First Presbyterian Church, U.S. of Troup

The Rev. W. W. Brimm of Tyler began conducting Presbyterian worship services in this area in 1873, soon after the town of Troup was platted along a line of the Houston and Great Northern Railroad. Under his direction, this church was organized that same year with eight charter members. The first ruling elder was Colonel Thomas W. Bell (1802-1876), who moved to Texas from Tennessee in 1849. After settling in Canton, now Omen, where he owned a hotel, he moved to Troup. A charter member of the First Presbyterian Church, he was instrumental in the early development of the congregation. Services were moved to this site from a temporary sanctuary in 1876, when trustees acquired the land from the railroad company. A building here served the congregation until 1908-09, when a new structure was completed. During construction of the facility, services were held in the local Masonic Lodge Hall. For over a century the First Presbyterian Church, U. S. of Troup has been active in the development of the community. Many pioneer area settlers and early civic leaders were members here. Part-time pastors have included several seminary students who later became prominent Presbyterian leaders.

First Presbyterian Church, U.S. of Troup is a historical marker in Troup, Smith County, dedicated in 1981. It is one of 90 historical markers documented in Smith County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 272 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.1435, -95.1186 near Troup. The nearest cataloged historic site is Hanna, Erasmus M. (historical marker), about 0.2 miles away. Others within a short drive include Troup City Cemetery, Bradford, and Pinecrest.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5423007728. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.