History of Wells Branch Church of Christ
Wells Branch Church of Christ, located at 1506 W. Howard Lane, has a long history. The congregation has had several locations, and a brief history follows.
East 7th Street
The earliest known location was on East 7th, a few blocks east of I 35 in a red brick building that still stands on the north side of the street. This building was believed to have been occupied in the early 1900's until the congregation moved to Taylor and Waller.
Taylor and Waller Streets
The church moved to Taylor and Waller Streets in the late 1930's or early 1940's. Some of the current members attended at that location as children. Apparently the church outgrew the location and looked for a new location.
5200 Avenue F
In 1951, the church relocated to 5200 Avenue F. The building was built mostly by the members on a residential lot that had little parking. The church was enlarged in 1955 and continued to grow. In 1961, the church built a new building at Bluebonnet Lane and Ashby Street south of Barton Springs Road, west of Lamar Boulevard. Many of the members moved to that location and that relieved the crowding at Avenue F. (That congregation has since merged with the ones on East Cesar Chavez and Deer Creek, and they will be building a new building in far south Austin.) As the Avenue F church continued to grow and the parking became more acute, lots were purchased at 6300 Manor Road for a new building.
6300 Manor Road
A very nice building was constructed with a rock exterior, wood laminated arches and a suspended foundation to compensate for the very expansive clay soil in the area. Otis Fowler, one of the members, was the contractor. The building seated nearly 200, although the membership was less than 100. The first services were held in the spring of 1968. Nearly all of the members at Avenue F made the move to the new location. From 1967 to 1991, the congregation hosted an annual Fourth of July brotherhood meeting to which many out of town visitors attended. (When the congregation moved in 1991, the congregation at Mullin, TX continued the annual meeting.) The church prospered, but by the late 1980s the area around the church had deteriorated. Eventually drug dealers were doing business on the parking lot during the week, and many of the members were afraid to attend and moved elsewhere. By 1991 it was clear that a move had to be made. Before the property was sold, the congregation moved to a temporary location near North Lamar and Koenig Lane in 1991. Eventually the building sold, but for a price considerably below market price had it been located in a more desirable part of Austin.
Temporary Locations
Over the next several years the church occupied several temporary locations while seeking a permanent home. Two groups left amicably to attend other congregations. In 1994 the church purchased a very nice site in Century Park, just east of MoPac and south of Howard Lane. A foundation investigation was made and it was found that the site was situated on very expansive clay, and due to the expensive foundation and onerous site requirements required by the City of Austin, the price was beyond the budget of the church. The architects advised the church to sell the property and seek a site with an existing building north of Howard Lane that marked the city limit.
Wells Branch Church of Christ
In 1997, a residence on about one acre was located on the north side of Howard Lane about two blocks west of I 35 (1506 West Howard Lane) in Wells Branch. The site had about 30 pecan trees with a wood framed residence. The two bedrooms on the east end were converted into the lobby and a cry room, and the garage, living and dining rooms on the west end were converted into an auditorium that seated approximately 90. The owners had built a den on the north side that served the church as an eating area. The kitchen was retained, a women’s restroom was added in the third bedroom, and a new deck was added at the entry. Since the church is outside the city limits, no building permits were required. However, all changes to the impervious cover had be approved by the City. They approved a pervious concrete parking lot on the north side of the property as an experimental material without requiring a detention pond. In 2008 a new roof structure was added to provide a much steeper roof pitch with a metal roof that made the building appear more like a church.
The church began on Howard Lane with about 25 members, most who had been with the congregation for years; some drove long distances to continue to be members since there is a great sense of community and loyalty. In recent years the church has grown rapidly, and the attendance each Sunday ranges from 50 to 85 or more. The church had architects and engineers prepare construction documents to include additional parking, remodeled restrooms, and a new auditorium on the east end that would utilize the current lobby and restrooms. The City required a water detention pond to accommodate the increased impervious cover. Mike Robertson, an elder, served as the general contractor. The first services were held Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, 2016, with Paul Collins as the speaker. The former auditorium is used for gatherings and dining, and a baptistery was installed on the west end.
The church functions with several lay ministers who draw no salary, and there are no salaried employees. The church contributions are used to support mission work in South Africa and the Philippines, local evangelistic efforts, assistance to needy members, and construction and maintenance of the church plant. The church has three elders (David Fowler, Lin Fowler, and Mike Robertson) and one deacon (Steve Walker). There is an excellent rapport among the members, and many of them enjoy a pot luck lunch together each Sunday at the building. There are many young people and young families who attend regularly that should ensure a long and successful continuation of the congregation.
