Listed in Arkansas Register of Historic Places on 09/04/94

ELABORATION

The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church is significant under Criterion A for its direct association with the historic African-American community in the Sherrill area of Jefferson County. The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church was founded in 1868 by Reverend Louis Mazique and a small frame building was constructed northwest of the current building. Later, a school and parsonage were erected on the property; however, these buildings were removed in the 1920's. In 1915, Reverend Dan Moore provided plans for a new church, and two carpenters were hired to build the new facility (a third was called into the army). The men of the congregation assisted in the construction and helped fabricate the concrete blocks, which were made on site, and haul sand from a nearby stream in mule-driven wagons. In 1918 the new church was completed and the cornerstone laid. The congregation at that time included the Mazique, Freeman, Sanders, Madlock, Reed, Vincin, Maxwell, Lovelace, and Hoover families.

The Antioch Missionary Baptist Church continues to serve the religious needs of African-American Baptists in the Sherrill community and is the best visible link with their long and distinguished history.

This church is ineligible for inclusion in the National Register in its current condition because of numerous alterations to both the exterior and the interior. As a result, the structure no longer accurately reflects its historic appearance. Most of the changes are reversible, and a sensitive restoration based on historic photographs would enable this property to be placed on the National Register.