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Church History
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First Presbyterian Church
Church History
First Presbyterian Church, organized initially in 1867 in Brazos County and completed most recently in 1966, is named among the Historic Churches of Texas.
The following excerpt is from Historic Churches in Texas: Through the Lens Series Volume II by William and Mary Pamela Schaefer. Copyright 2020 Covenant Books Inc. pp. 165-166.
The Reverends J.H. Hutchinson, James Wilson, and twenty-four charter members organized the First Presbyterian Church of Bryan on November 21, 1867. For the first three years, the congregation held worship services in a warehouse owned by Mr. Guy M. Bryan, the namesake for the city of Bryan. In April 1871, the First Presbyterian Congregation purchased a town lot at the corner of Tabor Road and 29th Street for the purpose of erecting a church building. That same year, under the supervision of church member L.D. Stockton, the members of the congregation completed a modest wood-frame sanctuary on the newly acquired property. Around 1874, the trustees purchased a second lot adjoining the church property.
At the turn of the twentieth century, the city of Bryan was enjoying economic prosperity, and the city's population had grown to over 3,500 residents. Along with Bryan, the First Presbyterian Church prospered, and membership increased to the point that it became apparent a larger sanctuary was needed. In 1904, during the pastorate of Reverend James Durham West, the congregation acquired a third lot adjoining the church property on Washinton Street, and in 1906, a new brick church building was completed. The church building was dedicated on March 29, 1914.
The First Presbyterian Congregation continued to grow during the first half of the twentieth century. In 1939, the congregation reached three hundred members, and by 1955, the congregation doubled to over six hundred members. On April 14, 1957, during the pastorate of the Reverend Charles A. Sheldon, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for the present church building on eight acres of land donated to the church by three sisters-- Ethel, Edith, Esther Cavitt-- and their brother Fred. The property is located south of Gordon Street, between Thirty-First and Thirty-Second streets. A year later, the first phase of construction including a fellowship hall, offices, and church school classrooms was completed. Dedication ceremonies were held on June 15, 1958. The former church building on Washington Street was sold.
With the arrival of Reverend Richard H. Thomas in 1961, the congregation voted to finish the building plans for the church. In 1966, the present enlarged contemporary brick and mortar sanctuary was completed.