About John Knox Presbyterian Church
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Our church is a product of a handful of men and women who dared to dream God's dream. In 1945 a few people began to see the need for a church in the rapidly expanding residential area known as River Oaks.
The first services were held in a motion picture theater. Led by Tom Curry and Tom Gore, visitors went from door to door looking for people who would commit themselves to this dream. By January 5, 1947 there were enough people to officially organize a church. One hundred and forty seven people signed their names to the original charter.
Rev. Winston Bryant was called as the first pastor. He left to accept a call in Port Arthur, Texas on November 26, 1950, after the union of the North Fort Worth Presbyterian Church with John Knox.
In the years 1951 and 1952 the church brought in one-hundred and six new members. Mr. K.B. Davidson was serving as Superintendent of the Sunday School. His work accounted for much of the growth.
The dedicated and gifted work of the staff has kept our church strong. Retta Klovstad, Marie Sharp, Mildred Williams, and Mark Dowell have all left a deep impression of love and service.
In 1979 Rev. King retired after twenty eight years of faithful service. Rev. Murray Richey came in 1980, and is the current pastor. Very few churches can claim only two pastors in fifty years.
We owe so much to those who have gone before us. Their blood, sweat, and tears have been used by God to bring us to this point. Many of them are now just names that appear over and over again on old Session records, and some are still actively helping us to dream new dreams.
We are a diverse congregation, but one that works extremely well together. Three hundred people will never agree on anything, but our history is one of working out our differences with love and mutual respect. Our church has not been hurt by the fights that mar the spiritual atmosphere of other churches.
We are a member of Grace Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). We are the church reformed; ever reforming.
