long and winding meditative drive, deep into the serene and beautiful heart of Bosque County. They experience the presence of the Lord traveling through the beauty of the countryside, long before they enter the sanctuary. And the baptistery painting, the cemetery, the bell tower alone are worth the scenic drive through Bosque County to the church.

Former piano player for the church and a visitor to the 150th anniversary, Ronnie Cosper has seven generations of family laid to rest in the cemetery, from his great-grandfather to a son and grandson, making the pilgrimage to the small country church all the more worthwhile.

Services are held in the main Church at 11 a.m. on Sundays. Sunday School meets in the main Church at 10 a.m. Follow special events through the church’s Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/SpringCreekBaptistChurchandCemeteryBosqueCounty/

Photos by SIMONE WICHERS-VOSS

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