M o n t h l y N e w s f r o m F P C Ty l e r • Vo l u m e 1 1 , I s s u e 3 : M a r c h 2 0 1 9
Red Brick or Yellow Brick? by The Rev. Dr. Stuart Baskin When I was installed as pastor of our church about twelve years ago, former pastor John Anderson came for the occasion. John was the long-time pastor of FPC in Dallas, and known city-wide for his column in the newspaper. But before he went to Dallas, he served for six years as pastor of our church in the years immediately following World War II. John was a very young man when he arrived, only in his late 20s. It was a big role to take on, as he followed long time pastor Dr. Hill who had just retired. When Dr. Hill was pastor, the church stood at the corner of Broadway and Elm Street, one block south of the Square downtown and the current site of a parking garage. During the 1930s, the church began laying plans to move into a proposed new church in a new location. So, the church purchased property at the corner of Broadway and Front Street, katty-corner from the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, at the far southern edge of the city. But the World War II intervened and plans for moving were shelved. At about the time the war ended, Dr. Hill retired and the church’s plans to move seemed uncertain. Then the church called a young John Anderson as pastor and plans to move came back on the church’s agenda. Only now, there was a desire to move the church even
farther south into the midst of the growing neighborhood being built south of Front Street. A lot was purchased, a capital campaign was started, and an architect engaged. The church hired well known Dallas architect Mark Lemmon to design a classic Georgian building suitable to a strong and rapidly growing congregation. As with all building projects, there were a million little details to decide along the way: what colors should the sanctuary be painted? How will the Chancel be designed? How many classrooms should there be and how large? But there was one decision that created controversy in the congregation: what color brick should be used for the outside of the building? In the late 1940s and 1950s, nothing said “progress” and “modernity” more than yellow brick. This was to be a church building for a forward-thinking and thoroughly modern congregation. For many, yellow brick was the obvious choice for the new church building. But traditionalists couldn’t imagine a Georgian building with anything but red brick. The church had a problem: how would they decide which color brick to use? At the reception following my installation in 2006, Dr. Anderson described to me what happened next. Church leaders had the contractor build two low walls of brick, one in each color. Then members of continued on page 2.
i n t h i s i s s u e | H I GH LI GHT S & F E ATU RE S Mardi Gras for Missions | pg 3 Gumbo cook-off, kids buffet, parade, silent auction, beignets—the whole bit. Join us for the festivities!
It’s a Wrap! | pg 5 The results are in for the Souper Bowl of Caring and the Sunday School Showdown!
“Illuminating Lent” | pg 6 Join us for a six-week study that uses the Lord’s Prayer throughout. First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, Texas 230 West Rusk Street, Tyler, Texas 75701-1696 (903) 597-6317 | www.fpctyler.com