East 7th Street
The earliest known location was on East 7th, a few blocks east of I 35 in a red brick building that still stands on the north side of the street. This building was believed to have been occupied in the early 1900's until the congregation moved to Taylor and Waller.
Taylor and Waller Streets
The church moved to Taylor and Waller Streets in the late 1930's or early 1940's. Some of the current members attended at that location as children. Apparently the church outgrew the location and looked for a new location.
5200 Avenue F
In 1951, the church relocated to 5200 Avenue F. The building was built mostly by the members on a residential lot that had little parking. The church was enlarged in 1955 and continued to grow. In 1961, the church built a new building at Bluebonnet Lane and Ashby Street south of Barton Springs Road, west of Lamar Boulevard. Many of the members moved to that location and that relieved the crowding at Avenue F. (That congregation has since merged with the ones on East Cesar Chavez and Deer Creek, and they will be building a new building in far south Austin.) As the Avenue F church continued to grow and the parking became more acute, lots were purchased at 6300 Manor Road for a new building.
6300 Manor Road
A very nice building was constructed with a rock exterior, wood laminated arches and a suspended foundation to compensate for the very expansive clay soil in the area. Otis Fowler, one of the members, was the contractor. The building seated nearly 200, although the membership was less than 100. The first services were held in the spring of 1968. Nearly all of the members at Avenue F made the move to the new location. From 1967 to 1991, the congregation hosted an annual Fourth of July brotherhood meeting to which many out of town visitors attended. (When the congregation moved in 1991, the congregation at Mullin, TX continued the annual meeting.) The church prospered, but by the late 1980s the area around the church had deteriorated. Eventually drug dealers were doing business on the parking lot during the week, and many of the members were afraid to attend and moved elsewhere. By 1991 it was clear that a move had to be made. Before the property was sold, the congregation moved to a temporary location near North Lamar and Koenig Lane in 1991. Eventually the building sold, but for a price considerably below market price had it been located in a more desirable part of Austin.
Temporary Locations
Over the next several years the church occupied several temporary locations while seeking a permanent home. Two groups left amicably to attend other congregations. In 1994 the church purchased a very nice site in Century Park, just east of MoPac and south of Howard Lane. A foundation investigation was made and it was found that the site was situated on very expansive clay, and due to the expensive foundation and onerous site requirements required by the City of Austin, the price was beyond the budget of the church. The architects advised the church to sell the property and seek a site with an existing building north of Howard Lane that marked the city limit.
Wells Branch Church of Christ
In 1997, a residence on about one acre was located on the north side of Howard Lane about two blocks west of I 35 (1506 West Howard Lane) in Wells Branch. The site had about 30 pecan trees with a wood framed residence. The two bedrooms on the east end were converted into the lobby and a cry room, and the garage, living and dining rooms on the west end were converted into an auditorium that seated approximately 90. The owners had built a den on the north side that served the church as an eating area. The kitchen was retained, a women’s restroom was added in the third bedroom, and a new deck was added at the entry. Since the church is outside the city limits, no building permits were required. However, all changes to the impervious cover had be approved by the City. They approved a pervious concrete parking lot on the north side of the property as an experimental material without requiring a detention pond. In 2008 a new roof structure was added to provide a much steeper roof pitch with a metal roof that made the building appear more like a church.
The church began on Howard Lane with about 25 members, most who had been with the congregation for years; some drove long distances to continue to be members since there is a great sense of community and loyalty. In recent years the church has grown rapidly, and the attendance each Sunday ranges from 50 to 85 or more. The church had architects and engineers prepare construction documents to include additional parking, remodeled restrooms, and a new auditorium on the east end that would utilize the current lobby and restrooms. The City required a water detention pond to accommodate the increased impervious cover. Mike Robertson, an elder, served as the general contractor. The first services were held Saturday and Sunday, May 14 and 15, 2016, with Paul Collins as the speaker. The former auditorium is used for gatherings and dining, and a baptistery was installed on the west end.
The church functions with several lay ministers who draw no salary, and there are no salaried employees. The church contributions are used to support mission work in South Africa and the Philippines, local evangelistic efforts, assistance to needy members, and construction and maintenance of the church plant. The church has three elders (David Fowler, Lin Fowler, and Mike Robertson) and one deacon (Steve Walker). There is an excellent rapport among the members, and many of them enjoy a pot luck lunch together each Sunday at the building. There are many young people and young families who attend regularly that should ensure a long and successful continuation of the congregation.