First Baptist Church of Grapeland. As Baptists from surrounding rural communities began to move to the thriving railroad town of Grapeland, the need for a Baptist church in town led to the establishment of this congregation in 1891. Services were held in the public school until 1909 when a frame building was completed. Destroyed by fire in 1948, it was replaced in 1949. Many community leaders and their descendants were members of this church, which has sustained a full-time pastor since 1924. The church was instrumental in establishing a mission to the area in 1986 and continues to serve the public. #11215