By Vanesa Brashier, editor@bluebonnetnews.com
Fire destroyed a 132-year-old church Sunday morning in Liberty County. Little Flock Baptist Church, located on CR 2192 near Rayburn, is nothing but charred rubble after fire swept through the foyer and sanctuary.
The fire was reported around 8:30 a.m. after a local realtor, Phillip Cameron, spotted smoke coming from the building.
Cameron was bringing feed to his horses when he saw what he thought were leaves burning beside the church.
“When I came around, I saw that the church was on fire,” Cameron said.
He knocked on the door of a neighbor, who called 911.
By the time firefighters arrived, fire had swept through the building, destroying all but the back portion where the church baptistery is located. A second building adjacent to the sanctuary that houses a kitchen and reception area was untouched.
Rev. L.D. Allen, church pastor, said the church is insured and will rebuild. The predominantly black congregation is made up of 20-25 regular church-goers but some 60 people are considered members of the church.
The church was established in 1887. A cement cornerstone that tells the church’s history was not destroyed.
Allen is saddened to see the historic church lost, but said, “Whatever the Good Lord lets happen, we’ll deal with it.”
Fire departments from Tarkington, North Liberty County, Cleveland and South Polk County responded.
According to Tarkington Fire Chief Paul Gregory, the state fire marshal’s office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) will be assisting Liberty County Fire Marshal Bill Hergemueller in investigating the cause of the fire.
There is very little left of the sanctuary at Little Flock Baptist Church after fire destroyed the building Sunday morning. 
Liberty County Fire Marshal Bill Hergemueller will work with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the ATF (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms) to determine the cause of a fire that destroyed Little Flock Baptist Church in Rayburn on Sunday. 
Tarkington Fire Chief Paul Gregory (maroon shirt) and Liberty County Fire Marshal Bill Hergemueller discuss a fire Sunday that destroyed the Little Flock Baptist Church in Rayburn. 
Firefighters are seen looking at the charred remains of a fire at Little Flock Baptist Church near Rayburn on Sunday. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time. 
Rev. L.D. Allen, pastor of Little Flock Baptist Church near Rayburn, talks to two other congregants while firefighters work to extinguish a fire that destroyed the church Sunday morning. 
The cornerstone at Little Flock Baptist Church tells the history of the church near Rayburn. The church was established in 1887. The pastor at that time was Rev. Ed Rayford. 
The sanctuary of Little Flock Baptist Church was destroyed by fire Sunday morning. The church was 132 years old. 
Cleveland Fire Chief Sean Anderson (left) watches as firefighters look for hot spots in the Little Flock Baptist Church near Rayburn. The church was destroyed by fire Sunday morning. 
Congregants of Little Flock Baptist Church could only watch as their historic church burned Sunday morning. No injuries were reported.