|
19th
Century |
|
|
1883 |
Elders from
First Presbyterian Church of Ft. Worth petition
the Session to sponsor a new church on the south
side of town. A lot on the corner of St. Louis and
Broadway is purchased for the site of the new
church. |
|
1884-1887 |
On May 11, 1884, the
charter for Broadway Presbyterian Church is signed.
W. L. Lawrence is called as the first pastor of the
new church. S. M. Luckett and William Mitchell
follow as the second and third pastors of the
church. |
|
1890 |
Rev. Dr. Junius B.
French is called as the fourth pastor of Broadway
Presbyterian Church. |
|
20th
Century |
|
|
1901 |
A new Gothic
architecture sanctuary is constructed. |
|
1905 |
The General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church meets at Broadway
Presbyterian Church - the first time the General
Assembly ever convenes in Texas. |
|
1909 |
Fire destroys the
recently constructed building along with
Broadway Baptist Church and Swedish Lutheran
Church. |
|
1911 |
A new building is
constructed. The sanctuary features a pipe organ, a unique
chandelier that can be lowered for cleaning or
re-lamping, and a huge clock that is maintained by a
member of the church that worked in the clock repair
department of Ft. Worth's Haltom Jeweler's. |
|
1912 |
Dr. French departs,
and Rev. Dr. Archibald Carr is called as the new
pastor. |
|
1921 |
Rev. Dr. David
McConnell is called to replace Dr. Carr who accepts a
call from a congregation in Savannah, Georgia. |
|
1935 |
Rev. Dr. James F.
Hardie accepts the call to replace Dr. McConnell.
Under Dr. Hardie's leadership, the church purchases
the current property located in the Park Hill area
of Ft. Worth. |
|
1945 |
Fort Worth architect
C.O. Chromaster is hired to plan and design a new
church complex for the new site. The Master Plan
called for a large sanctuary on the northernmost
part of the hill with a large area of lawn to the
south. On the east side of the lawn, were to be a
long education and office wing, with a chapel to the
south of this building, fronting on McPherson. |
|
1949 |
Rev. Dr. Richard
William Jablonowski, Jr. ("Bill Jab") accepts the call to
Broadway Presbyterian Church. He preaches the final
sermon at the Broadway location. |
|
1950 |
The church moves to
its current location at 2700 McPherson Avenue
meeting in the present day Parish Hall. The name of
the church is also changed to St. Stephen
Presbyterian Church. |
|
1955 |
Building Fund Campaign
for the Sanctuary is established. Wilson, Patterson
& Associates is hired to prepare the
architectural plans based on the original design
of Chromaster. |
|
1969 |
Services are held for
the first time in the new sanctuary. The sanctuary
was designed by Albert S. Komatsu, AIA of Fort
Worth. |
|
1971 |
Installation of the
new M. P. Moller
pipe organ is completed. |
|
1975 |
Mark Scott is named
Minister of Music and Organist, continuing the music
and worship traditions of his predecessors Elza Cook, E. Clyde Whitlock, and Sam Losh. |
|
1982 |
The
Tower Bells are installed in the Sanctuary
tower. |
|
1988 |
Dr. Jablonowski
retires as Pastor of St. Stephen after 38
years in the pulpit. |
|
1989 |
Rev. Dr. Robert W.
Martin, Jr. is called as Interim Pastor. |
|
1991 |
Rev. Dr. Patrick J. Willson is called as the eighth pastor of the
church. |
|
1993 |
Installation of the
new
Garland pipe organ is completed. |
|
1995 |
Dr. Willson departs
to become pastor of
Williamsburg Presbyterian Church, Williamsburg,
Virginia. Rev. Dr. Stephen W. Smith is called as
Interim Pastor. |
|
1996 |
Rev. Dr. William F.
Galbraith, III is called to be the ninth Pastor of
the church. |
|
21st
Century |
|
|
2002 |
Dr. Galbraith departs
to become Pastor of
First Presbyterian
Church, Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Rev. Dr. Thomas
Finley Brown is called as Interim Pastor. |
|
2004 |
Rev. Dr. Frederick
Field ("Fritz") Ritsch, Pastor of
Bethesda Presbyterian Church, Bethesda, Maryland, is called as the
new Pastor
of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church. |
|
2005 |
Rev. Dr. Warner M.
Bailey, recently retired as long-time Pastor
of
Ridglea Presbyterian Church in Ft. Worth, joins
the St. Stephen staff as Parish Associate. |
|
2006 |
A prayer
garden and outdoor labyrinth, featuring a Celtic
Cross, are dedicated on September 24, 2006. |
