Church History

10^th street in Oak Cliff holds the record of having the highest density of churches of any street in the nation. Calvary Baptist has been at the western gateway of that historic street since the sanctuary's construction in 1924. Unfortunately, only five of the 18 churches that have inhabited 10^th Street remain on the street and several of the historic buildings have been demolished.

 

Calvary Baptist of Oak Cliff has a history of community involvement. The church has historically been extensively involved in missionary work both locally and around the world. In 1933 and 1934 Calvary hosted Tyler Street Methodist while they renegotiated their loan. In 2005 the church housed Hurricane Katrina victims. Currently, Calvary's buildings house not only Calvary Oak Cliff, but are also home to Oak Cliff Christian Church and Iglesia La Roca.

 

The church would like to expand and continue that involvement. Part of that committment includes restoring the buildings such that they more faithfully represent the original design, so that they act as an attractive landmark in the community, and so that they function for the current needs of the community.

Building History

 

A team of members at Calvary Baptist Church of Oak Cliff, led by Jim Porterfield, current the Minister of Worship at the church, is investigating the possibility of reclaiming the historicity of the church's sanctuary.

 

The sanctuary building was constructed in 1924. The three story building had a fellowship hall and classrooms on the ground floor, sanctuary main seating on the 2nd floor, and a balcony on the 3rd floor. It had Greek columns and ballustrade across the front of the church. The sanctuary had a wrap-around balcony. The sanctuary was graced with a beautiful tin coffered ceiling, acorn lights, and ceiling fans. The class rooms, hallways, and entries also had tin tile ceilings. The windows were hammered glass and designed to open for ventilation in the pre-airconditioning era.

 

Several years later, in the late 20's or early 30's, a three story education building was added to the back of the sanctuary, later named "Barnett Hall" and in 1954 a new 3 story education building was added about 20 feet east of the Sanctuary.

 

In 1964 a major remodel was performed on the sanctuary building to make it look more "contemporary". The original Greek style columns were hidden behind a concrete screen. The original tin ceilings were hidden behind drop, accoustic tile ceilings (see pictures below.) The lighing fixtures were replaced by 2'x4' flourescent fixtures and dimmable cans. And, thankfully, the hammered glass windows were replaced by stained glass windows.

 

1. The original Greek columns and balustrade were covered by a concrete brick screen.

 

 

The old columns are still there behind the screen. The base and capitals were chipped away so the screen could be installed, but otherwise they are there and in reasonable shape for almost 80 years old. The old balustrade is still there and in very good shape, but with about 18 inches of leaves and debris piled up behind the screen.

 

 

2. The COFFERED TIN CEILING in the sanctuary and the tin tile ceilings in the classrooms were covered by a drop ceiling and acoustic tile. The sanctuary ceiling had at least six amazing tin medallions from which light fixtures hung. The original, wrap-around balcony was removed and replaced by a larger balcony across the back of the sanctuary. The main floor of the sanctuary was expanded backwards under the balcony into what were classrooms.

 

 

 

 

Note: the small, square tiles to the right of the medallion in the last photo are like the ones used in the classrooms, entryways, etc. throughout the building. They were evidently used to replace damaged portions of the ceiling as several of the original border pieces are gone. If you look very closely in the old picture above (you may have to enlarge the picture) you can see that the patch had already been made a decade or more before the remodel in 1964.

 

Much of the tin ceiling was severely damaged during the 1964 renovation. There were at least six of these medallions in the original sanctuary. Of the three in the balcony, only this one is complete. The others were partially removed to make way for air conditioning vents. In several places, the tin tiles were removed and large holes were cut in the coffers for electrical and structural access. The medallions have cutouts in the leaf-work for air return?

 

The side balconies were removed and the middle balcony enlarged.

 

3. the hammered glass windows in the sanctuary and its entryways were replaced by beautiful, art-deco stained glass which are still enjoyed today. The windows into the 1^st floor (fellowship hall level below the sanctuary) were covered over with the brick screening. The original hammered glass remains in those windows.

 

 

4. The exterior lighting and signage was modernized and the canvas cafe' style arch was replaced by a concrete entry to the 1^st floor fellowship hall. That entrance has since been sealed off. It can be easily restored if desired for historic purposes.

 

 

 

Only one of the three light posts installed in 1964 remains and it is in significant disrepair. None of the signs remain. The current signage consists of illuminated box style signs mounted on the North East corner of the 1954 Education building.

 

5. All the windows in the old education building (Barnett Hall) were bricked in with almost matching brick and an external fire staircase was installed.

 

 

The wood frame windows are still sealed in the walls behind the brick, but are in bad shape. We would like to remove the brick over the windows, but the windows would have to be replaced with appropriate, fixed pane windows for security and efficiency reasons. Most the classrooms in the old education building as well as the fellowship hall below the sanctuary have tin ceiling tiles above the drop ceiling.

 

So we are now wanting to reclaim the beauty of what once was. Every current member we've spoken to, regardless of age or tenure at the church, wants the columns and tin ceiling back. We are working on a proposal to present to the church in an effort to reclaim the columns and the tin ceiling and find replacement lampposts and signage of the original period and style.