Updated
March 31, 2007

Welcome to First Presbyterian Church of Amarillo

Thank you for visiting our Web site. We thought you might like to take a look at our church.

We are very proud of our church, but it isn't the beauty of the structure that matters, it's the hearts of the members who gather to worship Jesus Christ that matters.

We hope you enjoy this glimpse of our facilities, and thanks to member Rex Vermillion for taking the photos. Check back regularly as we will be adding more photos in the near future.

First Presbyterian Church is located at 1100 S. Harrison in downtown Amarillo. This view of the courtyard was taken from Harrison Street, and it features a clear view of FPC's signature bell tower. The steeple on the tower recently underwent renovations. The original steeple was constructed from the packing crate of the tower chimes. It was recently replaced with a steel structure covered in copper shingles that were "aged" with acid. The distinctive look of our church makes it a favorite spot for wedding photographers, who frequently take brides' portraits with the church as a backdrop.

 

Senior Pastor Dr. Jim Bankhead leads our congregation. He is committed to making FPC a praying congregation that seeks to know God and make Him known. FPC has a beautiful sanctuary that features an incredible stained glass window behind the pulpit. On Sunday morning, the rising sun brings the glass to life.

 

Under the direction of Paul Frederiksen, director of music and worship, FPC's sanctuary choir lifts up their voices to the Lord. The choir welcomes new members, and no tryouts are necessary.

 

The 11 a.m. service features a blend of traditional hymns and praise music, led by Jubilate!, the praise team. The 8:30 a.m. service is a traditional service featuring classic hymns.

 

Our chapel is perfect for intimate worship and prayer and small weddings. It's also the site for the monthly Evening of Praise, led by Praise Team member Steve Godsey. Members gather on the last Sunday of the month to sing praises to God.

 

FPC has a number of adult Sunday school classes, reaching out to a variety of interests and spiritual needs. Letha Brasell, in the red dress, leads a class titled "Women's Fellowship." The group is studying accounts of two types of miracles performed by Jesus during his ministry — nature and healing. They also are reviewing the purposes of Jesus' parables, and examining "The Sermon on the Mount."

 

"Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'' FPC takes this passage (Matthew 19:14) seriously. Ward Palmer, a Stephen minister and Sunday school teacher, brings a story to life for these little ones.

 

OK, so we're proud of our kids. What can we say? Mary Ann Fields has brought the gift of music to our children for more than 20 years. She has watched the little ones she sang with grow into adults who are deeply committed to the Christ.

 

As part of the "… For Generations" building campaign, which is nearly complete, the church library moved to new facilities, combining the adult and children's libraries into one. It's located just off the tower foyer.

 

In 1998, FPC embarked on a $3.5 million building campaign called "… For Generations." One of the major additions was the construction of a new church parlor. The beautiful room with vaulted ceilings, hard-wood floors and stained-glass windows is used for meetings, receptions and gatherings of all kinds. There is a small, but extremely well-equipped kitchen connected to the parlor, which makes meal preparation and serving a snap. The parlor also opens onto a walled garden.

 

Arvis Stewart, local artisan and craftsman who built the chandeliers in the Great Hall and also designed and built the stained-glass window above the south entrance, is shown making final adjustments in the installation. The window, a gift from Joe T. Glover Jr. in memory of his parents, Frankie and J.T. Glover Sr., is five feet in diameter and contains 900 individually stained and fired pieces of glass held together by about 20 pounds of leading and solder, all weighing about 75 pounds. Details of the window include depictions of the Cross, a crown, an Easter Lily and other Christian symbols. Installation of the window is one of the last major accomplishments of the "... for Generations" building project.

 

A technician working high up in the tower loosens old bolts holding striker mountings in the process of restoring the chimes. After years of silence, the chimes began to toll again on Easter Sunday 2007.