First Christian Church of Fort Worth
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
Marker Inscription
City's pioneer congregation. Organized by the Rev. A.M. Dean, who with hymn book and revolver came in 1855 to the riotous six-year-old hamlet on the Trinity. He held services (at present Belknap and Houston streets) in a log house built for post surgeon, 2nd Dragoons, U.S. Army, stationed at fort that gave the city its name. Charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. James K. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin P. Ayres, Mrs. Francis M. Durrett, Mrs. Alfred D. Johnson, Mrs. Florence Peak, Mr. and Mrs. William A. Sanderson, and Stephen Terry. First regular meeting place, a one-story concrete house at present Belknap and Lamar, was used on weekdays by Col. John Peter Smith (member of congregation) for sessions of the first public school established in Fort Worth. Rev. Mr. Dean, a frontier farmer, was followed as pastor by Dr. B.F. Hall, a dentist, and by Dr. Mansell Mathews, physician and judge of Red River County, and head of a large family grazing cattle in this area. Confederate General R.M Gano of Grapevine after the Civil War preached regularly at this church. In later 1860s came the Rev. Joseph Clark and sons Addison and Randolph, who in 1873 founded Add-Ran College, forerunner of Texas Christian University. First Christian is the oldest church in Fort Worth. (1970)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
First Christian Church was organized in 1855 by the Rev. A. M. Dean, a frontier farmer-preacher who, legend has it, came to the rowdy young settlement on the Trinity carrying both a hymn book and a revolver. Early services were held in a log house and a concrete building that also hosted Fort Worth's first public school, run by Col. John Peter Smith. Later ministers included the Rev. Joseph Clark, whose sons founded Add-Ran College in 1873—the forerunner of Texas Christian University—making this the oldest church in Fort Worth.
Why it matters
As Fort Worth's pioneer congregation and the seedbed of Texas Christian University, the church stands at the crossroads of frontier faith, education, and the city's founding.
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Related people
- · Rev. A. M. Dean
- · Joseph Clark
- · Addison Clark
- · Randolph Clark
- · Col. John Peter Smith
- · Gen. R. M. Gano
Related events
- · Founding of Add-Ran College (Texas Christian University)
Themes & tags
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