Denison Herald
Friday, June 1, 1990
pg. 19

The First Church of the Nazarene will be celebrating its 80th Anniversary this Sunday.  Rev. Lawrence Gholson, former pastor, will be the featured
guest speaker.   The celebration will begin at 9 a .m. with coffee and picture viewing.  Sunday school wil begin at 9:45 a.m.   Worship at 10:35 a.m.  The
congregation, former members and guests will then enjoy a basket lunch at the Denison High School cafeteria.  An afternoon service at the high
school will follow the luncheon.   About 300 people are expected for the service.
The Nazarene church was organized June 26, 1910 by Rev. S.W. Gregory and 10 charter members.  Those memberes were:
George and Mary Pierce
Tom and Mary Carter
Fienes Pierce
Mary Johnson
H.R. and Alice Lee
Fannie McVeigh
Maude Mathews Truesdell.

For the first few months, services were held in the homes of members.  Later a barn was rented in the east part of town, followed by a storage
building on S. Armstrong.  Services were held there for several months, and then space was rented in the Methodist Church on Tone Avenue, where
services were held until 1912.  At that time, the Red Mission in west Denison was purchased from the Baptist Church.  The church was located there  until  September 18, 1918, when the Grace Methodist Church property was acquired a t the present location, 231 W. Texas.  The church building was updated and expanded many times over the years.
In 1938, it was enlarged and veneered with native rock.  A 4,000 square foot Sunday School annex was constructed during the ministry of Rev. H.F. Crews, the longest serving pastor.  In its 50th year the current sanctuary was constructed under the leadership of Gholson.  Minor changes to the building have been made since that time. 


The congregation has recently purchased 5 and 1/4 acres of propery for future relocation.  During the past decade, the Denison congregation seemed to turn a corner, with attendance and outreach on the upward swing.  Since 1980 Sunday School average attendance has increased from 95 to 169, morning worship from 90 to 175, membership for 156 to 246, and Sunday School enrollment from 216 to 462.


The current pastor is Rev. Gary A. Williamson, who has served the church since 1987.  He is joined in the pastorate by his wife, Sheila.  They have
4 children, Katrina, Joslyn, Nathan and Jeremy.
The church as as its theme for the future, "Total obedience and unshakable faith."