Some of the deacons at that time were: John Allen Shadrick, Billy Updack, Billy Ingram, Marion Baston, Horace Baker and Allen York. The membership included six deacons and a church mother, Sister Littie Patterson. Members of this group pooled their ideas, talents, and work ethic, which resulted in the construction of a little wooden church on a hill on the present-day ACR 2409. “So minute is His providential care that “the very hairs of our head are all numbered” (Matthew 10:30, Acts 27:34, Luke 21:18, Daniel 3:27).Ī group of former slaves from the Oldham and Hamlett Plantations near Montalba, who were Christian believers with spiritual needs and ideas, began to yearn for a place to worship. Providence is the basis of religion, especially of revealed religion: “the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will” (Daniel 4:32). “He that denies providence denies God’s attributes, His omniscience which is the eye of providence, His mercy and justice, which are arms of providence, His power which is its life and motion, His wisdom which is the propeller whereby providence is steered.

Providence displays God’s omnipresence, holiness, justice and benevolence. The church was named for the existence of “PROVIDENCE” that is proved by God’s power, wisdom, knowledge and love. The first burials in the cemetery were Harriett Patterson-Hamlett on November 26, 1893, Lilly Robinson on June 22, 1894, Scott Brown on Jand Mollie Robinson on November 7, 1896. A school building also occupied part of the cemetery land in the early 1900s. There is another Providence Cemetery located near Slocum.Ī portion of the property was used for the Providence Baptist Church site for many years, until the church was relocated to FM 321 in the 1950s. It is also known as Coleman # 3 or Providence (at Montalba). It sits on a hill and there is a pond nearby. The cemetery is completely fenced in on all four sides and the grass is maintained very well. The property deed is listed in Property Deed Book - Volume 43, page 281, in the Anderson County Clerk’s office. The church trustees were Marion Baston, Joseph Thomas and Henry Day. Oldham sold 4.8 acres, for the sum of twenty-three dollars to Providence Missionary Baptist Church on January 10, 1890. Providence Cemetery was established in 1890. Nathan Oggs was the first pastor in 1865.

It was begun with a chartered membership of twenty churchgoers. This was within two months after the slaves were freed in Texas on June 19, 1865. Providence Missionary Baptist Church was established on August 13, 1865. HISTORY OF THE PROVIDENCE MISSIONARY BAPTIST CHURCH Written and documented by Reggie Browne and Sherron Gardner-Haggertyįirst written in 2010 / Revised: July 25, 2015

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