The beginning of the old Shiloh Baptist Church

Tradition has held that the Shiloh Baptist Church was organized in the 1840s. That tradition is proven correct. The date of the church’s organization is mentioned in a report of a protracted meeting held in 1855, in a letter to the Tennessee Baptist periodical, from its pastor William Guinn and church clerk A. M. McKnight.

“This church was constituted seven years ago, on thirteen members, five males and eight females...”

Seven years from March 1855 would put the organization of Shiloh Church in 1848 (possibly even 1847, if they are using rough rounding). (According to Sarah McKnight’s obituary, the McKnight family arrived in Texas in 1847.)

I was not surprised that the tradition is correct and the church is that early. I was just surprised that I found it! I was looking for something else – and found that and this as well. (Ephesians 3:20)

The pastor, William Guinn, in 1860 lived up the road near Clayton in Panola County (but earlier was in Rusk County; San Cosme, 1856; Mt. Enterprise, 1857). He was from Tennessee. The church clerk, Andrew M. McKnight, was born in Georgia and came to Texas from Alabama in 1847. The McKnights lived in the Shiloh area somewhere (their post office was Minden). Andrew married Sarah Ann Hudman in 1840. In the 1850 census they are enumerated in Rusk County next to Josiah Johnson, the man who gave six acres of land to the deacons and members of Shiloh Baptist Church in 1857. In 1860 they are enumerated between Wiley Astin Parker and G. C. Anderson. Andrew McKnight died between the 1860 and 1870 censuses (some sources give 1860 and some 1862).

Tennessee Baptist, Saturday, March 10, 1855, p. 4.