New Hope Baptist Church, Lampasas, Texas
A congregation founded in 1869 by formerly enslaved residents of East Lampasas.
A church at the heart of East Lampasas
The New Hope Baptist Church congregation was formed during the Reconstruction Era, in 1869, by formerly enslaved residents of Lampasas who settled in what became known as East Lampasas, an almost entirely Black community after emancipation. The congregation was first known as the “Colored Church of Lampasas.”
For generations the church baptized new members in Sulphur Creek, and it celebrated 100 years in Lampasas in 1969. Rev. Spencer J. Majors Sr. served as its pastor for 23 years. The church stands next to the Lampasas Colored School, and the two buildings anchored East Lampasas side by side.
The congregation was founded by formerly enslaved people in 1869. The building standing today dates to the 1920s.
Quick facts
| Name | New Hope Baptist Church (first known as the “Colored Church of Lampasas”) |
|---|---|
| Address | 602 College Street, Lampasas, Texas 76550, next to the Lampasas Colored School |
| Organized | 1869, in East Lampasas |
| Founders | Formerly enslaved residents of Lampasas |
| Present building | Reported to date from the 1920s |
| Owner today | City of Lampasas since 2021; transfer to LCS approved June 22, 2026 |
New Hope through the years
- 1869
New Hope Baptist Church is organized in East Lampasas by formerly enslaved residents during Reconstruction. A 2022 City of Lampasas proclamation gives the date as April 10, 1869.
- About 1890
A quitclaim deed conveys the church property on College Street, the earliest record of the church on its land.
- 1920s
The church building standing today is reported to date from this decade.
- 1969
The Lampasas Record marks the church’s 100th anniversary in an article titled “100 Years in Lampasas.”
- Recent decades
Rev. Spencer J. Majors Sr. serves as the church’s pastor for 23 years. In 2025 he tells KXXV News that the church “should be a monument.”
- 2021
On the City Manager’s recommendation, Rev. Majors, Deacon Cuffie and longtime members convey the church to the City of Lampasas as a historic landmark to continue its legacy.
- 2022
On April 25, Mayor TJ Monroe reads a proclamation honoring the church’s founding, more than 150 years of worship, weddings, funerals and family gatherings, and its baptisms in Sulphur Creek.
- 2023
Preservation Texas lists the Historic Resources of East Lampasas, including New Hope, among the state’s Most Endangered Places.
- 2026
On January 28 the City states its intent to grant the church and the Lampasas Colored School to LCS. On June 22 the City Council votes unanimously to approve the transfer.
Preserving a sacred landmark
Lampasas Colored School (LCS) Inc. is honored to be the steward of New Hope Baptist Church. We want to restore the church, tell the story of the families who worshipped there, and open it to the community once again. If you or your family have photos or memories of New Hope, we would love to hear from you.
Sources and further reading
- City of Lampasas, City Council minutes, April 25, 2022 (New Hope proclamation), March 22, 2021, and June 22, 2026.
- Preservation Texas, “Historic Resources of East Lampasas” (Most Endangered Places, 2023).
- KXXV 25 News, “Longtime pastor reflects on New Hope Baptist Church’s legacy in Lampasas,” February 13, 2025.
- Lampasas Record, “100 Years in Lampasas,” August 14, 1969.