New Hope Baptist Church - Alto, Texas

Church History

Alto was founded by Col. Robert F. Mitchell who came to this area with 10 slaves in 1837. Capt. Henry Berryman, who settled near Linwood and built Forest Hill Plantation, had some 20 slaves. The New Hope Baptist church was organized around 1871. The first services were held under traditional Brush Arbor. The newly freed Black citizens were preached to by Rev. Henry Martin, a white Baptist minister, who pastured the Old Palestine Baptist church near Linwood, Texas. Linwood was located East of Alto on Hwy. 21, the El Camino Real.

The Rev. Jesse Tyler, the first Black Minister and his wife Malinda, led the first recognized church unit until his death in 1881. Rev. Tyler and his wife are buried in the New Hope Cemetery under a lone Cedar tree. In August 1887 the Deacons of New Hope Baptist Church purchased 7 acres of land from D. S. Findley and his wife L. A. Findley, this tract was next to the Alto Colored Cemetery. These men were Alford Gibson, Jack Gordon, Sam Griffin, Robert Tyler, Isaac Sparks and Frank E. Selman. The Rev. Jeff Brown led the new effort until 1902 when Rev. L. B. Fennell became Pastor. This land is the site of the present day church.

In Oct. 1010, the Church building was destroyed by fire. In 1911 under the leadership of Rev. Jeff Brown a new Church building was completed. During the period 1940 to 1946 this great Church had to depend on the strong Black women to carry on turning World War II. Enough can’t be said for these women who persevered during these hard times.

In the mid Sixties progress came to North Alto, with the widening of State Highway 69. This was good news for the traveling public, but for New Hope Community it cause the Church to be moved, and the New Hope Cemetery had several graves that had to be moved, because of the loss of land. In 1988 the Church Building that had the Grand Ole bell that alerted the community for so many years burned. This building that held so many Graduations for the Booker T. Washington School. This great landmark was lost to fire, and the Great Bell was stolen by thief.

In 1989 the present Church building was built under the leadership of T. J. Bagley. This Fine church has been pastured by some 18 great preachers, and guided by some devoted Deacons during its history.

Reverend:

Jesse Tyler, 1871 - 1881 W. R. Neal, 1923 -1925

Jeff Brown, 1882 - 1902 J. W. Presley, 1925 - 1928

L. B. Fennell, 1903 - 1905 Wm. Tensley, 1928 - 1929

H. Y. Martin, 1906 - 1909 E. O. Sweet, 1929 - 1951

G. T. Brown, 1910 - 1911 E. C. Hawkins, 1951 - 1952

Jeff Brown, 1911 - 1915 B. G. Dansby, 1952 - 1966

E. M. Griggs, 1915 - 1917 T. J. Bagley, 1966 - 1989

Wm. Tensley, 1917 - 1921 K. B. Clater, 1989 - 1999

A. T. Stewart, 1921 - 1923 T. D. Clater, 1999 -

Deacons: