First Independent Baptist Church

Feb 1

CORSICANA (NAVARRO COUNTY)

The First Independent Baptist Church (FIBC) in Corsicana was completed in 1918 to serve a congregation originally established in 1868. Throughout its history, the church has hosted numerous civil rights meetings and community gatherings, playing a vital role in the life of the local African American community. The building continues to be actively used by the congregation today.

In 2022, FIBC received a $75,000 grant from Preservation Texas’s Rural African American Heritage Grants Program to address water infiltration that was causing structural damage and deteriorating the building’s interior. The rehabilitation project included partial roof replacement, installation of new flashing, and replacement of rotted fascia boards around the roof’s perimeter.

In addition, Preservation Texas has worked with FIBC and other partners to prepare a National Register of Historic Places nomination for the church. The nomination was approved by the State Board of Review on May 17th and is currently under consideration by the National Park Service for official designation.

As of June 2025, Preservation Texas holds a conservation easement on the First Independent Baptist Church property. This easement will be monitored and enforced over a ten-year term to help ensure the long-term protection of this historic landmark.