If These Walls Could Talk
First Presbyterian Church’s History
A slideshow presentation of the history of FPC-Stillwater from its founding in the 1890’s to present-day. This presentation incorporates historical materials and photos pull from the church archives and the first showing took place on Sunday, November 3, 2024 as part of the From Strength To Strength Capital Campaign Celebration Luncheon. The slideshow can be viewed by clicking on the orange button above.
As the First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, OK celebrates the centennial of the Sanctuary construction, we wanted to honor the history and legacy of our beautiful stained glass windows. Stained glass windows were originally used to educate people who could not read and became a crucial part of the church architecture, enhancing the beauty and meaning of the worship space. One of the first discoveries in this project was that the windows here were made in St. Louis, MO by the Jacoby Art Glass Company and technically aren’t stained glass windows at all. Rather, they are “art glass” which is when the glass is first painted and then fired.
Following the construction of the main Sanctuary building, there were no funds left for windows. Enter the Ladies Aide who raised $4,750 through donations for memorialized windows. The windows were installed in the summer of 1924 and the current Sanctuary was dedicated on September 14, 1924. As September 2024 and the 100th anniversary of this Sanctuary’s dedication approaches, we look ahead to the next 100 years in the life of FPC-Stillwater.
Linked below are the dedication and memorial information for all of the Sanctuary ‘art glass’ windows.
Images and history of dedications for the windows along the north side of the Sanctuary. North Sanctuary Windows
Images and history of dedicaitons for the windows along the south side of the Sanctuary. South Sanctuary Windows
Images and history of dedications for the windows in the bell balcony and the choir loft. Bell Balcony & Choir Loft Windows
In April 1890, First Presbyterian Church was established in Stillwater, Oklahoma Territory, with the arrival of Rev. Simon P. Myers, a missionary sent by the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions. He preached his first sermon in the community on the evening of April 13 in the upstairs room of the Swope building, located at present day 824 South Main Street. The building, shared by various churches at the time, was located two doors down from a saloon. Click on the orange button below to read Clarence S. Bassler’s full history of the early years of Stillwater FPC. Originally published on May 23, 1963, this history was edited and reprinted by Mary Woods on November 3, 2022.
Additional written history of First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater may be found in “A History of the First Presbyterian Church, Stillwater, Oklahoma’ by Dr. Eric I. Williams. Published in 1991, this book begins with the founding of the early FPC congregation in 1889 and covers both congregational life and facility history over the next 100 years. Copies of Dr. Williams’ book may be checked out of the FPC library or you may ask after a copy in the Church Office.
