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First Presbyterian Church 231 N. Burnett Denison, Texas  Denison Herald
July 25, 1972 Presbyterian Church Plans Centennial Later This Year Denison was a three-month old frontier town when cattle were common and hymn books a rarity when the First Presbyterian Church was founded Dec. 23, 1872. That was about a week before the arrival of the first Katy train. Today, the 600-member congregation pastored by the Rev. Robert G. Hultz, can look back upon almost 100 years of "growing up" with Denison. The organizational service of First Presbyterian church was held in late 1872 at the home of Rev. Josiah Milligan, an evangelist sent here by the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions. The initial session of the Austin Presbytery, to which the church originally belonged, was held at the Milligan home. Work on the first church building was begun in 1873 and completed in January, 1874. The church site in the 400 block of West Gandy facing Burnett Ave still the location today, was donated by the Denison Town Company which offered land to any congregation for church construction. Those early Presbyterians soon made their presence heard in Denison because on January 29, 1875, a church bell weighing 450 pounds was donated by Mrs. M. O. Banks who visited here from New York City. For many years this bell was used as a fire alarm with pistols joining it to spread the alarm when fire broke out. The original church building was enlarged and remodeled before it was destroyed by fire in 1902. The new structure erected in 1903, semi-Gothic brick veneer with a tall belfry, a smaller tower, and educational facilities, served until 1966 when work on the present church sanctuary and educational building was begun. Dedication services for those modern facilities valued at approximately $300,000 were held in June 1967. The church's original long range building program was completed at that time. In 1932, Dr. A. W. Acheson had donated a large 1,400 pound bell to the church which only called worshipers to service since Denison had grown too large for it to serve as a fire warning. The heavy bell was later removed due to structural difficulties. The congregation, which has grown steadily along with Denison, was solidified in 1911 when members of Cumberland Presbyterian Church begun here in 1901, merged with First Presbyterian. In 1972, its 100th year, First Presbyterian continues to serve its members with a variety of activities including church school, Women's Association, home study groups, youth activities for junior and senior high students, and the sponsoring of Boy Scout and Club Scout troops. In addition to Rev. Hultz, the church staff includes Charles Boody as minister of music. Rev. Hultz has been with First Presbyterian one year. The first manse, a two-story frame structure, was located next to the alley on Burnett avenue, the present site of the educational building. It was dismantled a number of years ago and the church provided a new manse west of the sanctuary. The church erected after the 1902 fire remained in service until the Presbyterians started construction of the present sanctuary. The educational building was erected in 1950 at a cost of $110,000. It houses Sunday school facilities, banquet and auditorium facilities, office and other areas.  First Presbyterian Church History Churches Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |