First Presbyterian Church of Ferris
Ferris, Ellis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Organized by 13 charter members in 1858, this congregation moved from its original site near Bluff Springs (2 miles west) to Ferris in 1875. A church building, erected here in 1890, was razed when this sanctuary was built in 1925-26. Its Classical Revival design features paired pilasters, a 3-bay primary facade with a rounded arched entry, classical columns, and 2-story stained glass windows. The congregation and sanctuary continue their integral role in the community.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Thirteen charter members organized this Presbyterian congregation in 1858 near Bluff Springs, then followed the region's growth by moving into Ferris in 1875. An 1890 building gave way to the present Classical Revival sanctuary of 1925–26, distinguished by paired pilasters, an arched entry, and two-story stained-glass windows. The church has anchored community life in this Ellis County town for well over a century.
Why it matters
Its long arc from a frontier prairie congregation to a grand 1920s sanctuary mirrors the settlement and maturing of North Central Texas.
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Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
First United Methodist Church of Ferris
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The Houston & Texas Central Railway laid out Ferris in 1874, and that same year circuit-riding ministers John S. Davis and George W. Owens began gathering Methodists in the new rail town. The railroad donated lots in 1885 for a first church, and as Ferris grew into a cotton-ginning town of shops, depot, and schools, the congregation moved through successive conferences and buildings, sharing space with Presbyterians in the 1920s. A modern sanctuary followed in 1964.
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