Over 100 Years

of History

January 8, 1905

From the rural farming town of Sprinkle, Texas, just nine miles northeast of Austin, the Reverend S. W. Wormley traveled to Round Rock to become the first pastor of the second black Baptist church. Upon arriving in the city named for the large anvil-shaped limestone rock in Brushy Creek, he met with a committee of area religious leaders: the Rev. L. L. Campbell, Moderator; Rev. Sam Clark, Vice Moderator; Rev. Archie Shackles, and Deacon Davis of Taylor. That was January 8, 1905.

These leaders led twenty-two enthusiastic Christians, former members of the Good Hope Baptist Church to organize. At her conception, Bro. Mitchell Mays donated the land and befittingly named this new assembly, Sweet Home Baptist Church. This “sweet” haven securely bound the members in unity to support their spiritual, educational, social, political and cultural needs. Sweet Home’s wealth of “all things common” was and remains a testimony of God’s grace, mercy and provision.

The Early 1940’s

In the early 1940’s, the congregation purchased a Lutheran Church building from Hutto, TX and moved it to their location at 706 West Morrell. The church sat on this corner until 1960 when it was moved farther back on the property to make room for I-35. The address changed to 700 S. I-35 at McNeil Road. Sweet Home would remain at this location for 80 years.

Move to Deepwood Drive

After careful searching because of increased growth, a new facility was purchased on May 12, 1985. Sweet Home members made the 1.2 mile candlelight march to 800 Deepwood Drive.

Participants ranged from infancy to age 79.  This site served Sweet Home for twenty-two years until the last service, September 16, 2007.

Under the progressive and visionary leadership of Pastor Dante D. Wright I, the Sweet Home congregation again found that it had outgrown its current worship space. Like the city in which it was founded, the small historic church’s growth paralleled the explosive growth of the city.

Expanding to Hester’s Crossing

The last service was held at the 800 Deepwood Drive location on Sunday, September 16, 2007. The church then moved to a temporary location at 2000 S. I-H 35 in Round Rock; commonly referred to as Hester’s Crossing.

On Saturday, December 11, 2010, at high noon, with many of the area’s dignitaries on hand, the church conducted the Groundbreaking Ceremony for its new worship center at 3200 Sunrise Road.

Landing on Sunrise

The groundbreaking for 3200 Sunrise Road was held on Saturday, December 11, 2020. This would be the first phase in what is to become an entire worship center complex. Then, on Sunday, July 15, 2012, the inaugural worship service was held in the new facility, with the Grand Opening celebrated on Sunday, November 11, 2012.

The new facility was designated the Brian Waters Multipurpose Center in recognition of one the church’s major benefactors. It seats up to 900 worshipers and 100 choir members. The facility also houses a Church History Museum, Youth Chapel, beauty salon, fitness center, and daycare center. The Brian Waters Multipurpose Center is truly a great resource for the over 2,400 members we service.

The Legacy Continues

As Christian Disciples, what will our children say about us when we are gone? Will our descendants have stories of us being servants unto the Lord, giving generously, and taking care of this House of God by developing a solid physical and financial foundation upon which they can build?