It was late Sunday, December 31, 1882, when six men and three women made their way through the cold, blustery winter winds to a meeting at the Texas Wesleyan University facility in downtown Fort Worth. This small group of nine people was assembling to make an important decision.
The question before group was: should they undertake to form a new Baptist Church to serve the growing population of Cowtown's south side? (Fort Worth was known even then as Cowtown because of the importance of the cattle industry to the city's economy).
In 1876 the Texas and Pacific Railroad was extended to Fort Worth. This transportation service did much to help the Texas cattle industry because of the scarcity of beef in the cities of the north and east. While there had been bad economic times in 1873, the year in which Fort Worth was chartered, the coming of the T&P gave the fledgling city a boost.
But the city's growth was not the only reason the six men and three women were thinking and praying about establishing a new church on Fort Worth's south side. Perhaps a more compelling reason was the development and perpetuation of an extensive gambling and red-light district nearby known as Hell's Half Acre. Gambling and prostitution were so prevalent and law enforcement so lax that Hell's Half Acre was a blight on the entire city. The situation offered a fertile field for a vigorous church located in the vicinity.
The First Baptist Church of Fort Worth had been in existence for several years but it was torn by controversy. The nine persons meeting on the last day of 1882 to form a new church were among its dissatisfied members.
The group decided to establish a new church and name it South Side Baptist Church. In mid-1890 the name was changed to Broadway Baptist Church.
On Sunday, January 7, 1883, the newly established congregation extended a pastoral call to John Smith Gillespie, the 62 year-old pastor of the First Baptist Church of Fort Worth. Gillespie quickly accepted. On the following Sunday the church gathered in a rented building at 15th and Houston in downtown Fort Worth for its first service. In early February 1893 a committee of five was appointed to solicit contributions for building a church house south of the T&P railroad tracks. By May 9 the committee reported contributions totaling $137.70.
Some members of the new church were dissatisfied with the procedure by which it came into existence. They pointed out that the church had been formed at the meeting on December 31 without the presence or assistance of any ordained minister and that this was not according to the "customary mode of organizing a Baptist church." Consequently, on September 10, 1883, the congregation declared itself disbanded and called upon four ministers to assist "in reorganizing in accordance with Baptist usage." On the same day a letter was read from the First Baptist Church "granting letters of dismission" to those of its members that had united with the South Side Baptist church. The reconstituted congregation voted to readopt its articles of faith, its church covenant, and its name.
Pastor Gillespie resigned in October 1889 because of extreme deafness and waning health. The next pastor was Anderson E. Baten, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Navasota. By this time Fort Worth had a population of approximately 23,000 and the church had a membership of 145. The church also had completed a new house of worship and a parsonage.
Pastor Baten remained three and a half years. During his tenure the membership more than doubled to a total of 323. He put much effort into trying to close down Hell's Half Acre; but success was not to come until many years later. A. E. Baten's successor was William Overton Bailey. He was called in October 1893 and resigned at the end of 1894.
Broadway called its fourth pastor, Augustus Jones Harris, in March 1895. Whereas Pastor Baten had pioneered in young people's work with statewide results, Pastor Harris while at Broadway pioneered in women's work. In August 1896, concurrently with the Tarrant County Baptist Association (TCBA) session, representatives of three women's societies in Tarrant County met in Broadway Church and organized the Women's Associational Union Auxiliary to the TCBA. In the constitution, bylaws, and statement of purpose was language that made clear that this organization was the forerunner of the Woman's Missionary Union.
A. J. Harris resigned as Broadway's pastor in December 1896 to become pastor of the First Baptist Church of San Antonio. George Samuel Tumlin was the fifth pastor of Broadway. At the age of 44 he resigned from the pulpit of First Baptist Church of Brenham, Texas, on March 21, 1899 to accept the call to Fort Worth. Prior to coming to Brenham, Tumlin was practicing law in Cartersville, Georgia, while at the same time working as a bookkeeper in a bank. He was not converted until his first year in Cartersville and he was baptized by a Baptist preacher. Tumlin returned to Brenham in September 1901 to resume his pastorate there.
