Sapulpa Church of the Nazarene

Church History

IT ALL BEGAN...

  • The Church of the Nazarene came to Sapulpa in June of 1921. A large tent was erected at Main and Thompson and a revival that lasted several weeks began. The Evangelist was the Rev. "Uncle Bud" Robinson. Lawson Brown was the song evangelist.

  • Following the revival, property was purchased at the church's present location on Park and Lincoln and the tent moved there.

  • The church was organized on July 3, 1921 with 15 charter members. The first pastor was the Rev. M.J. Jones who led the way into the first church building in late 1921. The first building is often referred to as the "Old Sheep Shed".

  • In 1926, the church's growth brought the need for a new building, and after prayer and sacrifice a new stone sanctuary was built. The stone was donated by a quarry on the east side of Sapulpa, and the men of the church worked for many months carrying stone and laying it.

  • It was during these years that the church showed its greatest increase. One Sunday School session drew 963 people!

  • In 1932, it was time to build again, and a brick sanctuary was added to the stone basement sanctuary. Since the church was not able to borrow the money in Sapulpa, the Rev. E.D. Simpson, the church's pastor, Dallas Grigsby, the church treasurer at the time, and several other men from the church, visited a farmer named Jennings who lived near Muskogee and made arrangements to borrow $3,000. The church built again.

  • During the 1960's, two more building programs were initiated under the direction of Rev. E.H. Sanders.

  • From 1977-1981, the Rev. F. Thomas Bailey served as pastor. Under his leadership, our present church sanctuary was completed at the corner of Elm and Lincoln in 1980.

  • A complete remodeling of the Educational Building was accomplished during the pastorate of Rev. James W. Spear.

  • Rev. Curtis Martin and family moved to Sapulpa in 1991. Under Pastor Martin's leadership, the fellowship hall was renovated to add much needed classroom space, and a new Family Life Center was constructed.

Our Pastors

Rev. M.L. Jones 1921-1922
Rev. T.L. Taylor 1922-1923
Rev. W.B. Walker 1923-1924
Rev. J.W. Dodd 1924-1925
Rev. F.R. McConnell 1925-1930
Rev. E.D. Simpson 1930-1934
Rev. U.B. Atteberry 1934-1936
Rev. P.L. Pierce 1934-1936
Rev. W.R. Donaldson 1936-1942
Rev. W.A. Carter 1942-1946
Rev. J.E. Heasley 1946-1949
Rev. S.W. Nesmith 1949-1952
Rev. G.W. Abla 1952-1957
Rev. E.H. Sanders 1957-1965
Rev. H.R. Morgan 1965-1971
Rev. H.E. Sanders 1971-1973
Rev. D.J. Felter 1973-1977
Rev. F.T. Bailey 1977-1981
Rev. A. Evans 1981-1985
Rev. J.W. Spear 1985-1991
Rev. Curtis R. Martin 1991-1999
Rev. James E. Nash 1999-2004
Rev. Kevin Bell 2004-2006