Church History



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.

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.

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.

Now under Pastor Dante Wright's progressive leadership, Sweet Home finds herself in a pivotal position in this dramatically growing town. From the small historic town it once was to the large-scale developments taking place all over the city, Sweet Home resembles this parallel. From a humble beginning, yet with each passing year, she is casting a larger presence and writing a more enduring legacy in the Round Rock community.

The rich fragrance of our name “Sweet” Home clearly conveys that “… we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.” (2 Corinthians 2:15.)