The Old Walnut Springs Baptist Church

1885-1949/ 1949-October 11th 2026

Walnut Springs Baptist Church was established in 1885, and for generations its congregation worshiped in a beautiful wooden sanctuary crowned by a tall steeple. In 1922, the steeple was removed after being damaged by a cyclone.

By the late 1940s, the congregation recognized the need for a new sanctuary. During construction, Sunday services were held in the town fire hall while the old building was demolished. Lifelong member Charles Gilbreath remembered that season of transition, while another longtime member, Garland Morrison, recalled hauling bricks in a wheelbarrow as a child to help build the new church.

The cornerstone of the present sanctuary was laid in 1949, and the building soon became a cherished home for worship, fellowship, weddings, funerals, baptisms, and countless memories shared by the Walnut Springs church family.

On Sunday, October 11, 2026, the 1949 sanctuary will host its final service as an active worship center. Though its future purpose remains uncertain, the building will remain standing as a lasting reminder of the faithfulness, sacrifice, and devotion of those who built and sustained it.

On Sunday, October 18, 2026, the congregation will begin a new chapter in its new sanctuary. Please join us at 10:45 a.m. for the dedication service. It will be a historic and meaningful moment for our church family as we honor the past and look forward to the future.