First Presbyterian Church of Dallas facts for kids
Quick facts for kids First Presbyterian Church |
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Harwood Historic District structures including the First Presbyterian Church (far left)
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 First Presbyterian Church
Location in Texas
First Presbyterian Church
Location in the United States
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| 32°46′46″N 96°47′37″W / 32.77944°N 96.79361°W | |
| Location | 1835 Young St., Dallas, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Presbyterian Church (USA) |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | C. D. Hill & Company |
| Style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Years built | 1912 |
The First Presbyterian Church of Dallas is a very old church located at 1835 Young Street in downtown Dallas, Texas, USA. It is an important part of the Harwood Historic District and is recognized as a Dallas Landmark. This church was started in 1856. It was the very first U.S. Presbyterian Church (Southern) in Dallas. Many other Presbyterian churches in the area grew from this original church.
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A Look Back: Church History
The First Presbyterian Church of Dallas began on February 3, 1856. It was founded by Reverend Robert Hamilton Byers. He was a minister who helped Presbyterian churches in Rusk and Henderson counties. The church started with just eleven members.
In its early days, the church did not have its own building. Members met in different places. They gathered in private homes, a blacksmith shop, and even a printing shop. They also used a lumber yard and the local courthouse.
First Church Buildings
In 1873, the church built its first own building. It was located at Elm and Ervay streets. Later, in 1882, a second church home was built. This one was at Harwood and Main streets. It was special because it was the first brick church in Dallas.
By 1897, this second building had been changed a lot. It was made much larger and remodeled so much that people thought of it as a new, third building. Its style was a mix of different Victorian designs.
The Current Church Building
The church building you see today is the fourth home for the congregation. It includes the main worship area and the Harwood Street Educational Building. These were built between 1911 and 1912. The Alex Watson Construction Company built them. The church officially opened on March 2, 1913.
The church building was designed by C. D. Hill & Company. This was a well-known architecture firm in Dallas. The style is called Greek Revival. This means it looks like ancient Greek temples.
You will see large Corinthian columns at the entrance. These are on Harwood and Wood Streets. These columns are "monolithic," which means each one is made from a single, huge piece of stone. They were the first columns of their kind in Dallas. Each column was so big that it had to be shipped to Dallas on its own special train car from Indiana.
The outside walls of the church have beautiful "art glass" windows. These are like stained glass windows with pictures. The Kansas City Stained Glass Works Company made them. They were sent to Dallas in 1912.
The inside of the church has a special design called a modified Akron Plan. This plan was created in Akron, Ohio, between 1900 and 1920. It helps church members move easily between worship services and Sunday School classes. This design often has a half-circle seating area. This area opens up to classrooms right next to the main worship space.
The current minister of the church is Rev. Amos J. Disasa.
Helping the Community
Since its early days, First Presbyterian Church has been very active in helping people in Dallas.
- The church started a home for children who did not have parents or homes. This home was at Annex and Bryan Streets. Today, a special historical marker stands at the entrance to the Presbyterian Children's Home and Service Agency in Itasca, Texas. This marker shows how that agency started from this Dallas church.
- Children's Medical Center in Dallas is a big hospital for kids today. It actually began in 1921 as a small clinic. This clinic was for young children and was located in the basement of First Presbyterian Church. It was the first free clinic for children in the Southwest region of the United States.
- In 1975, the church started its "Stewpot ministry." This program helps people who are homeless or in need. The Stewpot and its many related programs have become very well-known. They are used as examples for other churches and cities. In 2008, First Presbyterian Church worked with the city of Dallas. They moved the Stewpot's meal service to The Bridge. The Bridge is a new center that helps homeless people in Dallas. Now, the Stewpot serves three meals a day, seven days a week, at The Bridge.
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