SAVE "FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH" IN ORANGE, TEXAS
Dear Friends,
Please help stop the sale of First Baptist Church in Orange, Texas to the City of Orange and/or others which may lead to possible demolition of one of Oranges most beautiful and historical buildings. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, located at the corner of 5th Street and Green Avenue is known as one of the three GREAT HISTORICAL CHURCHES OF ORANGE, TEXAS.
The First Baptist Church of Orange was organized in 1879, by the Reverend Andrew Peddy and 18 charter members. In 1909, they merged with the Eighth Street Baptist Church. In 1912 they began their new red brick building on Green Avenue. Without faith they surely would have faltered. They raised money every way they could think of: by cooking lunches, by selling bricks for 15 cents each, by selling cakes and finally, by public subscription.
There was a guiding Spirit leading the way, however, through many obstacles, the First Baptist Church was built. The Architect is not known, but the style is of the Greek Revival and Roman Classical Orders. All the hard work and sacrifice paid off in the end when this beautiful God given church was completed and dedicated on September 14, 1915.
The early Baptists engaged in extensive missionary work and were responsible for five Baptist missionary churches in the immediate area. The First Baptist Church is a beautiful, historical church that generations of loving people over the years have called home.
We can not let this beautiful church be demolished. Please sign this petition to save the church.
Thank you so much and God Bless.
Warmest regards,
Friends and Family of First Baptist Church, Orange, TX
Dear Friends,
Please help stop the sale of First Baptist Church in Orange, Texas to the City of Orange and/or others which may lead to possible demolition of one of Oranges most beautiful and historical buildings. FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, located at the corner of 5th Street and Green Avenue is known as one of the three GREAT HISTORICAL CHURCHES OF ORANGE, TEXAS.
The First Baptist Church of Orange was organized in 1879, by the Reverend Andrew Peddy and 18 charter members. In 1909, they merged with the Eighth Street Baptist Church. In 1912 they began their new red brick building on Green Avenue. Without faith they surely would have faltered. They raised money every way they could think of: by cooking lunches, by selling bricks for 15 cents each, by selling cakes and finally, by public subscription.
There was a guiding Spirit leading the way, however, through many obstacles, the First Baptist Church was built. The Architect is not known, but the style is of the Greek Revival and Roman Classical Orders. All the hard work and sacrifice paid off in the end when this beautiful God given church was completed and dedicated on September 14, 1915.
The early Baptists engaged in extensive missionary work and were responsible for five Baptist missionary churches in the immediate area. The First Baptist Church is a beautiful, historical church that generations of loving people over the years have called home.
We can not let this beautiful church be demolished. Please sign this petition to save the church.
Thank you so much and God Bless.
Warmest regards,
Friends and Family of First Baptist Church, Orange, TX
First Baptist Church is known as one of the three Great Historical Churches of Orange, Texas. We wish to preserve this Greek Revival and Roman Classical Church, completed and dedicated in 1914, so future generations may enjoy its history and beauty.
Thank you for your consideration on saving the church.
Many have been saved in this church and many will be saved in the future. Please come together as one and live in peace. This beautiful building should be saved so God can work in the lives of many.
I would like you to save the baptist church house in Huckleberry Finn because it looks like yhe court house in Huckleberry Finn and such historical buildings should be preserved to help preserve foreigners idea of America.Please let me know if your still standing in the tradition of America, Mark Twain,The Missippi steamers and all things good in Philedelphia,Washington, Pittsburgh ,Cinncinatti, Minneapolis etc. Yours cheerfully freinds of your Samual Clements and so on so forth.Dont smoke Marlboro cigarettes there bad for you.Amen.
I recived God in my life for the frist time at church by Pastor White in 1980 would not want to see it sold
There is not a larger heartbreak than a split church. This one seems to be badly damaged, possibly beyond repair. The leaders of this church need to get thing right with the members or go. Preserve the history of this fine church.
Please preserve this beautiful church organized by the Rev Andrew Peddy.
WE HAVE VISITED ORANGE MANY TIMES AND HAVE ADMIRED THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH. WORK EVERY DAY TO PRESERVE THIS CHURCH FOR MANY TO ENJOY IN THE FUTURE. GOD BLESS.
preserve the history of this church.
RESTORE THIS CHURCH. NEW LEADERSHIP MAY BE THE ANSWER.
First Baptist will never be the church Orange knew from the beginning. It's history is forever lost and the members will never come back together. It is a shame to see this church so broken. the leaders apparently made some very bad decisions. save this building for the future.
Save this beautiful church. Members need to come together and stand one in the Lord.
It would be a shame to allow this church building to be destroyed. Where is the love and appreciation for the history of this country. Orange is full of history, please restore the church.
My wife and I visited this church for a wedding and we marveled at the architect and the beauty of this old building. Protect it and restore it so others may enjoy in the years to come.
please don't tear down a beautiful/historical building. i remember visiting there for worship when a young teenager. too pretty to "put down" like an old sick dog.
