First Christian Church of Tyler

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First Christian Church of Tyler, in Smith County. Now settle in, because this story starts with a single deed and ends up touching the whole community. The first known record of a Christian, Disciples of Christ, church in Tyler shows up in an 1859 deed.

That deed secured title to a piece of property, and on that property a red brick sanctuary was built. A congregation with roots, with walls, with a future. Then 1861 arrived, and with it the outbreak of the Civil War, and just like that, the fellowship was disbanded.

Gone. For two decades, Tyler had no active Disciples of Christ congregation. Two decades.

But here's the thing about faithful people: a few of the members kept right on going. No full church, no sanctuary, but they conducted a Bible school. Quietly.

Steadily. Keeping something alive in the dark. Then came 1889, and a man named J.

J. Lockhart rode into the picture. He was state evangelist for the Texas Christian Missionary Society, and he held a meeting at the Albertson Opera House.

Out of that meeting, a new church was organized. The congregation found a home in a tabernacle on West Erwin Street and got to the work of being a church again. They were without a full-time minister for a stretch, but in 1906, Reverend J.

J. Lockhart returned to Tyler and became the pastor. The man who helped start it came back to lead it.

From 1889 forward, the membership grew. Two additional sanctuaries were built. A Sunday School was organized.

A women's missionary auxiliary was formed. Youth activities were added. And from within those walls, a large number of ministers and missionaries went out into the world.

That little congregation saved by a Bible school and revived in an opera house had become something that shaped lives far beyond Tyler. Throughout its history, the First Christian Church of Tyler has played an important role in the community and in the Disciples of Christ brotherhood. And that, my friend, is a resurrection story if I ever heard one.

What the marker says

(Disciples of Christ) The first known record of a Christian (Disciples of Christ) church in Tyler appears in an 1859 deed that secured title to property on which a red brick sanctuary was built. With the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861, the fellowship was disbanded. For two decades Tyler had no active Disciples of Christ congregation, although a few of the members continued to conduct a Bible school. In 1889, J. J. Lockhart, who was state evangelist for the Texas Christian Missionary Society, held a meeting in the Albertson Opera House, and a new church was organized. The congregation met in a tabernacle on West Erwin Street but was without a full-time minister until 1906, when the Rev. J. J. Lockhart returned to Tyler and became the pastor. From 1889, the membership grew, and two additional sanctuaries were built, a Sunday School was organized, a women's missionary auxiliary was formed, and youth activities were added. A large number of ministers and missionaries have come from this church. Throughout its history, the First Christian Church of Tyler has played an important role in the community and in the Disciples of Christ brotherhood.