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First Baptist Church of Port Aransas

200 North Station Street
361-749-6479

History : 

In 1954, the congregation of the First Baptist Church decided that they would become an extension church of the First Baptist Church of Aransas Pass who would be "the mother church" but be known as a body of believers of the First Baptist Church of Port Aransas.  The first organized church service was on Easter Sunday, April 18, 1954 held at Mr. And Mrs. Theo Bozeman's home with Mr. L.K. Neely presiding.  There were 10 original members:

Mr. and Mrs. L.K. Neely, Mr. And Mrs. Theo Bozeman, Mr. and Mrs. M.E. Coleman,

Mr. C.W. Belcher, Mrs. E.L. Shepard, Mrs. J.W. Belcher, Mrs. E.O. Cobb.

Prior to that time, the dedicated Baptists had been meeting in Port Aransas (called Tarpon in the early days) since 1907.  Meetings were in individual homes, open-air services on land that had been acquired on Alister Street, rent houses, or where ever they could gather.

Preaching was by missionaries from the Blanco Baptist Association, students from the University of Corpus Christi (now Texas A&M, Corpus Christi), and temporary visiting pastors from throughout the state.

Once the decision had been made to become the First Baptist Church of Port Aransas, the property on Alister was put up for sale.  Plans for a 30' by 60' church building were made. Two lots were purchased across from the schoolhouse. Five thousand dollars was borrowed to build the new church. Until the new building was completed, worship service and Sunday School were held in the rent house of Mr. M.E. Coleman.

First Baptist Church of Portland, Texas donated benches. The church joined the Blanco Baptist Association.  Mr. Ronald Griffen became the permanent pastor. In September 1954, there were 26 members on the church rolls.

The church building was completed in 1955.  It was composed of a worship center and two small classrooms.  The adjacent lot was used for parking and further expansion of the church activities. The building continued in use as a worship center until October 2000. The original parking area is now where the existing worship center is presently located.  The original church building has been divided into three adult classrooms and a small storage area and is in use today.

 The first parsonage was a house that was built by the church adjacent to the original church building. The parsonage was used as the domicile of the pastors and church workers throughout the years until November 1993. Due to the increased membership of families with small children, the church body decided that the two-bedroom home would make an excellent nursery. Renovations began. In January 1994, renovations were completed and Nursery operations were moved from the present mail/copy room located on the first floor of the Education Building to the new facility. To provide housing for our pastor, a new parsonage was acquired in August 1998.