The City Orange and/or County should not destroy this landmark. It would be destroying a landmark that is irreplaceable. I should be restored.
First Baptist Church should be repaired so future generations can enjoy Orange history. I lived in Orange for many years and remember the beautiful building. Almost everything has been torn down. Please work to save this landmark.
My parents lived for many years in Orange and loved the quite historical district. The leaders need to come together and repair the building. It looks fine from the outside and looks like with a little effort it could be repaired. What's with the pastor and deacons.
I would like to the church saved because it is part of the history of downtown orange. I have lived here all my life and grew up going downtown orange where my grandparents lived on Main Street. Everything that we knew of back in the 50's and 60's are almost all gone, i.e. the Strand, the Newstand, the old drug store soda fountain, the DR Pepper company and many more; so it saddens us to have one more historical building destroyed, so please let us keep a little of our history.
destroying this church would like be destroying a piece of history.instead of building these massive churches with starbucks and gift shops, these churches should stop the 'who has the biggest and fanciest church contest' and stop and think about what really matters and take a look at how this church was built and all the hard work the people did for this church. i was raised in a small town close to orange and watched one landmark be torn down.it was sad. orange is a beautiful city and to see this happen to this church when there are many churches in the area which could help save another church would be really horrible.
It is a shame to pass by this beautiful old building and see it being negelected. Someone needs to step up and do what needs to be done to restore First Baptist Church. The members need to be worshipping in the house God has given them. Who is responsible for this negelect.
I have visited friends in Orange many times over the years and feel this historical building should not be destroyed now or anytime in the future. Too many historical buildings in our country are being destroyed and forever history is lost. Please restore this House of God.
Please restore this church and do not tear it down. It is a beautiful old church and we have so few of these places left. It would be a shame to destroy such an awesome building.
Having lived in Orange, Texas for many years, it is a puzzle as to why the members of First Baptist Church cannot go back and worship in their church until another facility could be provided. At lease according to the newspaper the first hurdle to save the church from destruction has been accomplished.
With Christmas around the corner, it would be a blessing from God to have First Baptist Church restored and have the members return to their church by Christ's birthday. This building is an important part of the history of Orange. I remember it when I visited as a little girl. God Bless this Christmas.
This old church is what Orange, Texas is all about. City of Orange, please, save this building for future generations.
Do not destroy that old church. let the people go back to their church and worship God. A storm should not destroy a church. Pastor step up and bring this church together. We hear the building is not that badly damanaged. We feel for the old folks who can not go back to their church and worship.
Orange would never be the same if this historic building was destroyed. Please City of Orange and First Baptist Church do not let this happen. Pray to God for wisdom and SAVE this beautiful building God has given to you. Rejoice that you were so blessed so many years ago, when God blessed this church and city with this wonderful HOUSE OF WORSHIP. GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY PEACE BE WITH YOU.
In behalf of future generation it is very wise decision to preserve such a historic treasure. Any angle you look at it there is every essential & valuable reason in saving that piece of captured history instead of destroying it. It is always amazingly awe inspiring to be able to have the opportunity to see any kind of historic piece & the feeling of satisfaction is indescribable! I believe it is insensible & menace to tear it ;(
Does intelligent life exist in Orange City Hall? Who in their right mind would want to destroy this beautiful historic building? What will tourists come and see? A fire station? Get real and get sane! Keep this building and use it for a museum or the like!
I recently viewed, for about the 10th time, the movie “Lilly’s of the Field” where one man tried to build a church without help from anyone – it didn’t work out. What happened was that when he allowed others to help, they built a church building and a community of friends united in a common pursuit. They built a church. This seems like an excellent opportunity for the current members of the Baptist Church to show the same resolve and commitment as that shown by this lovely church’s original builders.
Please be ever mindful when thinking of destroying a church building as beautiful as FBC Orange. This church has a lot of personal meaning to a lot of people, weddings, funerals, accepting God as Savior.
I was born and raised in Orange County. The church should be saved and preserved as part of Orange's heritage. To lose this piece of our history would be a shame.
I remember The day and place that I first met Jesus as my Savior and friend. I remember the pastor and the church. Although the pastor has since gone to his reward, and I have moved far from the House of God, where I was saved, both are still very dear to me. I cannot imagine people, many of whom were not even born when I was Redeemed, wanting to bulldoze a building which commands such fond feelings and rich tradition for nearly 100 years. Though First Baptist Church of Orange was not the church I was saved and nutured in, I can sympathize with those for which it was. Sure, God's presence is everywhere, not in any ONE building, but going to church is like coming home after a hard week on the road. For nearly 100 years, First Baptist Church has been home for many of it's members. It signifies Hope, Trust, Honor, and Dignity, not to mention Tradition. What is so wrong with that?
