![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/DSC06875--1024x683.jpg\")
Brian Ketcham volunteers as a guide for Downtown Fort Worth Walking Tours. He gave a tour of historic churches in the city on Dec. 13, 2025. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
On Saturday morning he and another guide took about 110 people through downtown for their final tour of the year to historic places of worship.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s just so much unique history in these churches and such beautiful, long-lasting work. You don\u2019t appreciate it when you don\u2019t just slow down and look at it,\u201d Ketcham said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/DSC06864--1024x683.jpg\")
A group of 110 gathered in downtown Fort Worth on Dec. 13, 2025, to participate in a free walking tour around historic churches in the city. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n
Ketcham guided attendees to where historic religious sites stand or once stood.<\/p>\n
That included the site of Temple Beth El, which is now a parking lot next to First Christian Church and First Baptist Church of Fort Worth, which was led by J. Frank Norris, a famous fundamentalist preacher who was a defendant in a 1927 murder trial in which he was acquitted.<\/p>\n
The walks typically consist of exploring 2-3 miles around the town with breakfast tacos by tour founder, former restaurateur and real estate broker Tim Young.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Young and his wife, Donna, <\/a>have organized tours around downtown Fort Worth for about 14 years. In addition to the church tour, the couple alternates through 15 different tours on topics including historic hotels, banks and places visited by former President John F. Kennedy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Knowing about different niches and nooks in Fort Worth \u2014 such as the bronze sleeping panther sculpture \u2014 helps build a sense of community and can make residents proud to show visitors their town, Young said.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNo one\u2019s ever going to put my name on a building, but I\u2019m leaving a mark on Fort Worth because so many people are learning about it and telling others and carrying on those stories,\u201d Young said.\u00a0<\/p>\n The recent tour groups reconvened at St. Andrew\u2019s Anglican Church on 917 Lamar St. for the tour\u2019s final stop. Attendees walked in, immersing themselves in dolomite stone, dark wooden pews and intricate stained glass of the Gothic Revival-style church built in 1909.\u00a0<\/p>\n Rich and dynamic brass-like notes of \u201cJoy to the World\u201d filled the sanctuary as a member of the church played the organ, encouraging the guests to sing along.\u00a0<\/p>\n Attendees walked back to their cars at the end of the tour, passing by each spot with a little more history than they knew before.\u00a0<\/p>\n Marissa Greene is a Report for America corps member, covering faith for the Fort Worth Report. You can contact her at marissa.greene@fortworthreport.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/DSC06871--1024x683.jpg\")
Downtown Fort Worth Walking Tours had 110 attendees for its historic church tour on Dec. 13, 2025. (Marissa Greene | Fort Worth Report)<\/p>\n