First Baptist Church

The First Baptist Church of Dallas is the only downtown Dallas church on its original site.  The church organized in 1868 and built a one room frame building at the northeast corner of Ervay and Patterson Streets in 1871.  In 1890, the southwestern portion of the current building was constructed on the site.  The congregation grew rapidly, and in 1908, the building was expanded to the north and east.  At the same time the pulpit was moved from the east side of the church to the south.  In 1924, the church expanded the auditorium again to the east, and the pulpit was returned to the east side of the auditorium.  At the same time, an education building was constructed facing St. Paul Street that was attached to the back of the church.  By 1941, the church needed more room, so a second balcony was added.  In 1956, that balcony was removed and the choir loft was enlarged.  Over the years, the church continued to grow by either constructing new buildings or by purchasing existing ones in the area.  Currently, the church facilities expand well past the original block on which the church was built.  Most of the campus buildings are now connected together by construction, or by skywalks over streets.  In 1982, Patterson Street was closed between Ervay and St. Paul, and it was renamed Kadane Plaza.  In 2005, San Jacinto Place was closed between the same two streets for the construction of the Criswell Center.  In its current configuration, the church seats 2,000 in its auditorium.  In its history, the church had two notable pastors.  George Washington Truett (1867-1944) was the minister for 47 years from 1897 until 1944.  His successor, W.A. Criswell (1909-2002), held the pulpit for another 47 years from 1944 until 1991.