History of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church

History of St. Stephen Presbyterian Church
Timeline from 1883 to the Present

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.