The
First Presbyterian Church of Coleman
was organized in a private residence
on the last Sunday of October 1879, by
the Reverend O. F. Rogers, under
the direction of the Presbytery of
Central Texas. There were 11 charter
members: Mrs. M. F. Coleman, Colonel
and Mrs. J. F. McCord, Mr. and Mrs.
J. R. Dobbins, Mr. and Mrs. J. T.
Price, James F. Rogers, Mrs. O. F.
Rogers
and Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Spicer. At this
time two elders and two deacons
were elected: Colonel J. F. McCord, J.
T. Price, J. R. Dobbins and J. L.
Spicer. Many of our memorial windows
in this sanctuary were given in memory
of those charter members. It is said
that the first services were held
in the upper story of a rock store
building, the one now occupied by The
Carousel. A stairway gave entrance to
the hall. A saloon was on the first
floor, directly beneath it, and the
occupants of the same often gave the
church services a great deal of
competition.
The
first church building constructed in
Coleman was built by the Northern
Presbyterians in 1882. It was built
with $500.00 which was granted by the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church U. S. A. to the Coleman
Presbyterian
Church, U. S. A. connected with the
Synod and Presbytery of Austin. The
deed to the church was dated August
17, 1882. This building was used by
all denominations. It was sold to the
Catholics in 1892. In 1884, the
Southern
Presbyterians built a small church on
the lot just south of the present
building, (416
West Elm
Street).
R.
L. Dunman was instrumental in the
building of that church. The story
goes
that he had been a Confederate
soldier in the Civil War and had
made friends
with a Presbyterian Chaplain, whom
he liked very much. When he came to
Coleman and found that the only
church here was a Northern
Presbyterian,
he and other citizens set about to
build another church, a Southern
church,
just south of here. These Southern
Presbyterians had only worshiped in
their new church a very short time
when the church was struck by a
tornado
and completely blown away. Nothing
was left except the floor and the
pulpit
with an open Bible on it. The
Presbyterians must have taken this
as a sign
that the Gospel should continue to
be preached from that pulpit, but
Mrs.
Dunman told her husband that it was
a “spite church” and that was why it
had been blown away! Anyway, the
Southern Presbyterians were not
daunted
and immediately built another church
at its present location (400
West
College Avenue).
In
the early records of the First
Baptist Church of Coleman these
statements
were found: “On November 27, 1886,
the church (Baptist) voted to repair
their church seats and loan them to
the Southern Presbyterians for an
indefinite
time.” Then, “On January 22,
1886, the Church voted to accept the
invitation from the Southern
Presbyterians to worship in their
house when
completed”. It was completed in
1887. It was a white frame structure
facing
east. It had one long room, a
sanctuary with an aisle down the
middle between
two sections of pews. The pulpit was
in the far west end on a platform,
with windows in a concave alcove
behind. There was a bell tower
containing
a large bell with a long rope to
ring the bell. One ring at 9:00 on
Sunday
morning indicated “get ready,” 2
rings at 9:15 for start, and 3 rings
indicated
starting time for Sunday School. A
continuous ringing at a quarter of
11
indicated time for church. (I have
heard it said that when other
denominations
built churches they also had bells
but that members could always
recognize
their own church bells). This church
was worshiped in continuously until
November 26, 1916, when it was sold
to the Nazarenes and moved to Concho
Street. There it was partly torn
down and rebuilt into a smaller
church
and rock-veneered. It still stands
and the Nazarenes still worship in
it.
All the furnishings were sold too,
except the piano, the organ, and 12
pews, which were kept, and are still
in this building. (The pews are in
the balcony, the hall, and in the
old upstairs rooms--once used for
parlours
and dining, now are game rooms). The
little organ, once a pump-organ, has
been made electric, is in the chapel
upstairs. This, I assume, was the
first organ in town. It was, which I
understand from old records, bought
by subscription in 1881 and was
played in the Sunday School by
Dorcas Spicer
Warren, who continued to play in the
first Union Sunday School, and in
different churches as well, for 35
years. During the years when the old
church on this location was used, we
had a Manse, a frame house, just
north
of the church, facing Fnio Street
East, as the church did. With the
new
building planned (this one) the
Manse was moved to Elm Street, and
placed
on a lot bought from Leon Shield.
