Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church

Priddy, where the congregation moved in 1929, lies on State Highway 16 and Farm Road 218 in northeast Mills County. It was named for Thomas Jefferson Priddy, a pioneer Baptist preacher and Texas Ranger. The first homes in the community went up in the early 1880s, built mainly by German settlers, and Priddy himself became the first postmaster in 1892. Growth was slow: in 1910 the community had a store, a gin and sixty people. It counted 170 residents in 1930 and 150 in 1947, and reported 215 from 1980 through 2000.

What the plaque says

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church In the 1870s and 1880s many settlers of German ancestry began arriving in this area. In 1889, under the leadership of The Rev. R. Seils, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church was organized. Early worship services were held in the Bismark schoolhouse (approx. 2 mi. S). Beginning with twenty-three charter members, the congregation grew steadily. By 1892, a small sanctuary was constructed and a cemetery was established on the church property (2 mi. SW). Another group of families began meeting together for worship services in the Priddy community, and in December 1903 organized St. John's Lutheran Church. Services were held in the Becker Mountain schoolhouse (approx. 2 mi. E). Soon both German Lutheran congregations were being served by the same minister. In 1929 the Zion congregation moved to Priddy and built a new sanctuary. In 1941, by mutual consent, the Zion and St. John's congregations joined together to become one church under the Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church name. A part of Mills County history for generations, this church continues to serve the community with many forms of outreach. (1989)

Where it stands

More markers nearby

• Mount Olive Primitive Baptist Church and Cemetery — 6.1 mi
• Democrat Cemetery — 8.6 mi
• North Brown Cemetery — 9.1 mi
• Caradan Cemetery — 9.2 mi