|
First Baptist Church Denison, Texas The Denison Herald Sunday morning, June 25, 1972 FIRST BAPTIST LARGEST DENISON CHURCH "The church house on Main Street was used today for public worship at 11 a.m. with preached by the pastor from Matthew 16-24." The work of Denison First Baptist Church, as shown by that notation from the church minutes for June 20, 1875, continues in 1972 to be a vital part of the community. One of the city's largest congregations with 2,163 members, First Baptist has had a history marked by growth since its organization in 1875. Joe Dee Ray became pastor in February 1972. In addition to its regular church program Sunday School, Christian Training Program, mission auxiliaries, and mide-week family night, the church has made tentative plans for a new edudcational building. Formed March 28, 1875 by uniting two churches, Enon Baptist Church and a earlier First Baptist, the merged church first adopted the name "Denison Baptist Church." Later it was officially changed to First Baptist Church of Denison. The church met for the first 3 months in Good Templar Hall until June 20, 1875, when it occupied their first house of worship at 631 West Main street. That frame structure was used until May 1883 when a wind storm destroyed it. In August 1883 lots on Woodard street at Mirick avenue were acquired and the church was to keep this as its location. The first church built there was dedicated in March 1885, and it served the congregation for over 20 years. A building committe was appointed in 1907 and work began on a new red brick building which was to serve the church for the next 50 years.  Raxed in 1957 - After housing the First Baptist congregation for a half century, this sanctuary at the corner of Mirick and Woodard was dismantled in 1957 to make way for the present ornate church. The third First Baptist Church was razed in early 1957 and construction began on the present church plant which was occupied in the fall of 1958. Two education buildings are now a part of the church facilities, the Laura A. McCarthy Memorial Building and another educational structure in 1950. The plans for construction of the new educational building included a chapel, classrooms and offices. Throughout its existence, First Baptist's activities have included a strong interest in mission work. Church minutes, even from the earliest days, include many references to offerings for county, state and foreign missions. The church has also worked with missions in Denison including The Bond Street Mission, Jail Mission and Crockett Avenue Mission, now Calvary Baptist Church. The church budget for 1972, which exceeds $117,000 has over $21,000 allocated for mission causes. Rev. Ray, who came to Denison from First Baptist Church in Borger, is the 23rd pastor of the local church. A native of Colorado, Rev. Ray gradiated from Oklahoma Baptist University and received a Bachelor of Divinity and Masters of Religious Education from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth. Active in denominational activities including the executive committee of the Baptist General convention of Texas, Rev. Ray is married and has 4 daughters. Even in the noisy frontier  First Baptist Church History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |