La Prada Drive Church of Christ
History
Dedication of the Texas Historical Landmark of the body meeting at La Prada Drive.
(See full story below picture.)
(See full story below picture.)
The Church of Christ at LaPrada Drive in Mesquite, Texas originated as the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ, located at 3601 Fitzhugh Avenue in the fair Park District of Dallas, Texas. Previously the church started in 1845 at Long Creek, East of Mesquite, Texas. The name was Bethany Church of Christ from 1845 to 1871. They moved into the Dallas area and were meeting in their homes until 1888. They moved to Dallas and Armstrong streets, South of Fair Park, which was still out in the country and was named Dallas Church of Christ. In 1904 R. B. and Julia Hocker signed a lien with the Campbell Harris Lumber Company for $28.33 for materials to make repairs to the building. In 1907 there were three trustees of the church: C. Williams, G. M. Purcell, and Claude Hocker.
From 1907 until 1912 the name of the street where this particular church of Christ was located changed from Dallas to Workman and still later was given the address of 3601 Fitzhugh. Therefore this church of Christ remained at the same location with a different name for forty-seven years. The State of Texas Historical Society would only go back as far as there were deeds to a building where the church met. That is why the Historical Marker goes back to just 1907. In 1912, Bro. Roy Conner remodeled the white wood frame building on Fitzhugh Avenue, and on July 11, 1912 the congregation met for the first time as the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ. The charter members, along with their families, were Roy Conner, Arlie Miller, J.B. Wilder, Van Coats, and R.B. Hocker. Roy Conner and Arlie Miller served as the first two elders.
In 1920, Bro. C.A. Stark’s family started attending, and in 1922 he was appointed as an elder. Also in 1922, Sisters Lillie Atkins and Zora Vines began attending. In 1924, Bro. Claude Session became an elder along with Bro. Nesbitt who had become an elder in 1923. Another elder who served at the Fitzhugh Avenue congregation, was Leo Hanley, who was appointed in 1946. In 1950, Bro. William Baxter became an elder. Together, Bro. Baxter and Bro. Sessions served the congregation until 1951 when they became elders of a new church on Ewing Avenue established by the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ.
In 1954, the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ faced a similar problem that many congregations face from time to time. The neighborhood was changing, and they needed more space. Property was purchased on Bruton Road, and that same year, a new red brick building was built at 8205 Bruton Road in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas. For the next 25 years, we were known as the Bruton Road Church of Christ. Through the years, the following brethren served as leadership at Fitzhugh Avenue, Bruton Road and at our present location at LaPrada Drive :
Over the years, as Dallas grew, so did the Bruton Road Church of Christ. In 1977, because there was not enough property available to purchase adjacent to the Bruton location, a survey of the membership was taken, and we found that the majority of the members were living in the North Mesquite and South Garland areas. Therefore, a decision was made to purchase four acres at the corner of LaPrada Drive and Galloway, directly across from the Dallas Athletic Club. In March of 1979, the Bruton Road building was sold sooner than anticipated. Consequently, we found ourselves without a building. Because of an earlier agreement made between the Mesquite Independent School District and area churches, we were permitted to meet in the gymnasium of Shands Elementary School adjacent to the property of which we were to build our new building. We met there for the next 9 months until the completion of our new building. During this time, the school district, Mr. Price (the principal), and his staff were very gracious hosts, and we will always be grateful to all of them for the courtesy shown to us.
The LaPrada Drive Church of Christ began meeting at its present location on December 7, 1979, and because of its prior history it is considered the oldest congregation in Mesquite, Texas. The State of Texas dedicated an official Texas Historical Marker to LaPrada Drive Church of Christ. The marker is mounted to a huge stone, that was excavated from Frisco, Texas just north of Dallas, Texas. The historical marker was unveiled during a dedication ceremony held on June 7, 1998.
The LaPrada Drive Church of Christ always has and always will strive to follow the pattern that Christ laid down for His children in the New Testament. We sing, pray, teach, commune, and give of our means as God has prospered us. Our singing is congregational with out the help of musical instruments. Our prayers are simple, from the heart, and offered without display by one another. The teaching is Biblical teaching done by the elders or those whom they appoint. The communion is open to all who wish to partake. The contribution is a free will offering. None is taxed and the contributions from visitors are not solicited.
No visitor is coerced at any time in any way. We feel that the church service should be an opportunity to withdraw from the world into a place of quietness to meditate and worship God. Friendliness is a natural part of the Christian way of life. A warm welcome awaits you at the LaPrada Drive Church of Christ.
We do not claim to be the only Christians, but we do claim to be Christians only. (Click for more pics.)
From 1907 until 1912 the name of the street where this particular church of Christ was located changed from Dallas to Workman and still later was given the address of 3601 Fitzhugh. Therefore this church of Christ remained at the same location with a different name for forty-seven years. The State of Texas Historical Society would only go back as far as there were deeds to a building where the church met. That is why the Historical Marker goes back to just 1907. In 1912, Bro. Roy Conner remodeled the white wood frame building on Fitzhugh Avenue, and on July 11, 1912 the congregation met for the first time as the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ. The charter members, along with their families, were Roy Conner, Arlie Miller, J.B. Wilder, Van Coats, and R.B. Hocker. Roy Conner and Arlie Miller served as the first two elders.
In 1920, Bro. C.A. Stark’s family started attending, and in 1922 he was appointed as an elder. Also in 1922, Sisters Lillie Atkins and Zora Vines began attending. In 1924, Bro. Claude Session became an elder along with Bro. Nesbitt who had become an elder in 1923. Another elder who served at the Fitzhugh Avenue congregation, was Leo Hanley, who was appointed in 1946. In 1950, Bro. William Baxter became an elder. Together, Bro. Baxter and Bro. Sessions served the congregation until 1951 when they became elders of a new church on Ewing Avenue established by the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ.
In 1954, the Fitzhugh Avenue Church of Christ faced a similar problem that many congregations face from time to time. The neighborhood was changing, and they needed more space. Property was purchased on Bruton Road, and that same year, a new red brick building was built at 8205 Bruton Road in the Pleasant Grove area of Dallas. For the next 25 years, we were known as the Bruton Road Church of Christ. Through the years, the following brethren served as leadership at Fitzhugh Avenue, Bruton Road and at our present location at LaPrada Drive :
| ELDERS: 1907 Claude Hocker 1907 G.M. Purcell 1907 Chester Williams 1912 B. Van Coats 1912 R.B. Hocker 1912 J.B. Wilder 1912 Roy Conner 1912 Arlie Miller 1922 C.A. Stark 1923 Bro. Nesbitt 1924 Claude Session 1946 Leo Hanley 1950 William Baxter 1955 Omer Dement 1964 J.B. Stark (son of C.A. Stark) 1970 Dale Reed 1979 Gerald Hanley (son of Leo Hanley) 1998 Tim Hutcheson 1998 Clyde Woody |
DEACONS: 1930 Arthur Atteberry 1940 T.O. West 1944 Leo Hanley 1955 Vance Hunt 1955 Clifford Childers 1959 J.B. Stark 1961 Gene Ewing 1961 Dale Reed 1964 Jimmy Alexander 1970 A.M. Hanley 1970 Clyde Woody 1976 Gerald Hanley 1979 Joe Hanley 1979 Tim Hutcheson 1986 Roy Trantham 1998 Brent Fisher 1998 Robert McFadden 1998 Bruce Woody Look for updates coming soon. |
Over the years, as Dallas grew, so did the Bruton Road Church of Christ. In 1977, because there was not enough property available to purchase adjacent to the Bruton location, a survey of the membership was taken, and we found that the majority of the members were living in the North Mesquite and South Garland areas. Therefore, a decision was made to purchase four acres at the corner of LaPrada Drive and Galloway, directly across from the Dallas Athletic Club. In March of 1979, the Bruton Road building was sold sooner than anticipated. Consequently, we found ourselves without a building. Because of an earlier agreement made between the Mesquite Independent School District and area churches, we were permitted to meet in the gymnasium of Shands Elementary School adjacent to the property of which we were to build our new building. We met there for the next 9 months until the completion of our new building. During this time, the school district, Mr. Price (the principal), and his staff were very gracious hosts, and we will always be grateful to all of them for the courtesy shown to us.
The LaPrada Drive Church of Christ began meeting at its present location on December 7, 1979, and because of its prior history it is considered the oldest congregation in Mesquite, Texas. The State of Texas dedicated an official Texas Historical Marker to LaPrada Drive Church of Christ. The marker is mounted to a huge stone, that was excavated from Frisco, Texas just north of Dallas, Texas. The historical marker was unveiled during a dedication ceremony held on June 7, 1998.
The LaPrada Drive Church of Christ always has and always will strive to follow the pattern that Christ laid down for His children in the New Testament. We sing, pray, teach, commune, and give of our means as God has prospered us. Our singing is congregational with out the help of musical instruments. Our prayers are simple, from the heart, and offered without display by one another. The teaching is Biblical teaching done by the elders or those whom they appoint. The communion is open to all who wish to partake. The contribution is a free will offering. None is taxed and the contributions from visitors are not solicited.
No visitor is coerced at any time in any way. We feel that the church service should be an opportunity to withdraw from the world into a place of quietness to meditate and worship God. Friendliness is a natural part of the Christian way of life. A warm welcome awaits you at the LaPrada Drive Church of Christ.
We do not claim to be the only Christians, but we do claim to be Christians only. (Click for more pics.)
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