Over the weekend, a four-alarm fire that ravaged much of First Baptist Church Dallas‘s historic sanctuary spared a cherished 130-year-old pulpit, which had been a cornerstone for some of the congregation’s most beloved pastors.
The historic sanctuary, built in 1890 in downtown Dallas, stood adjacent to the church’s current sanctuary. It was actively used until the church’s renovation in 2013, during which it was preserved as a secondary worship center and a cherished historic landmark.
Members and staff of the church say the pulpit’s preservation is a testimony of God’s blessing. The pulpit was used by such pastors as George Truett (1867-1944) and W.A. Criswell (1909-2002).
The church’s current pastor, Robert Jeffress, wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “A true miracle — especially if you saw the flames engulfing the place this pulpit was displayed.”
The congregation worshiped in the city’s Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center over the weekend. Plans for this Sunday are not definite, although it’s possible the church could be back in its own sanctuary.
Executive Pastor Ben Lovvorn said in a video, “What we do know is we’re going to be together this Sunday. So that will either be here in our worship center on the campus of First Baptist Dallas, or we’ll return to the Dallas Convention Center.”
Although the historic sanctuary’s interior was largely destroyed, its exterior walls still stand. Jeffress said the church will rebuild.