First
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Coleman,
Texas
by Mrs. Ben Taylor
from
A
History of Coleman County and Its People, 1985
edited
by Judia and Ralph Terry, and Vena Bob Gates - used by permission
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| The Coleman Christian Church was
established in 1884 with sixteen charter members: Mrs. C. N. McFarland,
Mrs. Bolinger, Mr. and Mrs. Bird Lewis, Judge and Mrs. Evans, Mr. and Mrs.
W. P. Blackburn, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Stobaugh, Mr. and Mrs. A. Petty, Mr.
and Mrs. F. I. Harbour, and Mr. and Mrs. Ratcliff. The congregation
met in the only church building in town, which had been built as a community
church where all denominations held their services.
Several years later the congregation held services
in a vacant business building which was later occupied by the Manhattan
Cafe. Still later and until 1895 the Christian Church held its services
in the County Courthouse. During the years from 1884 to 1895, the
following ministers served the church: W. F. Hawkins, Lyle Smith, Rev.
Baldwin, and T. D. Secrest. |
| While meeting at the Courthouse the church purchased
a lot at the corner of Commercial Avenue and Elm Street (312
South Commercial Avenue)
and built a wooden frame building in 1895. The church grew rapidly.
At the end of 1896 members numbered 98, and at the end of 1899 there were
130 members.
Church records show that in 1897 a group of members
withdrew and established the Church of Christ. This “unhappy division”
(to quote church history accounts) occurred country-wide during the period
of 1895-1900, chiefly because of dispute over use of musical instruments
in the church and the method of support of foreign missionaries.
Ministers who served this little church from 1896
to 1916 were: T. D. Secrest, 1896-1900, R. I. Simmons, 1900-1901, Rev.
Stanley, 1902-1904, H. M. Brandy, 1905-1907, J. W. Gates (Interim as needed
over period of several years), C. F. Hunt, 1913-1914, and George Morrison,
1914-1918. |
Drawing
of the First Christian Church, built in 1896
|
| In 1916, the decision was made to
build a new church building on the same lot on which the present one stood.
To help raise money for this project the women’s organization catered many
meals and sold baked goods. The last service in the little frame
building was held in June 1916, and workmen began tearing it down the next
day. Again the congregation held services in the Courthouse until
the new building was completed. The cornerstone of this second building,
which was constructed of cream colored brick, was laid, with appropriate
ceremonies, August 28, 1916. Bricks were laid by Mrs. Jim Harbour, Mrs.
Edgar Williams, F. W. Taylor (Chairman of Board), Miss Fannie Caldwell,
Miss Beulah Estes, and Rev. George Morrison (Minister). When the
earlier church building was torn down, the following articles were found
in the cornerstone: telephone directory, newspaper dated August 25, 1916,
letters, cards, coins, church roll, Sunday School classes roll, and a poem
evidently written by a member for the occasion of laying of the cornerstone.
This new building was dedicated April 29, 1917,
with Arthur W. Jones conducting the service. Ministers serving in
this second church building were: George Morrison, 1914-1918; Fred Ross,
1919-1921; Joe White, 1921-1923; J. W. McKinney, 1923-1925; Rev. Boultinghouse,
1926-1927; Fred Ross, 1927-1930; C. Robert Forrester, 1931-1935; Harley
Woolard, 1935-1938; S. P. Miller, 1938-1941; R. F. Deloach, 1941-1942;
Lamar Hocker, 1943-1944; Thomas Cray, 1945-1947; Alex Mooty, 1947; Charles
Malotte, 1948-1950; Walter Feay, 1951-1956; Harry Curl, 1956-1959, George
Cuthrell (Interim 1960); J. W. McKinney, 1960-1961, and C. A. Jarman (Interim
1962).
First
Christian Church, build in 1916
|
| On Easter Sunday 1962, the congregation
held its first services in the new church building which had been built
on the 1600 block of Commercial Avenue. Ministers serving in
this latest location since 1962 to the present time: C. A. Jarman (Interim
1962), Claude A. Weingran, 1962-1969, Floyd Leggett (Interim 1969-1972),
Gene Lamb, 1972-1974; Wilburn Mendel (Interim 1975), Jerry Beck 1975-1977,
Nimmo Goldston (Interim 1978), Don Lanick, 1978-1983, and Karl Parker (Present
Interim).
An innovative Sunday School program was begun
in 1969 when the Christian, Presbyterian, and Episcopal Churches joined
together to form a Tri-Church Sunday School, (meeting alternately in the
Christian and Presbyterian churches which offered adequate facilities)
with members from each of the churches serving as teachers. This
arrangement continues to the present time.
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|
First
Christian Church - 1984
|