History of First Presbyterian Church, Sweetwater

Presbyterians in Sweetwater have two tap roots, one to the PCUS and the other to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Early settlers, including Mrs. Emma Bardwell, her sons, John and Brainard, and their wives, longed for a church and gathered neighbors on Sundays for bible stories and singing. The Reverend O.F. Rogers was instructed by Dallas Presbytery to labor in the bounds of Presbytery and help the people as he could. In that same year of 1881, 13 Cumberland Presbyterians organized the Central Presbyterian Church led by the Reverend A. J. Hays, Mr. And Mrs. J. H. Fowler, and W. D. and J. H. Beall. The First Presbyterian Church (PCUS) was organized in 1885 with 11 charter members, including the Bardwells.  Five years later they had a resident minister, Dr. J. H. Zivley, and in 1891 moved into their own building. Dr. Zivley organized The Ladies Aid Society which began a long history of service. The first project being to purchase a bell which summoned members until a new church was built. The bell was rescued from oblivion by the William Wight family who used it on their nearby ranch until they gave it back to the church in 1986. It is located in the Memorial Garden. Meanwhile, the Cumberland group had grown and built a new building, and the two congregations continued thus until they united under the leadership of Reverend C. A. Engle. They chose the PCUS Assembly and in 1924, after the World War I, and before the Depression, the united congregation built and dedicated a new building, free of debt. Sunday School classes, regular worship services, men’s, women’s, and youth groups, baptisms, weddings, funerals, revivals, Vacation Bible School, and missionary visits were held all this time by faithful pastors and members. At one revival in 1941, 42 new members were added. While Reverend Clifford Williams was minister during World War II, there was a chapel for Sunday School on the east ridge of town. This was well attended but ceased after the war. About then the church began sponsoring Miss Margaret McMurry as medical missionary to the Congo and was much gratified with her work. In 1956, with Charley Harnest as minister, the congregation moved into its present beautiful building that was designed by local architect and church member Don Smith.

         In 1958, the weekday Kindergarten was begun and existed until 1991. A weekday Nursery School began in 1967 with 75 students. Due to a decline in enrollment, the Nursery School was closed in 2003.

         In 1970, while Tom Huser was pastor, Presbytery became Palo Duro Union Presbytery, holding its first meeting in 1971. In 1981, the church celebrated its centennial. Reverend L. Howell Martin has been the minister since April, 2002. There are currently 166 members. First Presbyterian Church will celebrate their 125^th anniversary in 2006.