The Church of Christ in Rockwall

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker says about the Church of Christ in Rockwall. Now, before Texas was Texas, before the republic, before the flag, before any of that, settlers living under Mexican rule were expected to support the Mexican state religion. No exceptions, no alternatives.

But as Mexico's grip on the territory began to loosen, people started doing what Texans have always done: they organized on their own terms. And among the most remarkable of those early organizers was a group that didn't wait for a building, didn't wait for a town, didn't wait for much of anything. They became known as the church on horseback and wheels.

About three hundred members, rolling and riding their way from Tennessee to Texas. Led by a man who was both a noted preacher and a physician, Mansil Matthews, also recorded as Mansell W. Matthews, this traveling congregation was part of what became known as the American Restoration Movement, the same movement that launched the Christian Church, the Disciples of Christ, and the Church of Christ.

On January 17, 1836, just weeks before Texas would declare itself an independent republic, Matthews and his three hundred souls crossed into Texas at the Jonesborough crossing of the Red River. And what they carried across that river became what is believed to be the first Church of Christ congregation in the state of Texas. Think about that.

The republic hadn't even been born yet, and the church was already here. Now, Matthews didn't settle in Rockwall right away. That came later.

In 1853, he and his family moved to Rockwall, and though they only stayed a few years, the mark they left was not small. During that time, Matthews helped establish a local Church of Christ congregation, and the strong leadership he brought in 1853 set something in motion that would carry that congregation forward for the next century. The members built their first meeting place in 1880.

A real roof. A real floor. Hard-won.

But 1895 brought trouble of a different kind. A disagreement (the kind that cuts deep in a tight-knit congregation) broke out over the use of instrumental music in worship. Now, that may sound like a small thing from the outside, but inside those walls it was anything but small.

The congregation split. The progressive faction joined with the Disciples of Christ. The conservative group formed a new Church of Christ congregation and set about building their own meetinghouse, which was completed in 1910.

And it didn't end there. A later rift led to the formation of Lakeside Church of Christ. But here's the part that doesn't always get told: the two groups eventually reunited.

In name, in number, and in purpose. Today that congregation goes by Eastridge Church of Christ, and they carry forward the traditions of Texas' early religious pioneers through service, worship, and study. From a church that crossed the Red River on horseback and wagon wheels to a congregation still standing in Rockwall, that is one long, unbroken road.

What the marker says

Before establishing an independent republic in 1836, Texas settlers were expected to support the Mexican state religion. As Mexico's rule waned, residents and new arrivals to Texas organized non-Catholic churches. Among them was "the church on horseback and wheels." a group of approximately 300 members traveling from Tennessee to Texas. Led by noted preacher and physician Mansil (Mansell) W. Matthews, the members were part of what became known as the American Restoration Movement, which launched the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the Church of Christ. Matthews' traveling church crossed into Texas at the Jonesborough crossing of the Red River on January 17, 1836 and became what is believed to be the first Church of Christ congregation in Texas. Matthews and his family moved to Rockwall in 1853. They only stayed a few years but during that time helped establish a local Church of Christ. Beginning with the strong leadership of Matthews in 1853, Rockwall's Church of Christ congregation grew during the next century. Members built their first meeting place in 1880. In 1895, a disagreement began over the use of instrumental music in worship, and the congregation split. The progressive faction became part of the Disciples of Christ and the conservative group formed a new Church of Christ congregation. Their first meetinghouse was completed in 1910. A later rift led to the formation of Lakeside Church of Christ, but the two groups later reunited in name, number and purpose. Known today as Eastridge Church of Christ, the congregation maintains the traditions of Texas' early religious pioneers through service, worship and study. (2005)