History of First Presbyterian Church of Granbury

Presbyterians were among the early settlers in Hood County, but like many places on the “frontier” no particular denomination was established right away.  Rather, the people of the community built a building that was shared by the “Circuit riders” of the different denominations.  Some Presbyterians held services in the “Meeting Houses” of small communities which were being settled in Hood County.  The earliest Presbyterian congregation in this area shared a stone church building with three other denominations near the town of Acton in 1855.  For the next few years the congregation met for worship in other area churches, this included the Baptist and Christian (Disciples) churches and they also held services in the Hood County Courthouse on the first and third Sundays of the month.  After Granbury was established a Cumberland Presbyterian Church was formed here in 1879.  Rev. A. G. Martin was the founding minister; he served Granbury, Glen Rose, and Thorp Springs.  Rev. Martin served until 1885.

The lot on which the church now stands was purchased in 1892; the corner lot next to the church was purchased in 1894 for the purpose of building a parsonage.   In 1895 a new pastor was called.  The members were full of plans for raising the funds to build their own church house. 

Construction of the church building began in March 1895; the contract for the foundation for the church house was awarded to I.M. Walley, with the building being completed in April 1896.   The congregation had decided to wait until they had paid off all debts on the building before having a dedication service.  The mortgage was burned on Saturday November 6, 1897 and a formal dedication service was held the next day.

Not much information is available about the “old school” Presbyterian Church that had been organized in 1892.  For a while they held services on alternate Sundays at the new Church building and a later map of the town shows them meeting at a site on West Pearl Street.  In 1906 the Cumberland Presbyterian Church united with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.  They were then known as the First Presbyterian Church, Granbury.

A yoked arrangement with the First Presbyterian Church, Stephenville, in 1974 opened the door for a full time pastor shared by the two congregations.  This arrangement was continued until 1980 when the Rev. John Brannon left for a new pastorate and the Stephenville congregation wanted to be on their own.

The congregation was fortunate to call the Rev. E.A. Paschal in 1982.  Under Rev. Paschal’s leadership the congregation gradually increased and many new programs were established.  Rev. Paschal served as our part time minister for ten years.  In 1993, Dr. Charley Harnest was called as interim minister and ably served the congregation during the search for a new pastor.

 In November 1994, Dr. Charles Somervill was called as full-time pastor.  A new education building, built in 1992, allowed increased activities and programs for both the church and the community.  First Presbyterian grew at rapid pace.  We now also have an administration building on Pearl and a new Annex Building adjacent to the church opened the Fall of 2005. We continue to grow with over 360 members to date.

The modified Gothic-style church was built in 1896 and dedicated in 1897.  As you enter notice the framed three story belfry.  The congregation still rings the old, original church bell that hangs in the steeple-topped tower.  Also notice the steep Gothic gables, the beaded-board wainscoting around its lower exterior wall and the beautiful stained-glass window.

Dark green colored glass was added to the windows in the 1960’s.  (Original panes were clear.)  The original window frames are still in place.  New stained glass windows replaced the colored glass in 1996. The wainscoting, chair rails, and decorative pressed tin ceiling are all from the original construction.

The First Presbyterian Church, featured on the Granbury Candlelight Tour each December, was restored by its growing congregation and in 1974 received a Texas Historical Marker designating it as a Recorded Texas Landmark.

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