Arcadia Christian Church

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the Arcadia Christian Church, out in Galveston County. Pull up a chair and listen close, because this one's got more chapters than you might expect from a little country congregation. It all starts with a railroad.

The town of Arcadia was established on the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad in 1890, and where a railroad goes, a community follows, and where a community follows, a church is not far behind. Sure enough, by 1894, Arcadia Christian Church was organized, making it the oldest surviving church in the community. That's a distinction worth savoring.

Now, the early days were humble. The Reverend T. Patterson held those first services in a building shared with the local Methodist church.

Neighbors in faith, sharing the same walls. That arrangement carried on until nature had other ideas. About 1909, a tornado came through and destroyed the building.

Just like that. The congregation didn't scatter, though. Arcadia Christian turned right around and built its first dedicated sanctuary on a town lot in 1910.

That's the kind of resolve a tornado doesn't reckon on. The church grew steadily after that. There was a brief interruption during World War II, but the growth picked back up, and by 1955 the congregation had built a new brick church building.

Then, in 1961, the Santa Fe Railway Company donated a steam locomotive bell, and that bell was placed right up in the sanctuary belfry. A railroad gave this town its beginning, and decades later a railroad bell rang out from its oldest church. The marker doesn't say that's more than coincidence, so I won't either, but I will let you sit with it a moment.

The congregation kept growing, and in 1983 a new sanctuary was erected at this very site. The new facility included an office complex and a library. And that original brick sanctuary from 1955, rather than being left behind, was converted for use as classrooms and a small chapel.

Nothing wasted. That's good stewardship. What the marker wants you to know most, though, is the people.

This church is notable for the number of its young members who have gone on to enter fields of Christian service. The congregation supports several ministries and bible colleges, and it's active in both local and foreign outreach programs. From a shared building in 1894 to a tornado, a locomotive bell, a brick sanctuary, and a library, Arcadia Christian Church has been bending toward the same purpose the whole time.

Providing spiritual guidance for the community. Some things a tornado can destroy. Apparently, this church is not one of them.

What the marker says

The town of Arcadia was established on the Gulf, Colorado, and Santa Fe Railroad in 1890. This church was organized in 1894 and represents the oldest surviving church in the community. Initial services were held by the Rev. T. Patterson in a building shared with the local Methodist church. The building was destroyed by a tornado about 1909, prompting Arcadia Christian to build its first sanctuary on a town lot in 1910. Except for a brief period during World War II, the church experienced steady growth, and in 1955 the congregation built a new brick church building. A steam locomotive bell donated by the Santa Fe Railway Company in 1961 was placed in the sanctuary belfry. The congregation continued to grow and in 1983 a new sanctuary was erected at this site. Included in the new facility was an office complex and a library. the former brick sanctuary was later converted for use as classrooms and a small chapel. The church is notable for the number of its young members that have entered fields of Christian service. the congregation supports several ministries and bible colleges and is active in local and foreign outreach programs. Arcadia Christian Church continues to provide spiritual guidance for the community.