|
First Presbyterian Church Whitewright, Texas  Established Oct. 30, 1853 One
of the oldest Churches of North Texas, this Church was formed as the
Pilot Grove Congregation of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in the
log cabin home of Christopher Sears about a mile southeast of the
present business district of Whitewright. About 1862 the Church became
two congregations. Sears Chapel attended by residents south of Bois
D'Arc Creek, and Canaan congregation for those living north of the
creek. Later both churches moved to Whitewright where, in 1930, they
came together when the present building was erected.
First preacher is thought to have been Jacob A. Zinn. First elders were Joseph D. Barbee, Thomas E. Montgomery and John T. Clark. Others belonging to the first congregation were Jane Wilkins, J.B. Newton, J.B. Sears, Ellin Newton, Polly Montgomery, Elizabeth May, Mary A. Barbee, and Joseph Sears, located on land owned by Kit Sears, situated about one-half mile north of where the County Line Road crosses Hwy 11, southeast of Whitewright. Early-day ministers included Robert F. Jones, 1873-93 John F. Fender, 1902-27, these two having the longest pastorates. Others included: R.A. Gay, 1893-95; R.R. Crockett, 1895-99; M.C. Johnson, 1899-1902; W.A. Cassidy, 1943-1945; Alexander McFerrin, in 1945 for 2 months; W.A. Erwin, 1947; James Logan, 1948; James Storey, 1949; Lee H. Smith, 1950-1955; C.C. Dooley, 1955-1970; Will Rogan, 1972-1974; William Fry, 1974-1976; William Rogan With 14 members in 1853, the church now has 98 members. The pastor now is the Rev. C.C. Dooley, who came in 1955. Elders are Homer Sears, John Reeves, Floyd Bassett, Bob Sears, T.H. Montgomery, Sr., J.T. Holloway, Homer Sanderson, Harold Doss, Bob Session and Mr. Doss is treasurer. Organists: Mrs. David Johnson and Miss Guyla Sears; WMU President is Mrs. Homer Sears, Ladies' Aid Society President is Mrs. Emmett Penn The Church observed its 100th anniversary in 1953 while the Rev. Lee H. Smith was pastor. An anniversary service was attended by some 300 persons from widely scattered points. The church has a fine Hammond organ bought with the help of a gift from Mr. Kay Kimball of Fort Worth, formerly of Whitewright. Oldest living member in the late 1950s is Mrs. W.A. Kirkpatrick, 93, whose late husband was a minister and served several churches in this area. Mrs. Kirkpatrick is a granddaughter of Christopher Sears. Organists & pianists: Mrs. Barbee Mrs. Anna Pennington Bassett Viva Phillips Mrs. Ora Gray Guyla Sears Rogan Louise Echols Manning Margaret Hannah Hynds Mrs. Janice Horton Johnson Deceased Members as of 1970s: Rev. and Mrs. W.A. Kirkpatrick Dr. and Mrs. R.L. Sears Miss Edna Rathburn Mrs. Lester Haile Mr. and Mrs. Sam Montgomery Mrs. May Manning Mr. and Mrs. W.L. Stowers & Lloyd Mr. and Mrs. J.R. Pennington Mrs. J.W. Wilson Mr. Luther Sears Mr. and Mrs. Joe Dyer Mr. and Mrs. W.M. Cox Luther Gordon Mr. and Mrs. Bob Gordon Mr. Alfred Reeves Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Sears Mr. and Mrs. Joe May Mr. and Mrs. Bob Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Ben Montgomery Mr. and Mrs. Henry Phillips Claude Phillips Joe Hamilton Dr. C.P. Johnson Mr. T.A. Gray Active Members as of 1970s: Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Bassett Mrs. Betty Bow & children Mr. and Mrs. Alton Bowen Sandra Braly Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Condron III, Ewell & Lee Mrs. Josephine Cook Mrs. Paul Cook Miss Ruth Cox Mrs. Ruby Davis Mrs. Harold Doss Mrs. Martha Jo Sears Emerson Jim Emerson Mrs. Marion Felker Sam H. Golden Mrs. T.A. Gray Mr. and Mrs. Billy Joe Hardin, Jodie & Teresa Mrs. Vera Hickman Mr. and Mrs. J.T. Holloway Mr. and Mrs. Gary Holloway Mr. and Mrs. James Michael Holloway, Margaret Ann & Jason Mr. and Mrs. John Sears Holloway, Jessica Chrystene & Stacy Kathleen) Mrs. Cloy Horton Mr. and Mrs. Frank Harris Mrs. Cravens E. Hogue Mrs. David Johnson Miss Julie Johnson Mr. and Mrs. R.E. Jones Mrs. John Livingston Mrs. Jack Lackey Mrs. Bob Meisenbach Mrs. Roscoe Pace Miss Viva Phillips Miss Mardell Pumphrey Mr. and Mrs. John Reeves Mr. and Mrs. David Reeves, David & Lisa Rev. and Mrs. William F. Rogan Mr. and Mrs. Richard Rogan, Jerri Wrenn & Chris Mr. and Mrs. Homer Sanderson Mrs. T.E. Sears Mr. and Mrs. Homer Head Sears Mrs. Robert Sears Mrs. Frank Smith Mrs. Frances Stephens Mrs. Ethel Short Mrs. John W. Wilson Mrs. Wanda Teague Mr. and Mrs. Max Elliott Rohe Dan Steves Rohe Mr. and Mrs. Homer Fraley, Kevin Mr. and Mrs. John Meyers (Holloway, Edith Mae. History of the Presbyterian Church of Whitewright, Texas)  1st Presbyterian Church History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |