A Brief History

 

Some would say that it all began shortly after the Gonzales brothers, Alfredo and Mariano, laid out the town in 1874.  Two men – Mr. Thomas Faw and Mr. D. K. Edwards – organized a Sunday School program and met in the original school house at 5th and Day Streets. A few years later these men were joined by the Rev. Joseph Beaven, who began to hold monthly preaching services.

 

By 1883 the Rev. S. C. Keetch had succeeded Rev. Beaven, and services were being held twice a month.  Then in May – 13th day to be exact – a gathering of the flock was held in Mr. Edward’s house and the Baptist Church of Gonzales was officially organized.

 

By June of the following year an edifice had been erected and was ready for dedication.  The building and furnishings cost $3,100 (exclusive of land), and was completely paid for at the time of the dedication service, July 14, 1884.

 

This quote from a local newspaper is quite descriptive:

“For a mere handful of people, such as we are, numbering only 14, to undertake to build such a house, required a great deal of moral courage, but we believe from the first that God was with us, and that He would crown our efforts with success, and we have not been disappointed.

 

Our church has a seating capacity of about 275, including the lecture room, which separated from the main audience room by folding doors, can always be made use of when needed.  The walls and ceiling are beautifully frescoed, and present a very attractive appearance.  The style of the building is Gothic.  It has a tower sixty feet high, containing a bell, the tones of which have been heard six miles distant”

 

So began this historic congregation and building.  Services have been held continuously since that May, 1883 date.  Four additional buildings have been constructed in the succeeding years, Fowler Hall, house for our pastor, and a class room and church office building.

 

In 1954, the Baptists were joined by the Presbyterians to form a federated church.  In the same year the interior of the main building was remolded and a choir loft and three rooms were added.

 

In 1958, Rev. Thomas Patten came to Gonzales and remained as Pastor of the church until 1983.  During his tenure, the Baptist-Presbyterian federation was dissolved and church became solely a Presbyterian Church, but retained the community nature and the goal of being a place of worship for all those who wanted a relationship with Christ.