Jones County Texas Archives - History of Stamford Churches - 1927 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 19 January 2020 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford AmericanThursday, June 30, 1927Stamford has Eleven Active ChurchesMost of churches are equipped with splendid buildingsAll denominations held services in one hall in early days.Stamford is noted for the number of her churches and the beauty of her churchbuildings. There are 11 active churches for white people in the town, besides thevarious negro churches.First Baptist ChurchThe Baptist Church was organized in the spring of 1900 with a membership of 12, amongwho are: Mr. and Mr. G.K. Ashburn, Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Siler, and Mr. and Mrs. CaddShipp.Rev. J.P. Siler organized the church and was moderator until the first pastor, Rev.B.F. Dixon, was called. Services were first held in the Sledge Hall on the south sideof the square. Methodist, Baptists, Christians, Presbyterians, and lodgeorganizations shared the hall each denomination awaited their turn. One used is oneSunday and another the next.Immediately after the church was organized, a small building was erected on thepresent site of the church. About this time excitement was running high, for Stamfordwas to have her first church wedding, that of Miss Katie Mae Morder and Will Johnsonof the Brazelton-Johnson Lumber Co. and the church was not ready to be used. When thewedding day came the church could be used by boarding up the windows and layingcanvas down the aisle. The wedding was an outstanding social event and not onlyBaptist, but all denominations thrilled over it.In 1907 the old building was sold to the Christian church and moved away, and thecostly new church was erected. Rev. W.C. Moffett is pastor and the membership numbersbetween 5-600.West Side Baptist ChurchIn 1907 or 1908 another Baptist church was organized in Bomar Heights and is knowntoday as the West Side Baptist Church. Rev. J.P. Siler was the first pastor of thechurch and among the charter members were Mr. and Mrs. Lee Box. Mrs. J.B. Keeling andMiss Katie Keeling.St. JohnÕs Methodist ChurchThe Methodist church was organized in 1900 with about 10 members, some of whom wereMr. and Mrs. J.O. Moore, Mr. and Mrs. H.S. Abbott, Sr., Mrs. Kate Bean and Chas.Brewington. Rev. S. Gay organized the church and preached until the first conference,when Rev. I.H. Hightower was sent here. Soon after this the first missionary societywas organized and there were not enough members to fill the offices, so Mrs. J.R.Sledge of the Episcopal church accepted the office of secretary.The Methodist held their first services in the Sledge Hall but as soon as possiblecompleted a frame building where the Reliable Tire Company now stands. This was soonout grown however, so a tabernacle was built behind it. In 1908 Rev. Robert Goodrichwas pastor and the present church was begun. Both the Baptist and Methodist churcheshave beautiful pipe organs.Rev. R.A. Stewart is pastor of St. JohnÕs M.E. Church, and the membership rollnumbers between 800 and 900.Church on West SideIn the fall of 1909 Rev. J.H. Hamblin was sent here to take charge of a littlemission church on the West Side, known as Ward Memorial. The church had 37 memberswhen he came and at the end of the first year had 142. Rev. W.B. McKeown did awonderful work there for four years, then the membership was moved to St. JohnÕs.Within the past year Rev. Hamblen, with the help of J.B. Smith and others hassucceeded in building another small church there and a preacher will soon be incharge.Central ChristianTo the Christian Church belongs the distinction of starting the first Sunday Schoolin Stamford. The Sunday School was held in a small frame building on the site nowoccupied by the Central Ward School. Mrs. W.T. Browning taught a class in this SundaySchool. In 1900 the church was organized and Cass Rose, superintendent fo the cityschools at that time was an elder. Services were held first in the old Sledge Halland in recalling the early church day several amusing incidents were bought to light.Charter members recall the day when news was circulated that a very prominent andinfluential family had moved to town and were members of the Christian church.Unusual care was taken the next Sunday in cleaning up the hall, so that a goodimpression might be made. Great was the consternation of the members when theorganist failed to appear, but the song was begun without music and during thesinging, in walked the new members, Mr. and Mrs. Homer D. Wade.When the Baptist people began their new church in 1907 the Christian church boughtthe old building and moved it the lot behind the Methodist church. Here services wereheld until the basement of their new church was finished three or four years ago.Rev. M.B. Harris is pastor of the Central Christian Church.Church of ChristSoon after it was organized the Christian Church divided and one branch became knownas the Church of Christ. In 1908, their building was erected, and they continue toworship there. W.D. Black is pastor.Families who helped to organize the Christian Church in Stamford were the L.L. Loop,R.L. Hellums, W.T. Browning, Tom Baxter, Sr.,. P. Curd, Sr., W.F. Bullington andothers.Episcopal ChurchThe Episcopal Church claims the record of having had the first sermon here. Sometimein the 1880s Bishop Garrett had 52 counties in his diocese and this was one. Hepreached in all parts of the country and traveled from place to place in a ÒgigÓdrawn by a white mule. In 1900 St. LukeÕs Protestant Episcopal Church was organizedhere and services were held in various places until 1915 when the church on EastMcHarg avenue was built. E.C Seaman was rector at that time and F.S. Hastings wasWaden. Among the charter members were Dr. and Mrs. J.R. Sledge, Mrs. M.E. Manning,Miss Louis Snodgrass, Mrs. C.R. Allen, Mr. and Mrs. C.E. Binnings. Rev. Percy Jonesis rector now.Central Presbyterian ChurchThe Central Presbyterian Church was organized in 1899 and their first church wasbegun in 1900 on the same spot upon which the church stands today. Rev. F.E. Leechsupervised the building of the church and Dr. Ward was the first pastor. The firstauxiliary was organized in the fall 1900 in the back of Miss Mayme BarnettÕsmillinery shop on the east side of the square. Early members of the church were Mr.and Mrs. Blankenbeckler, Capt and Mrs. [W.E.] Rayner, Mr. and Mrs. Whittington, Mrs.J.D. Green, Mrs. Tom Upshaw (then Miss Josie Ragsdale) and Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Moody.About two years ago the old building was torn down and a handsome new one built. Rev.J.M. Youree was pastor when the new church was built, and Rev. Fred S. Rogers ispastor now.The First Presbyterian church was organized November 27, 1900 with 16 chartermembers. Among them were Mr. and Mrs. J.C. Bryant, Bernard Bryant, Mr. and Mrs. W.BHuie. Rev. C. C. Anderson was the first pastor.Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church was organized in 1912 or 1913. At that time services were held inthe home of Mrs. Dan Quill. Four years ago, the Lutheran church on South SwensonAvenue was sold to the Catholic denomination and since then services have been heldthere. Father Paul Mousler of Bomarton comes once a month to preach. Mr. and Mrs.E.L. Mattoon and Miss Louise Snodgrass were among the charter members.Nazarene ChurchThe Nazarene church was organized and built on North Swenson avenue in April of 1924.J.S Bates was the first pastor and A.S. Smith is pastor now. The membership of thechurch is small.