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First Christian Church Denison, Texas  FIRST CHRISTIAN IS 55 YEARS OLD What is now the First Christian Church of Denison was organized in 1883 by Elder Stinson who served as the first pastor. The first building was on the corner of Armstrong and Crawford. The next building, purchased from the Cumberland Presbyterian Church was on the corner of Armstrong and Woodard where the church has been located since. This building was destroyed by fire in 1913. In the autumn of the same year the cornerstone for the present building was laid. The building was completed during the next year., W.D. Darnall, now pastor in Hugoton, Kansas, was pastor. There are no living charter members of the church. The membership now numbers 421 resident members and 66 non-resident members. The church property is valued at about $30,000. Equipment of special value is the pulpit furniture and communion table and chairs. The pulpit chair is the oldest pulpit chair in the Christian Church in Texas in point of use. This chair came out of the oldest Christian Church in Texas, the Mantua church southwest of Van Alstyne, this being what is now the Van Alstyne Church. The massive pulpit stand was saved from the fire of 1913. The church has a part in the world-wide activities of the brotherhood. Its contribution to ministerial includes Robert Drennan, Grover Stewart, James Todd, and Bedford Smith. On account of the fire in 1913 which destroyed the records it is impossible to give a correct listing of the ministers and the time of their services, but since that time the following ministers have served the church: W.D. Darnall E.T. McFarland H.G. Fleming Frank L. Purnell I.E. Reid E.L. Cochran Joe E. White W.R. Vivrett O.L. Shelton E.C. McConley G.L. Miller Ben F. Hearn, present minister First Christian Church History Susan Hawkins © 2024  If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |