DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First Christian Church of Garland. Now settle in, because this story starts before Garland was even called Garland — before it was even a gleam in a railroad surveyor's eye. Back in 1858, there was a little place called Duck Creek, just takin' shape, and four denominations were already sharing the same schoolhouse for Sunday services.
Four different congregations, one building. You've got to respect the logistical faith that required. Then the Civil War arrived and put a hold on just about everything, the way it did all across Texas.
But by the 1870s, Duck Creek was finding its footing again. And in 1875, the Reverend W. B.
Cole pulled together twenty-one charter members and organized the First Christian Church. They kept meeting in that schoolhouse for several years — humble beginnings, as most good stories have. Now here's where the plot thickens, and it involves a railroad.
In 1884, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad came through the area — and missed Duck Creek by exactly one mile. One mile. A new township called Embree sprouted up right beside that railroad line, the way towns do when the iron horse comes to town.
The congregation didn't scatter. They adapted. In 1885, the Reverend W.
B. Cole's son — Charles I. Cole — became the church's first full-time minister.
The next year, 1886, the members erected their very own house of worship. Then in 1888, they purchased the land on this very site and moved that church building right here, setting down roots that would hold for generations. And in 1891, Duck Creek and Embree incorporated together and became Garland.
The church grew right alongside it. Between 1922 and 1924, a new brick building went up. Remodeling came when it was needed.
And when the Depression era arrived with all its weight and worry, the congregation persevered — that word matters, persevered. From 1954 to 1964, they didn't just survive, they multiplied — establishing two new congregations, Monica Park and Western Heights Christian churches. By the year 2000, the membership of the First Christian Church of Garland reached one thousand souls.
At the dawn of that 21st century, the church was still serving — counseling services, free meeting space, financial aid to nonprofit organizations, reaching beyond its own walls into the wider community. Twenty-one charter members in a schoolhouse in 1875. A thousand members by the year 2000.
That's not just a church growin' — that's a community holdin' on to something worth holdin'.
What the marker says
As the township of Duck Creek began to take shape in 1858, four denominations shared religious services in the Duck Creek schoolhouse. Area development was delayed by the onset of the Civil War, but by the 1870s the town was recovering. The Rev. W. B. Cole organized First Christian Church in 1875 with 21 charter members. They met in the schoolhouse for several years. In 1884, the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad missed Duck Creek by one mile. A new township called Embree sprang up beside the railroad line. In 1885, the Rev. W. B. Cole's son, Charles l. Cole, became the growing congregation's first full-time minister; the following year, church members erected their own house of worship. In 1888 the congregation purchased the land on this site and moved the church building here. The two townships incorporated in 1891 to become Garland. The congregation grew with the area. Between 1922 and 1924 a new brick building was erected. The church was remodeled and additions were made as needed. The congregation persevered despite the difficulties of the Depression era. From 1954 to 1964 the church established two new congregations, Monica Park and Western Heights Christian churches. The membership of the First Christian Church of Garland reached 1000 in the year 2000. At the dawn of the 21st century, the First Christian Church serves its congregation and the wider community with such outreach ministries as counseling services and offering free meeting space and financial aid to many nonprofit organizations. The First Christian Church of Garland continues in the traditions of its founders. (2000)