In November 1900 Broadway issued its first complete church directory; it listed the church officers, committees, articles of faith, rules of order, the church covenant, a historical sketch of the church, and a roll of the 499 church members, along with their street addresses.
John William Gillon was Broadway's next and sixth pastor. He began his ministry at Broadway in December 1901 and served until August 9, 1905 when he resigned to accept a pastorate in Mineral Wells, Texas. Gillon's time at Broadway was during a period of remarkable economic and social change in Fort Worth. The city's population according to the 1900 census was 26,688. In 1901 the Swift and Armour companies agreed to build new packing plants north of the city after the local subsidy had been raised. The plants were built in 1902 and production began in 1903. This was Fort Worth's first major industry. Electric interurban rail service to Dallas and Cleburne began in 1902. The first automobiles appeared in Fort Worth in 1902 and 1903.. A referendum allowed a franchise for natural gas in 1905.
Pastor Gillon was an effective evangelist. During his pastorate more than 500 confessions of faith were made, and most of these confessors became members of Broadway. Accordingly, he led the congregation to consider building a new and larger church edifice to accommodate the growing membership. On July 24, 1904, the church voted to build a new building on the site of the original frame structure dedicated in 1886.
Also during the ministry of John Gillon, three new churches came into being in Fort Worth with Broadway's assistance; namely, Brooklyn Heights (later Birchman Avenue) ; Kentucky Avenue (later Evans Avenue and still later Southcliff); and College Avenue (originally Second Church).
Gillon resigned as pastor of Broadway on August 9, 1905 to accept a pastorate in Mineral Wells.
Broadway's next pastoral call went to Clarence A. Stewart, a man about 31 years of age who had been a Baptist only two years and a minister for 10 months. He had not previously pastored a Baptist church. He was issued the call on September 20, 1905 and assumed his duties shortly thereafter. He resigned May 23, 1906 after serving about eight months.
Dr. James Leo Garrett, Jr., in his two-volume work "Living Stones: The Centennial History of Broadway Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, 1882-1982" describes these early years as follows: "During the sixteen years between Anderson E. Baten's acceptance of his pastorate in March 1890 and Clarence A. Stewart's resignation in May 1906, Broadway Baptist Church had undergone change and maturation, as indeed had the city of Fort Worth and the Baptist denomination in Texas. The church's numerical growth had been more impressive than the population growth of the city or the numerical growth of Texas Baptists. Fort Worth had grown from 23,076 people in 1890 to approximately 50,000 by 1906. While Baptists in Texas related to the Baptist General Convention of Texas had increased from 113,532 in 1890 to 224,623 in 1906, Broadway's membership had increased from 145 in 1890 to 730 in 1905, a 500 percent gain. Broadway had been an effective evangelistic church while also practicing church discipline. The church now had an impressive brick worship house in place of its original frame structure. Its Sunday School, its youth work, and its women's work had come into existence and grown during these sixteen years. Broadway had in some measure contributed to the formation of three other Baptist churches in the city. The church had supported vigorously through both contributions and personnel the TCBA, the BGCT, and the SBC. . . But some of Broadway's challenges were yet to come."
The pulpit committee appointed on May 30, 1906, recommended that Prince Emmanuel Burroughs, then Pastor of the First Church, Temple, Texas, become the next pastor of Broadway. He accepted and reported for duty in July. Under his direction a month-long series of highly successful revival meetings were held at Broadway during January-February 1907 . The services were conducted by William W. Hamilton and William D. Wakefield. A total of 213 people joined Broadway during the revival, of which 149 were for baptism, 61 by letter, and 8 by statement.
