Giddings, Lee County
The La Grange Baptist District Association of Texas was organized in 1874. That same year, land was purchased in Giddings for a church that had recently been organized in a private home. A church building was soon erected, located south of the courthouse in a section of town known as The Flat. At the first service held in the new church, a name was adopted, Willow Grove Baptist Church. Also at that service, the Rev. I. Tolliver was named minister. Some years later, another church located in The Flat, St. Paul Chapel, and the Willow Grove Baptist Church merged to form one congregation. The church moved to its present site, at the corner of West Dallas and Hempstead streets. Following the union of the two congregations, the name was changed to Bethel Union Baptist Church. The official organization date of the church is 1886. The church continued to serve its community for a number of years. Eventually, part of the congregation left to form another congregation. Additional property was added to the church in 1911, 1940, 1942, and 1943. Five former pastors of Bethel Union Baptist Church have served as moderators of the La Grange Baptist District Association. Texas Sesquicentennial 1836 - 1986