Site of Early Bowman Church

Duane's take

Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'm going to give it to you straight with a little Duane on top. Somewhere out on the Texas plains, in a place called Stringtown, a handful of settlers put down roots and did what settlers do: they got organized. These folks had come down from the northern United States, and they weren't about to let the prairie go without a church.

They called their little congregation the Wichita Class, and they held services right there in Stringtown, which folks would later know as Bowman. For years, they conducted those services in two languages, German and English both, going back to 1888. Now that takes some doing, preaching a sermon you've got to say twice, but that's the kind of community this was.

They built a parsonage right beside the schoolhouse, and that schoolhouse is where the members came to worship. Then in 1893, the congregation got a proper name. They called themselves Bowman, in honor of Bishop Thomas Bowman.

A few years on, in 1897, they raised up an actual church building. And if you think the story stops there, well, it doesn't. In 1901, they picked up the whole operation, church and parsonage both, and moved them one mile south of town to the site you're sitting near right now.

Not one building. Both of them. A mile.

That's a community that means business. Over the next two decades, from 1900 to 1920, this little church played host to five annual church conferences. Five gatherings of the faithful, right here on the Texas plains.

Then in 1932, the congregation merged with First Church of Wichita Falls, and the chapter closed, quiet as a hymn's last note. This marker was erected by Walter Ford and the Bowman Community, so the story wouldn't be forgotten. Seems to me it worked.

What the marker says

Organized as "Wichita Class" in Stringtown (now Bowman) by settlers from northern U.S. For years German and English services were held in 1888. A parsonage was built beside the schoolhouse where members worshipped. In 1893 congregation was named "Bowman" in honor of Bishop Thomas Bowman. A church building was erected in 1897. In 1901 both church and parsonage were moved one mile south of town to this site. The church played host to 5 annual church conferences, 1900-1920. In 1932 it merged with First Church of Wichita Falls. (1970) Erected by Walter Ford annd Bowman Community.