The
Presbyterian Churches are under the
auspices of the Presbytery and the
records of all the sessional
meetings and congregational meetings
of the
church must be reviewed and approved
by Presbytery annually. Here are
some
quotations from the early Minutes of
the Session which reflect the life
of the church at that time. The
first recorded report to Presbytery
was
a statistical report of the Coleman
Church from April 1, 1883 to April
1, 1884. It reads: Flders-3,
deacons-3, communicants added by
examination-2,
communicants added by certificate-2,
baptized non-communicants - 6, for
a total communicants - 17. The first
recorded communion service was
September
5, 1886, administered by Reverend J.
H. Zivley and Reverend H. B. Rose,
members of Central Texas Presbytery.
On
April 5, 1908, the church asked
Presbytery to change the name on the
book
of Presbytery in “Coleman
Presbyterian Church” to “First
Presbyterian Chumch
of Coleman,”this was granted. The
financial reports increased through
the
years as did the number of
communicants. In 1909, 21 members
were added
at one time from the U. S. A. and
Cumbenland Presbyterian churches.
The
Cuinberlands had a church building
on the lot where the Taylor Motor
Company
now stands. It was a frame building
triangular in shape with a steeple
in the center.
During
the period in 1916 and 1917 when
this brick church was being built,
church
services were held in a hall
upstairs over what is now Perry
Brothers store,
as a courtesy of Mr. W. J. Coulson,
the owner. On August 19, 1917, a
dedicatory
service was held on the completion
of the new brick building. It was
entirely
paid for when completed, a brag
which the members proudly made. In
February
of 1931 the Session voted to approve
the choir wearing vestments.
(Matthew
Lynn was our minister then). The
first vestments were short white
ones
worn with black collars. Some years
later, new long vestments in
“Presbyterian
blue” were bought, with matching
hats because someone remembered that
ladies
should have their heads covered in
church. In 1968, white silk robes
were
chosen, worn with colored stoles. On
October 22, 1924, the Manse and the
property on Elm Street was sold to
C. C. Pitts and the property across
the street, East, was bought and a
new two-story brick Manse was
erected:
now owned by Dr. J. P. Jones. The B.
D. Kennedys were the first to live
there. In 1933, 5 o’clock Vesper
Services were begun and were held in
the
fall, winter and spring months.
These services were continued until
1947
when they were changed back to night
and moving pictures were held once
a month. The members of the
Episcopal Church were invited to
worship with
us at these night services. In
February, 1935, the Belmont Plan of
tithing
was adopted and for 14 weeks members
of the church tithed and were able
to pay off a long Manse debt. Prayer
meetings were held regularly on
Wednesday
nights all through the years from
1891 until 1949, when they were
dispensed
with and monthly church suppers were
substituted. In 1947, there were 330
on our church roll — the highest
peak we have every reached. John
Mueller
was pastor at that time, and those
were in the “boom days” of World War
II and after. (30 new members were
added that year).
On
November 26, 1951, the erection of a
new educational building was
authorized
and building plans were begun. The
building was completed in
1956.
On October 24, 1954, the 75th
anniversary was ol)served. Evening
worship
services were discontinued in 1956.
In
December, 1956, a chapel was planned
using the northwest room upstairs.
Money for this was given as a
memorial to three of our young
people who
had met with sudden and tragic
deaths that year. They were
Marguerite Young
Currie, (mother of Sally Lane),
Linnie Jean Boyers and Bobby Burke.
Memorial
windows were put in and chapel
furnishings were provided through
memorial
funds. It was named “Chapel of the
Resurrection”. This was all done
under
the direction of Carl Reimers,
minister at that time. This little
chapel
has been used for Holy Week
Services, Good Friday Services, for
preparation
for communion services, prayer
meetings, weddings, and many other
special
occasions, especially during the
pastorates of Reimers, Lambreth,
Herrscher,
and Hendricks. In 1956, the
church adopted a Unified Budget and
the
Rotary System for church officers.
There are now 9 elected Elders and 9
Deacons in 3 classes, a class
rotating yearly.
A
new Manse was constructed on a lot
bought on Palestine Street, finished
on January 1966. George and Linda
Herrscher were the first to live in
it.
A remodeling program for this church
which would enlarge and change the
sanctuary, and provide an adequate
Narthex and office spaces was begun
in 1969 and completed in 1970. The
first service in this renovated
building
was on Easter Sunday of 1970. All
new furnishings were placed in this
sanctuary
as it stands today. Many were
memorial gifts (as was the beautiful
new
terrace out in front). During the
period of renovation, the
Presbyterians
were invited to worship with St.
