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First Presbyterian Church of Bay City |
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Bay City, Texas
Submitted by Kathleen Tatum and Bobbie Duffy Dykes
The history of the town of Bay City, Texas had
its beginning in the year of 1894. The first dwelling had not been
completed in December of that year, and most of the prospective
citizens were still living in tents, waiting for their homes to be
built.
In the early part of 1901, the Reverend George Wallace Story, an evangelist, visited the Bay City church and arranged to serve as supply pastor for one Sunday each month. This arrangement carried on until the spring meeting of Presbytery, 1903, when the relationship was dissolved.
The present church building was erected across the street from the original church on Lots 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, in Block No. 107, fronting 140 feet on Fifth Street and 140 feet on Avenue H. This new brick building was a gift from Fred S. Robbins, dated July 10, 1935.
Among the special gifts, with their donors were:
Two large stained glass windows, one on each side of the sanctuary, given by the children of Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Simons. One depicts "The Good Shepherd" and the other, "Praying Christ."
The lovely "Rose Window" in the facade of the sanctuary is a memorial to Mrs. P. E. Parker given by her children.
The smaller stained glass windows were given in memory of Mrs. J. P. Bryan, mother of Mrs. Thomas H. Lewis and Mrs. Fred S. Robbins.
Mrs. Campbell of Palacios donated a piano. Another piano was given by Mrs. Henry James and Mrs. Slater.
The furniture in the ladies parlor was given in memory of "Mother Robbins" who lived to be 99 years old. The pulpit furniture was an expression of appreciation from the congregation to the Reverend and Mrs. Deutsch.
The beautiful pipe organ was a gift from the Misses Callie Metzger and Pauline Huebner, Mrs. W. W. Wilkinson, and Mrs. Fred S. Robbins, as well as other memorial gifts.
Robbins Hall, adjoining the church building, was built in 1938 in memory of Theresa Bryan Robbins by her husband, Fred S. Robbins. An addition to the church school building was completed in the spring of 1950. A new manse, located at 2400 Live Oak and bordering on Cottonwood Creek, was purchased in 1960. An extensive remodeling program of the church building was begun in 1963, at which time the north wing of the church school building and new offices at the front of Robbins Hall were added. The formal dedication service was held on Sunday afternoon, April 19, 1964. The last addition to church property took place in 1967 when the property at the corner of Fifth Street and Avenue H, where the manse was located, was traded to the City of Bay City in exchange for an adjacent lot north of the church, facing Avenue H on the west and Sixth Street on the north. On the lot where the first church stood, the present City Hall now stands.
Pastors who have served the church since its
founding are as follows:
SESSION MINUTES
July 31st 1898 Bay City July 31st 1898 The Session met at the church shortly after the close of divine worship at noon. Present Rev. E. C. Boaz, the moderator, with Elder A. D. Hensley. The meeting was opened with prayer. Mrs. Fannie L. Winston appeared before the session and was examined on her religious experience. When having made a satisfactory profession of her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, she was admitted to the sealing ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Closed with prayer. Read and approved. A. D. Hensley Clerk
Novem 25th 1900 Bay City November 25th 1900 The session met in the parlor of the Rugely house at 3 o'clock P.M. Present Rev W. S. Red the moderator, with Elder A. D. Hensley, Elder Fred S. Robbins of the Quintana church was also present by invitation. The meeting was opened with prayer by the moderator. After a conference with the deacons on motion of Elder Hensley the Home Mission Committee was requested to supply this church with preaching for one Sunday in each month and the session guaranteed for pastors salary the sum of $125.00 per year. The minutes were adopted and the meeting closed with prayer. Read and approved A. D. Hensley Clerk
October 20th 1901 The Session met at close of the morning service in the District Court Room. Present: Rev G. W. Story, the moderator, with Elder A. D. Hensley. The meeting was opened with prayer. Mrs. Maggie B. Hensley wife of A. D. presented to the session her letter from the Presbyterian church at Llano Texas, and it appearing to the session, that the same was in all particulars regular and of recent date, it was ordered that she be received into the membership of this church and be admitted to the sealing ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Closed with prayer. Read and approved A. D. Hensley Clerk
