[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 140 (Monday, September 28, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING THE 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF BEECH CREEK BAPTIST CHURCH

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                            HON. BRIAN BABIN

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 28, 2015

  Mr. BABIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and celebrate the 
160th Homecoming and Anniversary of the Beech Creek Baptist Church, in 
Spurger, Texas.
   Charter members were James G. Collier, his wife Elizabeth Collier, 
his half-sister Mary Caswell, his stepmother Mary Keith, his daughter 
Lucy Ratcliff, his brother Thomas Collier and his nieces Volumnia 
Freeman and Mary Baker.
   With no Baptist church in this area at the time, eight community 
members came together on September 24, 1855 to organize a church by the 
name of Beech Creek.
   As the oldest Baptist Church in Tyler County with complete records 
of its existence, Beech Creek is an important and treasured place of 
worship for our area.
   As we pause to celebrate another important milestone, let us 
remember those who faithfully and humbly came before us in service to 
God at Beech Creek Baptist Church.

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