Mark’s Episcopal Church, which we
did
from May to August, 1969. After that
rifle we had services in the
Fellowship
Hall until we moved into the new
sanctuary.
The
Sunday School of this church was
first organized at a meeting of the
session
on May 8, 1889. Colonel J. F. McCord
was appointed superintendent. Other
early superintendents were Dr. C. M.
Alexander and Henry Brown. In 1887
there were 40 scholars enrolled in
the Sabbath School and adult Bible
class.
From 1917 until 1956, when the
educational building was added,
general
assemblies were held for the Sunday
School. There was a special room
that
was built for that purpose. After
the program, which consisted of
songs,
Bible drills, catachism, and
prayers, with all departments
together, the
classes adjourned to their
classrooms (stalls) for lessons. In
the 40’s
and early 50’s, functioning officers
of the Sunday School were
Superintendent,
Assistant Superintendent, Secretary,
and Treasurer, and there were
classes
for the Nursery, Kindergarten,
Primary, Jr., Intermediate, Senior,
and
3 adult classes: ladies’, men’s arid
couple’s. There were 17 teachers and
substitutes, (that was during John
Mueller’s pastorate). The assembly
convocatiOns
were discontinued on September 20,
1956. (When the new educational
building
was ready for use). Thereafter all
of the Sunday School periods were
devoted
to class work.
In
the 1960’s the enrollment of the
Sunday School declined. As
this
was the case also in the First
Christian Church,
and
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, a
tri-church Sunday School was
discussed.
The idea being that with a larger
group more interest would be shown
and
more effective work could be
done. In 1971, the tri-church
Sunday
School was adopted. It still
exists today and seems to be working
well.
Mrs.
Dorcas Warren was the first organist
of this church, followed by Mrs. R.
V. Wood. Mrs. S. N. Aston was
the first to play the pipe organ
(the
one we use today, though it was
“overhauled or renovated during the
renovation
project), 1919 to 1935; Mrs. Jess
Simpson Grafa, 1935 to 1951 (during
that
time Jess directed and played the
most beautiful cantatas at Easter
and
at Christmas. Some of the most
talented singers from other churches
were invited to help us); Mrs.
Girlie Wood played from 1951 to
1960.
(Miss Sue Flippen relieved Mrs. Wood
for 9 months during 1955); David
Dowty
from September 1961 to September
1964, and the summer of 1965; Euel
Belcher,
from Howard Payne College, September
1964 - June 1965. Helen Jones
began playing in September 1965,
Helen is also Secretary-Treasurer of
the
church.
Women
have always played an important role
in the life of the First
Presbyterian
Church. In the early years the
group was called “The Ladies Aid
Society”
- soon shortened to “The Aid.”
Later the name was changed to “The
Auxiliary” and finally to “The Women
of the Church.” This group was
under the auspices of the
Presbyterial and had the following
officers and
functioning committees: President,
Vice President, Historian, World
Missions,
(both Foreign and Home) Christian
Education, Stewardship, Spiritual
Life,
Church Annuities and Relief, and
Social Activities. During the
late
1940’s and the 1950’s, they were
operating 4 circles: two in the
afternoons,
one in the morning, and business
women in the evening. Today we
have
two Circles, one is for Bible Study
and the other is a Service Circle
which
works for the needy in the church
and in the community. In 1965,
women were elected for the first
time to offices of Elder and
Deacon.
Six women have served as Elders and
fourteen as deacons, since that
time.
On
October 28, 1979, the First
Presbyterian Church of Coleman
celebrated its
100th anniversary. It was a
great day of reunion as many former
members
came from our of town. Worship
service was held in the sanctuary
at 11 o’clock with Charlie Schuler,
the pastor, presiding and preaching
the sermon.
The
membership of the Presbyterian
Church, now in 1983, numbers
140.
In 1983, the pastor, Charles
Schuler, left
the Coleman Church to accept a call
to a Presbyterian church in Athens,
Alabama. He was replaced by
Stephen F.
Newton, a 1983 graduate of Austin
Presbyterian Theological
Seminary.
Ordination and Installation services
for Rev. Stephen Newton were held
at 5 p.m. May 29, 1983, in the First
Presbyterian Church of Coleman.
