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St. Luke Christian Methodist Episcopal Church Denison, Texas  Denison Herald July 25, 1972 In Denison's history of growth from a rough frontier settlement, St. Luke's Epistopal Church occupies a special place as the city's oldest house of God. The church, which has served the community from the corner of Fannin and Woodard for almost 100 years, has grown to be the largest in the Northern Deanery of the Episocpal. Diocese of Dallas. The Rev. James Furlong is rector of the church which in 1969 was presented with a Texas Historical Survey marker as the oldest house of worship here and the oldest Episcopal sanctuary in Grayson County. St. Luke's Church was founded in the spring of 1873 through the efforts of the Rev. Edwin Wicken, priest-in-charge of the Dallas Church of the Incarnation. He conducted the first Episcopal services here at the home of Mrs. Ellen Chilton and later in the hall of the Denison Opera House, a gambling establishment which properly curtained seperated the worshippers from the gamblers. Early day lay leaders included Denison pioneers Dr. Julian C. Field, Dr. George A. Cutler, F.H. Lingo and John W. Jennings. On May 7, 1873 the Denison Town Company donated two 25-foot lots to the church. The cornerstone of the original church building at Woodard and Fannin was laid by Bishop Carl Garrett at 3 p.m. Saturday after the third Sunday in Advent, 1875. He was assisted by the Rector the Rev. Franklin A. Adams. First services were held in the new church, which was not entirely completed, on Septuagesima Sunday in 1876 with 69 persons present at the morning service. In 1886 Bishop Garrett noted St. Luke's growth at the 11th annual Episcopal Convocation, "St. Luke's, Denison, maintains its well-known reputation for faithfulness and zeal in every good work. The pretty Rectory is very neat and its numerous occupants happy and contented." The present nave of St. Luke's is that original church building. Since its early construction the Parish Hall and office and classroom wing have been added. A brick exterior has been added to the original building. Since that early beginning, St. Luke's has grown to a membership of over 500. The church pioneered in the city in the area of pre-school education with the founding of St. Luke's Day School. Senior Warden is John Moody. Junior Warden is Rembert Thornton while Roy McKinney and Enid Gregory serve as vestry treasurer and clerk. Other vestrymen are John Anderson, Larry L. Doyle, Nathan Allen, Douglas Lee, Gus Langas, Dorothy Wyskup, Robert Ketcham, and Cal Hurlock. The church will commemorate it's 100th anniversary on St. Luke's Day in October, 1873. [sic]  St. Luke's History Churches Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |