Texoma's Homepage Mar 14, 2016"Fain Presbyterian, home to a steeple generations know at first glance, detailed stained glass windows, and a beautiful sanctuary — is now crumbling before the congregation’s eyes.
The church needs major renovation from damage caused by both drought and then flooding and they simply don’t have the funds to preserve this beautiful structure that is a landmark in this neighborhood.
The years of drought severely damaged the foundation the entire church rests on. Then the damage was compounded when rains flooded the basement and the sump pumps couldn’t keep up.
From a peak membership of more than 700 in the sixties, down to 90 today, the building has outgrown the congregation. Out of 24,000 sq ft. the congregation is only using about half of that, once a week."
Texoma's Homepage Jun 19, 2020
"Fain Presbyterian Church, now known as the New Hope Presbyterian Church is moving locations after 70 years of worship at the same location on Speedway.
The Rev. Don Stribling and the congregation of New Hope Presbyterian Church will worship for the final time at 2201 Speedway on Sunday, June 21st, with a de-consecration of the Fain building at 8:30 a.m. This special event will be held on the front steps of the church building. The community is invited to attend this landmark event. Attendees are asked to bring folding chairs for this service, which will celebrate the history of the congregations that have met in this marvelous space.
For 70 years, Presbyterians have gathered at the corner of Martin and Speedway to worship God and celebrate life in the graceful, white neo-gothic building designed by the noted church architect J. Murrell Bennett of Dallas, Texas. For most of these seven decades, Fain Memorial Presbyterian Church, later Fain Presbyterian Church, congregated in the building. In 2015 the Fain membership invited the newly organized New Covenant Presbyterian Church to share its space, and in 2017, the two congregations merged to form New Hope Presbyterian Church (USA). As with the parent churches, New Hope is dedicated to welcoming any and all to worship and serve.
The Rev. Dr. Daniel M. Garza served New Hope as interim pastor, followed by its current pastor the Rev. Donald Stribling. The new congregation maintained the strong music program both churches had enjoyed before the merger, presenting two Christmas Oratorios, inviting MSU students to sing in the choir, and adding a number of talented soloists and accompanists to play. Mission outreach was enhanced, and the kitchen was bustling with preparations for the food distribution program, receptions and special dinners, and Wednesday night suppers. However, continuing deterioration of the building’s foundation made it imperative the congregation find a new place in which to worship.
The search was fruitful, and New Hope is moving its ministry to 1701 Enterprise in the growing suburb west of Sheppard Air Force Base. The church sold the property at 2201 Speedway, but moved its worship services into the fellowship hall, remaining faithful to the tradition of presbyterian ethics, governance, and love for all God’s creatures. The Covid-19 Pandemic forced New Hope to move its Wednesday evening and Sunday morning fellowship to Zoom and its formal Sunday morning to its website at newhopepresbyterian.org. The congregation will continue to meet electronically until its new space is renovated and ready to serve as a place of worship, meeting, and fellowship."