Ministers
of
First Presbyterian Church: O. F.
Rogers (First Minister) 1879 - 1881;
John A. McMurray, 1882 - 1885; W. C.
McDonald, 1886; W. F. Shive. 1887;
J. H. Zively, 1888; C. H. Dobbs,
1889; D. A. Planck, 1889; F. L.
Ewing,
7/13/1890 - 8/28/1892; C. S.
Robinson. 1/1/1893 - 7/29/1894; C.
T. Story,
10/1894 - 5/12/1895; H. M. Smith,
12/1/1895 - 4/21/1899; C. Z.
Berryhill,
10/1/1899 - 7/28/1901; A. O. Brown,
9/15/1901-12/20/1903; L. F.
Selfridge,
10/2/1904 - 9/21/1906; W. A. Gillon,
12/2/1906 - 9/11/1910; T. O. Perrin,
2/19/1911 - 12/28/1913; F. S.
Henderson, 9/18/1914 - 1918; B. D.
Kennedy,
12/1918 - 2/1930; R. Matthew Lynn,
12/1930 - 4/1936; Robert F. Jones,
6/1936
- 8/1942; John J. Mueller, 9/1942 -
12/1948; Jan W. Owen, 9/1949 -
9/1950;
W. C. Cooper, 8/1951 - 1/15/1956;
Carl D. Reimers, 9/9/1956 -
6/11/1959;
Clements E. Lamberth, Jr. 2/7/1960 -
11/1/1964; George C. Herrscher,
2/28/65
- 11/1/1967; Charles Hendricks,
10/6/1968 - 1/31/1972; Charles Harry
Sarles,
9/10/1972 - 3/1/ 77; Charles
Schuler, Jr., 6/18/78 - 11/30/82 and
Stephen
F. Newton, 5/29/83 to the present
(1983).
Elders:
Col.
J. F. McCord, J. I. Price, S. W.
Aston, Josiah Bardwell, Judge M.
A. Martin, Dr. C. M., Alexander W.
H. Cochran, Henry Brown, S. R.
Watson,
Sam Roach, Dr. S. N. Aston, S. F.
Byers, R. V. Wood, Sr., W. H. Bell,
L.
H. Smith, J. O. Mecklin. C. H.
Huffurd, W. L. Jones, R. D. Boyers,
George
Cochran, Cecil Gray, Sam Gray, Ed
Gray, R. D. Holt, H. L. Markland. J.
P. McCord, R. Floyd Price, J. B.
McCord, Charles Polk, Dr. J. C.
Young,
Dr. F. L. Knox, Dr. C. O. Moody,
Earle E. Smith, Eldon Knox, R. V.
Wood,
Jr., R. L. Cope, Hugh Capps, Arthur
Flippen, Steve Brown, Charles
Shepherd,
Walter Schick, C. W. Dodson, S.
O’Neal, R. T. Magill, C. M. Beaver,
Tom
Walker, Joe Dobson, Louis Glasson,
Doris Miller, Mack Sampson, John H.
Curry, Bessie Hector, Ila Dobson,
Hershell Wilson, Tom West, Clarice
Glasson,
Margaret Roach Fleming, Mattie B.
Rogers, Dr. Mike Fdington, J. C.
Wilkerson,
Sherry Autry, Maxine Drinkard, Bob
Clover, Theresa Edington, Beth Kirby
David Huff, Evelyn Curry, Verle
Young and Jim Sullivan.
Deacons:
Mike
Wright, Bob Finley, Robert Markland,
Reg Lagow, Tom Matson, Joe Tinney,
Morris Miller, Dr. H. F. Howard,
Hurschel Dunn, Mendel Pool, Archie
Bryson,
Ernest A. Cezeaux, D. M. Moore, Rex
Jones, Toppy Beaver, Wayland Gordon,
W. H. Tucker, Mark Griffis Jesse
Haynes, Joe Cervenka, Jennie Smith,
Nelda
Sampson. F. J. Barr, Mike Fullen,
Billie McCord, Pauline Holt, Sally
Walker,
Raymond Rush, Maud Cope, Bob
Markland, Margaret Reeves, Sarah
Brinkley,
Clif Drinkard, Stephen Autry and
Edna Dunn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Presbyterian Church
Groundbreaking, 1956
Presbyterian Church - 1979
|