The BGCT in general convention in San Antonio November 7--11, 1907, voted to separate Baylor Theological Seminary from Baylor University and establish it under a different name. Pastor Burroughs espoused Fort Worth as the site of the new seminary. He wrote in December 1907 as follows: "Fort Worth has been like a strong young horse waiting and anxious to be hitched to some denominational enterprise. With her host of strong laymen and her vast virgin wealth, she has felt to demand that the enterprise be a large and worthy one. We are wondering whether the Lord and the brotherhood will entrust to us the Seminary. . . .Fort Worth can do whatever she makes up her mind to. There is reason to believe that she is quietly, soberly and intelligently making up her mind to have the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary."
On Saturday afternoon, April 3, 1909, a huge fire swept a 20 square-block area on Fort Worth's south side destroying 261 buildings, including Broadway's new parsonage and its three year-old brick church building. Twenty-two families in Broadway's membership lost their homes in the fire. Nearly a thousand people were left homeless. Pastor Borroughs was away on a trip to Egypt and Palestine when the fire occurred. Upon his return, immediate steps were taken to rebuild.
In the spring of 1908, Pastor Burroughs, with the assistance of several other Baptist churches, launched a vigorous campaign to secure the establishment of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth. The seminary's transition committee arrived in Fort Worth on October 25, 1909, to view possible sites. They liked what they saw and on November 2, 1909, the seminary's board of trustees formally approved the establishment of Southwestern in Fort Worth.
On September 21, 1910, Burroughs resigned as Broadway's pastor to take a position with the Southern Baptist Sunday School Board in Nashville, Tennessee.
On October 23, 1910, the church building replacing the one lost in the fire was formally opened. Two months later the pulpit committee recommended that Forrest Smith, pastor of First Baptist Church of Sherman, Texas, be called to be Broadway's pastor; but he declined, choosing to remain in Sherman for a time. The committee next recommended John Roberts Jester, pastor of First Church in Shawnee, Oklahoma Jester accepted about March 15, 1911.
Jester took over the pulpit of Broadway at a time great commotion in Fort Worth's Baptist life as a result of actions and positions taken by J. Frank Norris who was the pastor of First Baptist Church. Norris' church was burned to the ground. He was accused of setting the fire; but a trial was held and a "not guilty" verdict was rendered. Norris had many loyal supporters, as well as strong adversaries. He was credited with trying to make a sustained effort to close down Hell's Half Acre, where a survey showed that eighty houses of prostitution operated in the small area.
On January 31, 1915, John Roberts Jester resigned as Broadway's pastor to become field secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention's Foreign Mission Board. During his pastorate 883 new members had been received. Jester was succeeded by an interim pastor, Charles B. Williams, who served through June 1915.
The 1915 pulpit committee recommended that a call be extended again to Forrest Smith, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Sherman. This time Smith accepted, effective the first Sunday in September 1915. The first part of his tenure was marked by immense change in Fort Worth. The United States entered World War I A major military installation, Camp Bowie, was built in the city. Oil was discovered in many locations nearby., and Fort Worth's population was increasing rapidly.
On October 1,1917 , Broadway hired its first full-time Sunday School Director, Houston Horace Stephens. His employment marked the beginning of steady expansion of Broadway's educational ministry. By mid-summer of 1918 the average Sunday School attendance was between 500 and 600 and total church membership was 1,172 .
During the winter of 1921-1922 Broadway broke ground in a public ceremony for a four-story brick educational building. The building was complete enough to be put in use by September 24, 1922. The congregation was extremely proud of the building. Its basement consisted of a swimming pool, a gymnasium, dressing rooms, and offices for the "physical directors". The main or second floor was designed to fit in with the proposed new auditorium but was used initially as the principal assembly place of the church. The third and fourth floors consisted of departmental assembly rooms and enclosed classrooms. In addition, there was a roof garden "indirectly lighted so as to eliminate the nuisance of bugs" with a seating capacity of one thousand. The cost of the building was reported to be $150,000.
