The History of Granbury Street
Over Fifty Years of Serving the Lord Together
The Granbury Street congregation had its first service August 3, 1952 with Lloyd Frederick preaching in a gospel meeting. This beginning was the result of three congregations in Cleburne coming together to form another autonomous church of Christ. Each contributed financial assistance, moral support, and prayers. The first building was erected that same year through the efforts of the faithful brethren that attended Granbury Street. Much of the work was done by Doyle and Doris Conway, J.D. and Snookie Tucker, Larry Smith, Carl and Iva Jennings, Henry and Nan Homan, and many others. As the story goes, Marvin Rowland was almost electrocuted working on the building even though he was the song leader for the Central congregation.
Through the years the Granbury Street church has been blessed with faithful elders to oversee the congregation. The first men were appointed on December 4, 1955. They were Forrest Hazelwood, Homer Lamon, Carl Jennings and Albert Sowell. Buddy Doty and Ray Williams were installed in 1975; Roger Stewart and Woodrow Yates in 1990; Sid Carruth and Larry Gosdin in 1996; Kenneth Helm in 2002; John Denning and George Sowell in 2003; and Clark Lehtinen in 2007. Presently serving are Sid Carruth, Kenneth Helm, Clark Lehtinen, and George Sowell.
The first deacons, appointed in March 1957, were Doyle Conway, Buddy Doty, Bill Dwyer and Charles McNeill. Lloyd Frederick was the first preacher to work with this congregation. He was followed by Jack Frost, Jr., Neil Lightfoot, Eugene Clevenger, Cameron McKinnon, Kenneth Arrington, Ollie Duffield, Jr., Charles Chandler, Byron Tidwell, O.J. Russell, Mac Deaver, Garell Forehand, Mike Vestal, and Tyler Young. In 2003 Kevin Rhodes followed brother Young as the full time evangelist for the congregation.
The first baby that was born at Granbury Street was Darla Baze, daughter of Dorothy and Bob Baze. Bob was overseas at the time and did not see Darla until she was over one year old. The first death recorded at Granbury Street was Mrs. Creasey. She placed membership but died before she was able to attend any of the services.
We cannot find any records of our first baptism, but in the first five years the congregation grew from eighty to over two hundred members. The youngest charter member is Marilyn Johnson Birchfield. She was four when Granbury Street had its first meeting. We still have many of the charter members worshipping with us today. They include:
Bob and Dorothy Baze
Doris Conway
Mary Lee Cumbie Allen
Henry and Nan Homan
Although this congregation has been meeting for more than fifty years, the church of Christ started on the first Pentecost following the Lord’s resurrection, nearly two thousand years ago. The events of that great day are recorded in Acts, chapter two, where we find fulfillment of the promise Jesus made to his disciples: “Upon this rock I will build My church.” As a part of that glorious kingdom, the Granbury Street family has been striving for the past half century to reach our community with the saving gospel of Christ. By the grace of God we intend to continue to abide by the truth of His word, to walk in the Old Paths set out by scripture, to practice pure, undenominational New Testament Christianity, to show the love of Christ through humble service to others, and to glorify God by living holy lives patterned after our Savior. With one heart and one soul we are determined to strive together for the faith of the gospel and the salvation of souls to the glory of God.
