[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 14, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E494]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF FIRST CHRISTIAN CHURCH OF 
                           GAINESVILLE, TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL C. BURGESS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 14, 2024

  Mr. BURGESS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the First 
Christian Church of Gainesville, Texas as it celebrates the 150th 
Anniversary of its founding. I'm pleased to congratulate the 
congregation on this significant milestone. With its long and storied 
history in Cooke County, it is truly an honor to join the congregation 
in recognition of the longevity of First Christian Church.
  The church had a presence in Gainesville for several years before its 
members officially organized as a congregation, meeting first in a 
local schoolhouse then at the Cooke County Courthouse. The congregation 
officially organized as the Dixon Street Christian Church on Sunday May 
10, 1874, with thirteen original members. Those charter members were 
Mr. and Mrs. John Darnell, Mollie Lee, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Barrett, 
Brother Hill and Aunt Nancy Hill, Mrs. Jennie Stewart, Mr. and Mrs. 
John Bailey, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. B.F. Carpenter. Church 
records are unclear as to who served as the church's first minister. 
One account lists Dr. Thomas C. Barrett as the first minister, serving 
from 1874 to 1878. A different source identifies Rev. A.J. Farthing as 
the first minister, followed by Dr. Barrett.
  Mr. Rufus F. Scott, a pioneer Gainesville businessman, donated a lot 
on North Dixon Street to the congregation. Mr. J.Z. Keel, a 
schoolteacher, came to Gainesville and donated $7,000 for the church to 
build a building. During the week, the building was utilized by Mr. 
Keel as a schoolhouse and by the church for worship on Sundays. First 
Christian Church has continuously existed at this location ever since.
  Rev. A.J. Bush, serving as minister, brought an organ for use during 
services, which caused a split in the congregation between 1884 through 
1886. This schism reflected the wider disagreement over the use of 
musical instruments in the church going on nationally in the Stone-
Campbell movement.
  The church has had several buildings over the years and was known as 
the Christian Church, the M.E. Church and the First Christian Church. 
The ``First Christian Church'' name was officially adopted in 1950. A 
clapboard church building was erected in 1878 and used by the 
congregation until it was donated to the Bethel AME Church in 1892 and 
moved to Cummins Street. A bigger building was constructed in 1892 and 
used until 1926. A brick edifice was erected in 1927 and used as a 
sanctuary until 1956 before being converted for use as a classroom wing 
and a Fellowship Hall until 1993. The current sanctuary building was 
erected in 1956 and continues to serve the congregation. The new 
Pauline Roberts Fellowship Hall and classroom wing was added to the 
property in 1993 along with a Christian Life Center in 2004. Both 
facilities are still in use by the congregation.
  The current congregation of 125 members continues to serve 
Gainesville and Cooke County with multiple outreach ministries 
including Coats for Kids, Backpack Buddies, SoulFood, Stanford House 
Activity Center for Active Seniors, VISTO and Care Corp. I join the 
members and all those who have had the privilege of being involved with 
First Christian Church in wishing them a happy anniversary and many 
more years of ministry and service to the community.

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