By Terri Jo Ryan

Tribune-Herald staff writer

Chalk Bluff Baptist Church marks a centennial of sorts this weekend: It has been 100 years this month since it moved to 5993 Gholson Road and adopted its current name.

The present church, constructed in 1980 largely through volunteer labor on the same spot, is only a few miles from the congregation’s original birthplace in rural McLennan County.

According to the church’s records, on June 26, 1870, 13 men and women met at White Rock settlement (about 10 miles north of Waco) to organize White Rock Baptist Church and appoint Thomas Hooker as its pastor.

Church records from those early years show several incidents of leaders having to eject members for dancing, smoking, drinking, profanity, gambling, brawling, heresy, “Sabbath-breaking” and even “playing the violin at a ball.”

But they also testify to the ministers ordained, revivals held, souls saved and lives improved through the Christian service of its members, and the collections taken up for missionary work.

To accommodate growth in membership, the congregation was split in two in 1908, with half forming the new Chalk Bluff Baptist Church and the others founding First Baptist Church of Elm Mott. Chalk Bluff moved to 5993 Gholson Road; the Elm Mott congregation made its home at 122 W. Main St. in Elm Mott.

In the wee hours of June 6, 1934, the Chalk Bluff sanctuary burned down. The congregation continued to meet at a nearby school until the church was rebuilt that year.

In late 1979, the sanctuary erected in 1934 was moved to the back of the church property (where it serves today as the youth building) to make way for a new brick sanctuary.

The fact that the congregation is currently without a pastor didn’t slow down the anniversary team, according to longtime member Jane Strickland.

To celebrate the Chalk Bluff Baptist Centennial, she added, the church is conducting a free Community Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, which is open to the public. Activities include games, a bake-off, archery, hayrides and more. For more information, call the church at 799-1594.

The centennial celebration continues Sunday with Bible Study at 9:45 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m., followed by a lunch, music and reminiscing. It will conclude with a 2 p.m. worship service.

tjryan@wacotrib.com

757-5746