Little is known of the history of the Elgin church prior to 1920. We do know that there were small congregations of believers in Cedar Valley and near Young's Prairie cemetery on FM 1704. These were loosely connected with the Elgin church since the Bogan, Hibbs, Robbins and O'Conner families have some roots there.

It is known that there was a congregation who met in Elgin prior to 1920. It is reported that they owned a building located somewhere in the triangle bounded by the Old McDade Road, East Brenham, and South Avenue F. However, the building was sold and the church disbanded after a brother Gillespie, a leader with them, moved to Columbus.

By about 1921, brother Luther Norman was preaching to a group of saints who met in the Christian Church building on Sunday afternoons. Later, about 1924-1925, this group began to meet in the upstairs room of the First State Bank building (now Community Bank) on Main Street. This group was led by brother M.L. Singleton. He was the only man among the small group of four or five women. About this time, Iva (Bogan) O'Conner and Edgar O'Conner (Joseph O'Conner's parents) began to meet with the group as well. Then, the group met in the Presbyterian church building on Sunday afternoons. While there, brother Ben Holland (English professor at U.T.) would come each Sunday and preach for the church. He served as a intenerate type preacher speaking not only here, but in McDade and Cedar Valley as well. Brothers Singleton, J.D. Bailey and Jim Taylor were among the men who were active in leadership during the 1920s and 1930s.

It was about 1929 that brother Singleton was able to secure a gift of a piece of property from brother Gillespie who had already moved away. He then sold this land, and purchased the property where the church building presently stands on North Avenue C. In about 1930-1931, the first building was erected. It was a simple rectangular wooden structure built on cedar piers. Its cost was $900. Later, after the second world war, an annex was added.

Another family that was instrumental in the church at this time was the Fitzpatrick family. Our own Thelma Harrison (now deceased) was their daughter.

During the mid-1940s, brother Jack Sears came every Sunday and stayed all day with families of the church, preached both morning and evening services, then returned to Austin. From about 1946-1948 brother Roger McCown would come from Austin each Sunday to preach for the congregation. Then, brother Frank Cox would come on a regular basis from Austin to preach during the years of 1948-1950.

But it was in 1950 when brother Dick Berry became the first located minister, although he had to continue with his State employment to support himself and his family. Brethren J.A. Cottle and J.D. Bailey were, also about this time, appointed elders, the first the church in Elgin had, so far as is known.

In 1951 the church employed brother Ross Meredith as their first, full-time, located minister. At that time the church had a membership of 55 with an average weekly contribution of about $75.00. In 1956 brother Raymond DeSpain became the second full-time minister. The church was growing to the extent that a preacher's home was purchased, and in 1958 the present church building was erected.

Brother DeSpain was followed by Jim Dewbre, Dave Oakley, Rob Pitts, Jesse Fonville, Gaston Welborn, Jerry Pearson, Larry Davidson, Phil Ware, Lloyd Massie, Hal Thaker, Tom Nuckels, and our present minister John Poole.

Over the years, the church has grown and so has the need for larger facilities, prompting the brethren to purchase property to the southeast corner of the block, where, in 1991, a nice 4,000 square feet multi-purpose building or Family Center was erected. It has served both the congregation and the community in many ways over the years. Then, in 1997, the Daughtry property just to the northeast of this building was purchased as we look forward with vision and faith towards the future continued growth of the Elgin church.

Tom Nuckels