History

First Presbyterian Church of Lawton, Established 1901

On August 3, 1901, the Cimarron Presbytery commissioned the organization of Presbyterians in the Lawton area. On August 4, 1901, the first service was held on the open prairie on Main Street. Later, a large circular tent was donated for services located at 327 F Avenue.

On August 25, 1901, the tent was moved to 716 D Avenue and set on a lot purchased for the church at a cost of $340. The congregation then began to formulate plans for construction of a church building on October 13, 1901. During the construction, the cold winter months proved the tent undesirable as a meeting place and forced the congregation to move indoors to the second floor of an operating laundry business at 618 E Avenue.

On October 12, 1902, the new church building was dedicated (now the Little Chapel of Lawton which was entered into the National Register of Historic Buildings in December 1979)

On June 10, 1956, the dedication of the site and groundbreaking ceremony was held for the current location of First Presbyterian Church at 13th and A Avenue. The building was dedicated on October 20, 1957. One of the features of the new building is the Great Organ donated by Mrs. Louise D. McMahon. It was specially designed and built by the Reuter Organ Company, Lawrence, Kansas. It contains 1,000 pipes from the shortest at 1” to the longest at 10’6”. The building is now approaching 66 years of age and has been home to First Presbyterian Church for more than half of its existence.

First Presbyterian Church of Lawton has seen many marriages, baptisms, funerals, and has been the spiritual home to over 4000 diverse church members through the years. Today, the services remain consistent, providing traditional worship, prayer, teaching and music, and can accommodate for nursery, Sunday School and teenage needs. The ministries have grown and are constantly moving forward. Membership is 70-75 predominately in the age group over 55 years.

Current parishioners are proud to call First Presbyterian Church their home and are laying the foundation to support the church for the future by discovering God at work, sharing Jesus and serving the community together.