Sundance Square in Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
First Christian Church of Fort Worth
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 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.
Erected 1970 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 1710.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1855.
Location. 32° 45.153′ N, 97° 19.925′ W. Marker is in Fort Worth, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is in Sundance Square. Marker is at the intersection of Throckmorton Street and West 6th Street, on the left when traveling north on Throckmorton Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 612 Throckmorton St, Fort Worth TX 76102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Changing Landscape (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Amon G. Carter (about 400 feet away); Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce (about 400 feet away); First National Bank Building (about 400 feet away); The Neil P. Anderson Building (about 600 feet away); The Atelier Building (about 600 feet away); Flying Machines (about 600 feet away); Sinclair Building (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Worth.
Also see . . .
1. First Christian Church, Fort Worth. Handbook of Texas website entry (Submitted on March 23, 2022, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
2. Fort Worth First Christian Church. Church website homepage (Submitted on February 20, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on March 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 786 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 19, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 5. submitted on March 6, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.