First Presbyterian Church of Mission

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about the First Presbyterian Church of Mission, down in Hidalgo County. Now, every good story has to start somewhere, and this one starts with a sermon. The year was 1909, and a man by the name of Dr.

Samuel McPheeters Glasgow stepped up and delivered the very first sermon in Mission. Not content to stop there, he also organized a Sunday school class, which, if you know anything about how congregations get built, is exactly the kind of quiet groundwork that turns into something lasting. Teaming up with Dr.

M.W. Doggett, Dr. Glasgow made it official, and on January 9, 1910, the First Presbyterian Church of Mission was organized.

Those two men were also instrumental in establishing churches in several other Valley cities, which tells you something about the scale of what they were setting in motion. By April of 1910, a small wooden structure had been built. Modest beginnings, sure, but the roots were going deep.

New complexes followed, one in 1955 and another in 2005, each one a chapter in a story still being written. Now here's where the tale gets a little something extra. Over the years, the pews of this church have been occupied by some remarkable names.

President Eisenhower sat in this congregation. So did Governor Shivers, General Frank McCoy, and William Jennings Bryan. Hundreds of members, yes, but also that particular company.

The church has gone on to support several local ministries and outreach programs, and its charitable work reaches worldwide. It started with one sermon in a young Texas town, and it's still going.

What the marker says

In 1909, Dr. Samuel McPheeters Glasgow gave the first sermon in Mission and organized a Sunday school class. Along with Dr. M.W. Doggett, Dr. Glasgow organized first Presbyterian Church of Mission on January 9, 1910. The pair was also instrumental in establishing churches in several other Valley cities. By April 1910, a small wooden structure was built. New complexes were built in 1955 and 2005. Along with hundreds of members, services have also been attended by Pres. Eisenhower, Gov. Shivers, Gen. Frank McCoy and William Jennings Bryan. The church supports several local ministries and outreach programs and continues charitable work worldwide.