First Presbyterian Church of Rockwall

Duane's take

Here's the story as the official marker tells it: my job is just to do it justice. Now, Rockwall, Texas isn't a town that does things halfway, and the story of its First Presbyterian Church proves that out in style. Cast your mind back to November 7, 1854.

A small group of Presbyterians gathered together, led by the Reverend John U. Vance, and they organized what they called the Rockwall Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Twenty-three charter members.

That's it. Twenty-three souls to start the whole thing off. For the next thirty-three years, that congregation didn't have a building to call their own.

They met in schools, in other churches' facilities; borrowing space wherever they could find it. Thirty-three years of that. Most outfits would've given up, packed their Bibles and gone home.

Not this one. Then, in 1887, the Reverend S.M. Templeton stepped up to lead a building committee, and they went out and purchased property at the corner of Munson and Fannin streets; the very corner where you can find this marker today.

Progress at last. In 1888 they built a small frame sanctuary. Finally, a place of their own.

And then, well, then Texas reminded everybody who's actually in charge around here. Three months after that sanctuary was completed, a windstorm destroyed it. Three months.

You almost have to admire the timing. But here's the thing about this congregation. They rebuilt.

They came right back, put up another structure, and that one served them faithfully until 1928, when a new church building went up on the town square. And then, in 1980, yet another new sanctuary rose at this very site on Munson and Fannin. Along the way, this church kept its doors open to the broader community; well baby clinics, elementary school tutoring, summer library reading programs, and a food and clothing pantry for the needy.

The building changed more than once, but that part never did. Then in 1983, the Presbyterian denomination reunited, and the congregation took its current name: First Presbyterian Church of Rockwall. Started with twenty-three people and a borrowed floor to stand on.

Knocked flat by a windstorm and back up again before the dust settled. Some stories just tell themselves; you only have to get out of the way.

What the marker says

On November 7, 1854, a small group of Presbyterians led by the Rev. John U. Vance gathered together to organize the Rockwall Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Beginning with twenty-three charter members, the congregation met in schools and other church facilities for the first thirty-three years. In 1887 a building committee was formed under the leadership of the Rev. S.M. Templeton, and property at the present corner of Munson and Fannin streets was purchased. A small frame sanctuary was built in 1888, only to be destroyed by a windstorm three months after its completion. It was soon rebuilt, however, and served the congregation until another church building was constructed on the town square in 1928. That structure was replayed by a new sanctuary at this site in 1980. Throughout its history, this church has served the community by offering its facilities for outreach programs such as well baby clinics, elementary school tutoring, summer library reading programs, and a food and clothing pantry for the needy. Following the reunion of the Presbyterian denomination in 1983, the name of this congregation was changed to First Presbyterian Church of Rockwall. (1989)