On September 9, 1928, Broadway observed the 13th anniversary of Forrest Smith as its pastor. Under his leadership Sunday School enrollment had increased to 1,943 and the average attendance was over 1,000. Architect's plans were in process for a 2,500-seat auditorium with additional educational space. In May and June of 1929 Broadway engaged in a campaign to raise $400,000 to construct the auditorium. A total of $289,000.was pledged by June 30. Then came the stock market crash of October 29 and the ensuing Great Depression; and it became apparent that Broadway would not be able to proceed with its building plans any time soon.
On January 1, 1930, there began the most far-reaching benevolent ministry ever to originate within Broadway Baptist Church during its first century. Mrs. Ewell Hicks Lena Holston) Pope, teacher of Broadway Sunday School's Martha Class led the members of her class in the founding of a home for neglected and dependent children. That institution, known as the Lena Pope Home, still exists and has grown to be one of the most notable children's homes in Texas.
Pastor Forrest Smith died of lobar pneumonia on February 18, 1930. His death was a great loss to Broadway. For fifteen and a half years -- in war and peace and in prosperity and depression -- the church had been under the shepherding of this compassionate, caring, wise, and faithful leader.
William Wright Barnes, professor of church history at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, served as interim pastor of Broadway between the death of Forrest Smith and the first Sunday in August 1930 when W. R. White assumed Broadway's pastorate.
White came to Broadway at a very difficult time. The Great Depression was closing in and many Baptist churches in Texas were deeply in debt. Moreover, there was much dissension in some congregations as economic conditions worsened. White had been general secretary of the Baptist General Convention of Texas and had close contact with Baptist leaders throughout the State. He found morale and confidence low and the denomination under attack from many quarters. Years later, speaking of his decision to accept Broadway's call, he said: "And I saw the situation developing where that someone had to hold these strong churches in line because we were getting distressingly deep in debt and giving was falling off . . . I saw that Broadway was going to fail rather rapidly unless something was done."
Writing in the Fort Worth Tribune in November 1934, Pastor White summed up his work thus far at Broadway and his remaining concerns as follows: "Practically every goal ever set for the church in the way of numbers has been reached. We have also been successful in reaching monetary goals. The test now is greater than any of these. Has Broadway sufficient spiritual reserves for a great soul winning atmosphere? Do we have enough sufficiently consecrated people . . . willing to pay the price of a deeper fellowship with God? This is the test which Broadway now faces." 6
Pastor White served Broadway until July 1935 when he became pastor of First Baptist Church, Oklahoma City.
The year that White came to Broadway, as mentioned above, Mrs. Ewell Hicks (Lena Holston) Pope, teacher of the Martha Class, led members of that class in founding a home for neglected and dependent children. A member of the Martha Class was dying and leaving six orphan children. These and other children totaling fourteen were expected to be cared for as the home opened in a seven-room rented house at 1519 Washington Avenue; but twenty-five children were on hand opening day. After several moves and expansions, Lena Pope Home in its 67 years of existence has become one of Fort Worth's proudest possessions, having served thousands of children and now operating with its own campus and buildings on Fort Worth's west side.
W. R. White was succeeded by William Douglas Hudgins. He preached his first sermons at Broadway on April 12, 1936. to overflow crowds. On that day Sunday School attendance was 1,543 and 379 attended BTU in the evening . Forty-one persons were received into the church membership.
In September 1937, the congregation voted to build a second educational building, to be known as the May Street Building, at an estimated cost of $85,000. After several re-considerations and cost estimate increases the matter was deferred for a time. Construction finally got under way in late 1939 and the building was opened for use on April 7, 1940.
During 1942 Broadway members became deeply involved in World War II but at the same time began to think about the need for a new auditorium , On January 4, 1942, William Fleming presented to the membership an offer to contribute $150,000. toward a new church auditorium provided the church would raise $100,000. in cash and pledges in the near future for the same purpose, with the understanding that the building would be constructed in the post-war era. Fleming stipulated that 75 percent of the church's portion must be paid in two years and the remainder within six months thereafter. The congregation accepted Fleming's offer and the deacons determined that they themselves would contribute $25,000.
On Sunday, October 18, 1942, Douglas Hudgins announced his resignation to accept a call to pastor the First Baptist Church, Houston, Texas. Early in January 1943, the pulpit committee recommended that Broadway call Forrest Feezor, pastor since 1931 of Tabernacle Church in Raleigh, North Carolina. Feezor preached his first sermon to the Broadway congregation February 7, 1943.
During 1943 Broadway Church, in comparison with other churches affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas was reported to be ranked as follows: ninth in total membership, ninth in local gifts per member, third in total mission gifts, second in mission gifts per member, sixth in total gifts per member, and sixth in baptisms.
Broadway's congregation met the goals stipulated for it by William Fleming in his challenge gift and on March 1, 1944, he wrote his check for $150,000 toward financing the proposed new auditorium. In late 1944 Wyatt C. Hedrick, Architect, of Fort Worth and Houston, was engaged to draw plans for the structure. The following March the chairman of the auditorium design committee reported to the deacons that the projected auditorium would likely cost $500,000. He asked the deacons and the congregation whether the committee should continue with the present proposed plans, and the answer was in the affirmative. However, it was decided later to hold the project in abeyance pending clarification of building costs after World War II was finally over and building costs stabilized.
On October 20, 1946, Forrest Feezor submitted his resignation, effective at the end of the month, to accept a call to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Waco, Texas.
The year 1947 marked the beginning of the second of Broadway's long pastorates and the opening of the church's campsite on Eagle Mountain Lake. H. Guy Moore, pastor of the Wornall Road Church, Kansas City, accepted Broadway's call and preached his first sermon there March 9,1947. During his first year, 373 persons united with Broadway. The church continued with its plans to construct a new auditorium.
Contracts for constructing the new auditorium were awarded August 7, 1949, with a stipulated completion time of 600 days. In 1950 the congregation voted to approve a contract with Casavant Frères, Ltd. of Quebec, Canada, to construct a pipe organ to go in the auditorium for $46,500.
The building, now generally referred to as the Sanctuary, and organ were completed in the spring of 1952. It was first opened for usage and dedication on Easter Sunday morning, April 13, 1952 . A combined total attendance of more than 5.000 was reported for the three dedicatory services held that day.
The new structure consisted of a 1,700-seat auditorium, with the pastor's suite adjoining; a 250-seat chapel with an adjoining family room for funerals; and a 600-seat dining hall with adjoining kitchen facilities, parlor, stage and classrooms. Described as "modified Gothic", the basic floor plan was in the shape of a cross and thus with transepts and narthex, a divided choir loft with 80 seats, vaulted ceiling, and arched doorways. It had a central pulpit, a baptistry for immersion, three small balconies, and individual foam rubber seats. Above the structure was a 165-foot spire of light metal, topped with six-foot cross.
For more than a century, Broadway Baptist church has played an integral role in the life of its community. In the late 1940's, the congregation faced a decision: to move out to a residential area, as many other churches were doing, or to remain in the inner city in order to minister to the whole city of Fort Worth, a growing urban community. The church decided to remain in its present location, and built a magnificent sanctuary: however, Broadway was determined to be more than just a place of beauty for the worship of God.
The members were guided than by a philosophy still held: A great church does not sit in splendid isolation in its surroundings; it seeks to serve. Broadway made a commitment to serve the "down and out" who live in the inner city, not just the "up and coming" who live in the suburbs.
The congregation believes that Broadway exists so that families, young and old, rich and poor, near and far, can hear the gospel and learn of Jesus Christ and follow him. Giving life to their beliefs, Broadway's members are active in nearly 30 ministries and mission projects. They also regularly open the church's doors to community and arts organizations which use Broadway for meetings, recitals, performances and conferences.
Looking to the future, Broadway's members will continue to serve the community, faithful to the gospel as revealed in Jesus Christ.
Pastors of Broadway Baptist Church
