Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church

Sweet Home Missionary Baptist Church is located at 1725 West 11th Street in the heart of Clarksville. It was established not long after Clarksville was settled in 1871, and immediately became the cornerstone of the community and the focus its social life.

Because the congregation did not have enough money to buy land much less construct a church building after they established their church, early prayer and fellowship meetings took place in the home of Clarksville residents, Edwin and Mary Smith. The Smith’s home is now known as the Haskell House.

According to oral history, Mary Smith used to step outside her home every morning to sing the Christian spiritual “Give Me Jesus.” Other Clarksville women would join her in song. First published in 1835, “Give Me Jesus,” became popular among Black congregations.

In July 1882, church members paid $50 cash for the land where Sweet Home now sits. Initially, services were often held there under a brush arbor, but eventually, residents had the funds to construct a church building. Jacob Fontaine, who began the Gold Dollar, Austin's first Black newspaper, was Sweet Home’s first minister.

The current church building was constructed in 1935. It is the third building and the first that faces north. The first two faced east.

Sweet Home continues to hold worship services every Sunday starting at 11AM. Bible Study happens every Wednesday. The church also hosts the popular annual Peace Through Pie event in celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday. The event is a fundraiser for the church. Reverend Steve Manning is the current Pastor at Sweet Home.