Breckenridge Texan

First Christian Church of Breckenridge held a dedication service for the new building on March 21, 1926, as seen here in this Basil Clemons photograph. (From the Basil Clemons Photograph Collection, University of Texas at Arlington Libraries, UTA Libraries Digital Gallery, https://library.uta.edu/digitalgallery/img/20070047)

Honoring a century of history

By Carla McKeown/Breckenridge Texan

One hundred years ago, a crowd gathered at the southeast corner of Breckenridge Avenue and Williams Street for the dedication service of First Christian Church’s new building. On Sunday, March 22, 2026, the church’s congregation will celebrate the 100th anniversary of that building during their regular service beginning at 10:30 a.m.

The service will include comments from some of the parishioners who were raised in the church. Additionally, a variety of historical documents from throughout the church’s history will be on display, and a light luncheon will be served in the undercroft following the service. The community is invited to attend the service and luncheon.

Elaine Moore, along with Richard Sorell, has been helping organize the history of the building, poring over the many documents saved by the late Betty Fambro, who served on the 75th anniversary planning committee in 2001. The collection includes the original blueprints for the building, many old photographs, church bulletins, and much more.

Construction of the First Christian Church building on the southeast corner of Breckenridge Avenue and Williams Street took place in the last half of 1925. (Photo courtesy of First Christian Church)

The history of Breckenridge’s First Christian Church goes back much further than the construction of the current building, though. Local residents who were members of the Christian Church first started meeting in their homes in the early 1880s and then met in a school building, which they shared with other denominations. According to church history, the first building was constructed in 1890 across the street from the current location. After that building was destroyed by a cyclone several years later, a stone church was built in that same location.

After Breckenridge’s population increased due to the oil boom in the early 1920s, the members of First Christian Church decided to have a new building constructed across the street, at the current location of 101 E. Williams St.

Among the historical documents is a hand-written history of the church by Betty Fambro, possibly written in 2001. She explains that Clyde H. Woodruff was chosen as the architect. According to the Texas State Historical Association, Woodruff was a notable architect in the area. A member of the Fort Worth First Christian Church, he designed several churches in north Texas.

A contract for the construction was approved by July 1, 1925, and by Aug. 18, 1925, the concrete walls of the basement were finished and the laying of the brick for the ground floor had started.

This invitation to the cornerstone laying was sent to Mr. and Mrs. O.R. Hay of Breckenridge in 1925.

The “Laying of the Corner Stone” ceremony was held on Nov. 12, 1925. The cornerstone, located on the northwest corner of the building, served as a type of time capsule and, according to church documents, included the following contents:

• Holy Bible
• Membership list of the church
• Copy of the ceremony’s program
• List of the Women’s Missionary Society
• List of the Ladies Aid members
• List of the Sunday school teachers and pupils
• List of Intermediate Christian Endeavorers
• List of Junior Christian Endeavorers
• List of Breckenridge’s pastors and churches
• Copy of the Christian Courier, a regional religious newspaper printed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Texas
• Copy of the Breckenridge American

The First Christian Church cornerstone is located on the northwest corner of the building and contains a variety of historical church and community documents. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

About four months after the cornerstone was laid, the building’s dedication service was held on March 21, 1926, with hundreds attending.

In her hand-written history, Fambro said that a newspaper article in 1926 described the interior as having “stippled walls in mauve, orchid and green with light fumed oak woodwork and pews. It described the stenciled ceiling and walls and especially the stained glass window made by the Kansas City Stained Glass Works. This was modern then — it’s known now was Art Nouveau. The outside of buff brick with neo-gothic arches is acclaimed by architects. It is truly a beautiful building to cherish and to worship (in) and give glory to God.”

The First Christian Church sanctuary features a stained glass window made by the Kansas City Stained Glass Works. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

She went on to explain that the building included an old school bell that had once belonged to the Presbyterian church. When the Presbyterian building was destroyed by high winds, the bell was given to First Christian.

A few months after the church building was dedicated, First Christian Church held another dedication service for the Walker Memorial Organ, a pipe organ given to the church by Mr. and Mrs. B.S. Walker in memory of their daughter, Gladys Walker.

Giving a recent tour of the church, Moore pointed out many of the building’s features that Fambro had mentioned, including the walls, ceiling and stained glass. “This has never been touched,” she said in the sanctuary, gesturing to the ceiling, “and neither have our walls. They’re all exactly the way they were done originally.”

First Christian Church has special meaning to Moore and her husband, Virgil Moore III, as they were married in the sanctuary and have been members for more than 40 years.

The church maintains its original features, described in a 1926 newspaper article as “stippled walls in mauve, orchid and green with light fumed oak woodwork and pews (and) stenciled ceiling and walls.” (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

As she shows visitors around the building, she points out little things, such as the plates on the wall where the pot-bellied stoves used to vent and the winding, tunnel-like hallway behind the choir loft. The large sanctuary can be expanded by the opening up of another room of pews at the back of the sanctuary, and there’s also a balcony where attendees can sit.

In the telling of the church’s history, Moore admits that she’s not sure if all of the stories are true or not. For example, one tale is that Bonnie and Clyde Barrow once took refuge in the church’s bell tower and the preacher was charged with aiding and abetting. “I don’t know if that’s just an old story or not,” she said with a laugh.

Included in the historical documents is the “Official Statement of the Building Committee,” dated June 6, 1926, showing that the church had spent $123,113.33 and had $36,248.82 in outstanding liabilities, including $30,000 owed to First National Bank. They statement also shows expected income of that same amount — $36,248.82 — in pledged donations.

The building committee included B.S. Walker, Chairman; M.E. Daniel, Vice Chairman; as well as W.C. Veale, Chas H. Clark, Jack B. Robert, Wood H. Jones and O.C.  Lamon.

At the conclusion of her story about the church, Betty Fambro wrote:

“During the years, there have been happy times, sad times, but all of the times God was there to be with his people in everything that was said and done. I feel that the spirits of all who have gone before us are smiling down and wanting the ones of us here now to keep God’s spirit in our hearts and lives and try the very best we can to live each day as he would have us live.”

A panoramic view of the First Christian Church’s sanctuary shows the many original features of the 100-year-old building, including the stained glass windows and stenciled walls and ceiling. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The stained glass window behind the First Christian Church pulpit was created by the Kansas City Stained Glass Works and installed in 1925 with the original construction of the church. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The First Christian Church foyer is brightly lit and decorated with the original stained glass windows that were installed 100 years ago. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

The church’s library is located in the undercroft, the basement under the sanctuary. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Virgil and Elaine Moore, who were married in the First Christian Church almost 54 years ago, look through some of the historical documents about the church. The late Betty Fambro saved hundreds of church documents and photos, providing a rich history of the Breckenridge church. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

After first meeting in members’ homes and then in a school building, First Christian Church of Breckenridge built a white, clapboard church, pictured here after it was destroyed by a cyclone. (Photo courtesy of First Christian Church)

Breckenridge’s First Christian Church will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its building with a special service beginning at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, March 22, 2026. The community is invited to attend the service and luncheon following. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)

Cutline, top photo: Breckenridge’s First Christian Church, located at 101 E. Williams St., gleams in the afternoon sun, 100 years after it was constructed. On Sunday, March 22, 2026, church members will celebrate the anniversary of the building with a special service and luncheon. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)