Novem 21st 1901 Bay City Novem 21st 1901 The Session met at the residence of Mr. C. J. Green. Present Rev. G. W. Story, the moderator and Elder A. D. Hensley. The meeting was opened with prayer. After some conversation on religious matters, Mr. C. J. Green and his wife Mrs. Ida E. Green stated to the session their desire to remove their membership from the Presbyterian church at Port Lavaca to the Presbyterian church at this place, whereupon the session examined them on their religious experience and having made a satisfactory profession of their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, they were received into the membership of this church and the clerk was instructed to notify the session of the Lavaca church. Closed with prayer. Read and approved A. D. Hensley Clerk
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The Reverend Granville T. Storey, D. D., 89, died at his home here on West 7th Street, Sunday at 6:15 a. m. He had been in retirement from the Presbyterian ministry since 1932. Prior to that he had served Bay City for 15 years and was pastor of Hardy Street Presbyterian Church in Houston from 1904 to 1917. Reverend Storey was born on a plantation in Green County, Alabama, September 6, 1851. He received his early training in Smith County, Mississippi and graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1875. He graduated from the Graduated Union Theological Seminary of Virginia in 1878. He was ordained a minister by the Presbytery of Central Mississippi, April 14, 1878. He served in the ministry 54 years. He married Miss Sophia Louise Beazley at Houston, December 9, 1878. To this union eight children were born, six of whom are living. After the death of his first wife, he married Miss Theada M. Humphreys of –ington, Virgina, May 18, 1893. Two children, both of whom are living, were born to this union. Dr. Storey spent the first part of his ministerial life in Mississippi. He moved to Texas in 1892 and served the pastorates of San Angelo, Wills Point, Farney. He was active in the work of his Presbytery and Home Missions during most of his ministry. He was widely known, respected and beloved. People of this community, whether of his denomination or not received Christian blessings and help from him. He carried into his daily life the teachings which he himself carefully and talentedly taught to others. Dr. Storey is survived by four daughters: Mrs. Daniel P. Smith of Redland, California; Mrs. Wm. E. Ramsey of Houston, Mrs. J. M. McClure and Mrs. J. D. Yancey of Bay City; and four sons: A. B. (Lon), of Houston, Reverend Charlton Storey of Wilmington, North Carolina; S. L. of Oakland, Cal.; D. C. of Long Beach, California; fifteen grandchildren; one brother, W. A. of Wesson, Miss.; two sisters, Mrs. R. G. Hallum of Brownwood and Mrs. Etta Hildebrand of Amarillo, Texas.
The Daily Tribune, October 28, 1940
Dr. Storey Dies at Home In Bay City Dr. Granville T. Storey, 89, who retired from the Presbyterian ministry in 1932 after serving 54 years, died at 6:15 o’clock Sunday morning at his home here. Dr. Storey was pastor of the Hardy Street Presbyterian Church in Houston from 1904 until 1917, when he accepted the call from the First Presbyterian Church here. He was pastor of the church until he retired at the age of 81. The minister was born in Green County, Alabama. He was graduated from the University of Mississippi in 1875, and from the Union Theological Seminary in Virginia in 1878. He was ordained by the presbytery of Central, Mississippi, on April 14, 1878. Dr. Storey came to Texas in 1892, serving churches in San Angelo, Wills Point, Forney, Houston, and Bay City. He was president of the Spears Langford Military Institute at Searcy, Arkansas, from 1896 until 1899. Funeral services were held at 3:30 o’clock Monday afternoon at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial was in Cedarvale Cemetery. Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Daniel P. Smith of Redlands, California, Mrs. William E. Ramsay of Houston, Mrs. J. M. McClure and Mrs. J. D. Yancy of Bay City; four sons, A. B. Storey of Houston, Dr. Charlton H. Storey of Wilmington, N. C., S. L. Storey of Oakland, California, and D. C. Storey of Long-Beach, California; two sisters, Mrs. R. G. Hallum of Brownwood and Mrs. Etta Hildebrand of Amarillo; a brother, W. A. Storey of Wesson, Massachusetts, and fifteen grand-children. The Herald, Bay City, October 31, 1940
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