First Christian Church of Huntsville

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Back in January of 1854, a man named Joseph Addison Clark started a congregation in Huntsville that began about as humbly as a church can begin — a dozen members, meeting in each other's living rooms. Now, that name might ring a bell for you, and it should, because Joseph Addison Clark and his brother Randolph Clark would go on to found Texas Christian University.

But in those early days, there was no grand sanctuary, no steeple catching the morning light. Just a handful of believers and somebody's parlor. For a time, they even moved their worship services into the Walker County Courthouse, which tells you something about the spirit of a congregation that wasn't going to let a little thing like not having a building slow them down.

The first resident pastor to take the pulpit was the Reverend Benton Sweeney, who began his ministry there on January 1, 1863 — the first day of a new year, which feels right for a man stepping into something that mattered. By 1871, the congregation had moved into an existing church structure at the corner of 11th Street and Avenue J, and then in 1901 that building gave way to a new one right on the same site. Progress has a way of doing that.

Then in 1931, a red brick church was dedicated there, and it served the congregation for decades, all the way until 1963, when the church made its move to 19th Street and Avenue R. Now, if you want a name that captures the heart of this congregation, consider the Reverend Edwin Curtis Boynton. He held the longest pastorate in the church's history — and he didn't do it all in one stretch, mind you.

He served on three separate occasions, beginning in 1899 and ending in 1949. Fifty years bookended. The church also counted among its members some of the area's most prominent figures, including Dr.

Joseph Baldwin, who became president of what was then Sam Houston Normal Institute in 1881. A dozen people in a living room in 1854. That's where it started.

And the First Christian Church of Huntsville just kept on going.

What the marker says

Joseph Addison Clark, who with his brother, Randolph Clark, later founded Texas Christian University, started this congregation in January 1854. The church originally had a dozen members who met in private homes. For a time, worship services were held in the Walker County Courthouse. First resident pastor was The Rev. Benton Sweeney, who began his ministry here on January 1, 1863. The congregation moved into an existing church structure in 1871 at the corner of 11th Street and Avenue J. In 1901 it was replaced by a new structure at the site. A red brick church was dedicated in 1931 and served until the congregation moved to 19th Street and Avenue R in 1963. The longest pastorate in the church's history was held by The Rev. Edwin Curtis Boynton, who served here on three different occasions, beginning in 1899 and ending in 1949. Membership of First Christian Church has included a number of prominent lay leaders, such as Dr. Joseph Baldwin, who became president in 1881 of what was then Sam Houston Normal Institute. The congregation continues to provide significant service and leadership to the community.