Historic First Baptist, Dallas, sanctuary destroyed by fire
Historic First Baptist, Dallas, sanctuary destroyed by fire
Built in 1890, George W. Truett and W. A. Criswell are among the church’s noted pastors.
The historic sanctuary at First Baptist Church Dallas, a Texas landmark, was destroyed by a fire of unknown origin on July 19. The building, which was built in 1890, was a Victorian-style, red brick structure.
The fire started at 6:05 p.m. and escalated to a three-alarm fire around 7:30 p.m., with over 60 units dispatched to respond. The church released a statement at 9:34 p.m., stating that the primary fire had been extinguished but firefighters were still working at the scene.
First Baptist Church, Dallas, has a rich history within the Southern Baptist Convention, having been pastored by former SBC presidents George W. Truett and W. A. Criswell. Currently led by Robert Jeffress, the church has a membership of nearly 16,000 in 2023. The church currently worships in a state-of-the-art facility adjacent to the historic sanctuary.
The sanctuary was home to First Baptist Dallas's contemporary service, the Band-Led Service, and hosted its annual Vacation Bible School this week. The church is grateful for the protection of God during difficult times and the fact that no life has been lost.
The church campus consists of multiple buildings across a six-block footprint in downtown Dallas, and it is unknown if other buildings were damaged in the fire. The historic sanctuary was a significant landmark in Downtown Dallas, hosting visits from Presidents Woodrow Wilson, Gerald Ford, and George H. W. Bush.
Source: Baptist Press