A Brief History of the Presbyterians in Tucumcari
First Presbyterian Church was chartered on May 18, 1906. The meeting was officiated by Rev. John Gass, member of the Synod of New Mexico, with a gathering of 38 people.
A covenant was written and signed by them which said, "Hence forth avoiding that unworldly conformity which is forbidden in the scripture and seeking fellowship with the people of God, we do engage to keep covenant with them and with them in the faithful and diligent observance of all the commandments and ordinances of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Wanting to walk together in church relations according to the acknowledged doctrines and order of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America."
The City of Tucumcari hadn't yet been incorporated.
Some land was donated to the church, at the corner of Adams and Aber Streets. In 1909 a red sandstone building with stained glass rose windows was built and dedicated. With $1000 borrowed from the Board of Church Erection, a donation of $2000 from a couple of railroad men, Mr. Arthur James and Cleveland Dodge the building was completed. It cost a total of $8000.
The Reverend Warren H. DuBose was the first minister called to serve at First Presbyterian. In 1909, the Elders decided to raise his salary to $1,240 per year when he got engaged to be married!
In 1942, the church began the longest pastoral relationship in its history, with the coming of Mr. and Mrs. Millard Murphey. Rev. Murphey served the church for 15 years and one month. In November of 1948, the Session made its first plans to build a new church and educational building. By the end of 1953 the membership roll showed 247 members. They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 1956.
On Sunday, May 5, 1963, the church abandoned the original sanctuary due to termites, and began worship services in the Fellowship Hall of the Education Building. Worship continued there until moving into the current sanctuary on Sunday, August 28, 1966. The new sanctuary building was dedicated on Sunday, September 25, 1966, at a cost or $60,000. It has an immense stained glass window depicting a dove and flames, designed by Frank L. Stanton. As the story goes, the church almost went with a less costly plastic window. However, Mr. Chester Dohrer stood before the congregation and announced that "if we don't put in the stained glass now, we never will," and that convinced them to purchase and install the window.
Today, First Presbyterian Church, Tucumcari is maintained by a congregation of 34 members, ruled by 6 elders and 6 deacons, moderated by their pastor, Rev. Amy Pospichal. Amy is well-supported by the love of the congregation and a staff of one, Ruling Elder Sharon Huffman, the Church Secretary and Treasurer (email Sharon at [email protected]). Amy was ordained and installed here in June, 2011.
She prayerfully seeks ways to bring people into our church, embracing our presence and ministry along the Route 66 corridor, instituting a yoga class in the Fellowship Hall, starting movie nights using our new movie screen and projector, getting us into cyberspace, promoting health through exercise classes and the Community Health Talk series, and revitalizing our mission to Christian Education. We have high ambitions to make our church visible - and Jesus known - in Tucumcari. Since 2011, we have added 17 new members, and others are currently considering joining! (as of April 2016)
We are learning how to move with the times, in hopes that our congregation shall be strong in faith, eager to serve God, prepared to make disciples, living according to God's Word, seeking God's kingdom in the making. We pray that we will be here for at least another 100 years!
First Presbyterian Church was chartered on May 18, 1906. The meeting was officiated by Rev. John Gass, member of the Synod of New Mexico, with a gathering of 38 people.
A covenant was written and signed by them which said, "Hence forth avoiding that unworldly conformity which is forbidden in the scripture and seeking fellowship with the people of God, we do engage to keep covenant with them and with them in the faithful and diligent observance of all the commandments and ordinances of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ: Wanting to walk together in church relations according to the acknowledged doctrines and order of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America."
The City of Tucumcari hadn't yet been incorporated.
Some land was donated to the church, at the corner of Adams and Aber Streets. In 1909 a red sandstone building with stained glass rose windows was built and dedicated. With $1000 borrowed from the Board of Church Erection, a donation of $2000 from a couple of railroad men, Mr. Arthur James and Cleveland Dodge the building was completed. It cost a total of $8000.
The Reverend Warren H. DuBose was the first minister called to serve at First Presbyterian. In 1909, the Elders decided to raise his salary to $1,240 per year when he got engaged to be married!
In 1942, the church began the longest pastoral relationship in its history, with the coming of Mr. and Mrs. Millard Murphey. Rev. Murphey served the church for 15 years and one month. In November of 1948, the Session made its first plans to build a new church and educational building. By the end of 1953 the membership roll showed 247 members. They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 1956.
On Sunday, May 5, 1963, the church abandoned the original sanctuary due to termites, and began worship services in the Fellowship Hall of the Education Building. Worship continued there until moving into the current sanctuary on Sunday, August 28, 1966. The new sanctuary building was dedicated on Sunday, September 25, 1966, at a cost or $60,000. It has an immense stained glass window depicting a dove and flames, designed by Frank L. Stanton. As the story goes, the church almost went with a less costly plastic window. However, Mr. Chester Dohrer stood before the congregation and announced that "if we don't put in the stained glass now, we never will," and that convinced them to purchase and install the window.
Today, First Presbyterian Church, Tucumcari is maintained by a congregation of 34 members, ruled by 6 elders and 6 deacons, moderated by their pastor, Rev. Amy Pospichal. Amy is well-supported by the love of the congregation and a staff of one, Ruling Elder Sharon Huffman, the Church Secretary and Treasurer (email Sharon at [email protected]). Amy was ordained and installed here in June, 2011.
She prayerfully seeks ways to bring people into our church, embracing our presence and ministry along the Route 66 corridor, instituting a yoga class in the Fellowship Hall, starting movie nights using our new movie screen and projector, getting us into cyberspace, promoting health through exercise classes and the Community Health Talk series, and revitalizing our mission to Christian Education. We have high ambitions to make our church visible - and Jesus known - in Tucumcari. Since 2011, we have added 17 new members, and others are currently considering joining! (as of April 2016)
We are learning how to move with the times, in hopes that our congregation shall be strong in faith, eager to serve God, prepared to make disciples, living according to God's Word, seeking God's kingdom in the making. We pray that we will be here for at least another 100 years!
