Central Presbyterian Church (Austin, Texas): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Historic church in Texas, United States}} |
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Located on the northeast corner of Brazos and Bois d'Arc (now Eighth Street), '''Central Presbyterian Church''' in [[Austin, Texas|Austin]] [[Texas]] traces its roots to the organization of the first Presbyterian church in Austin on Sunday, October 13, 1839. That event, conducted by Rev. William Youell Allen, took place in Bullock's Hotel, at the corner of Congress Avenue and Pecan Street (later renamed Sixth Street). |
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[[File:central-presbyterian-austin.jpg|right|300px]] |
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The names of only four organizers are known. They were Mr. and Mrs. Richard Bullock, James Burke, and [[Abner H. Cook]], recognized as "the builder of Austin." The City of Austin was chartered two and a half months later, December 27, 1839. Cook was one of two contractors who helped construct a small frame sanctuary for that first Presbyterian church in 1841. |
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It maintains a program of ministry, outreach, and cultural events. It has presented free concerts weekly since 1980, and since 2006 the church has been a venue for the [[South by Southwest|SXSW Music Festival]]. |
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Fear of marauding Indians and the recurrent threat of Mexican troops prompted many of Austin's small population--about 1,500--to flee to [[Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas|Washington on the Brazos]] in 1842. In 1844 a tornado blew the little church building apart, and Presbyterian worship lapsed. |
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== History == |
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On May 26, 1850 the First Presbyterian Church of Austin was organized, with five members. Cook was one of them. The next year, on land given by Cook, a frame church was completed on the northeast corner of Lavaca and Bois d'Arc, with Cook the contractor. |
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The congregation traces its roots to October 13, 1839, when Austin's first [[Presbyterian]] worship service was held at Bullock's hotel. The City of Austin was chartered two and a half months later, December 27, 1839. Present at that service was builder [[Abner Cook]], elder in the first Presbyterian church organized in Austin.<ref name="abner cook history">{{cite web |
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|title=Handbook of Texas Online |
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|work=Cook, Abner Hugh |
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|publisher=Texas State Historical Association |
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|accessdate=2010-02-09 }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | He helped acquire the property at the northeast corner of Brazos and Bois d'Arc (now Eighth Street) for the Presbyterian Church (South) following a post-Civil War split in the church. A sanctuary was completed on the site in 1874; the current sanctuary was built in 1957. It was recognized by the [[Texas Historical Commission]] in 1989 as an historical site. |
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The congregation was known in later years as Southern Presbyterian Church, the Free Presbyterian Church, First Southern Presbyterian Church, and (currently) Central Presbyterian Church. It has counted among its members many individuals important in the life of the denomination and the city of Austin, including Gov. Francis R. Lubbock; William Sidney Porter ([[O. Henry]]); A. N. and Jane Y. McCallum; Dr. George Clark and Rebecca Kilgore Stuart Red; and U. S. Attorney General [[Thomas Watt Gregory]]. The Rev. Richmond Kelley Smoot, pastor from 1876 to 1905, played an important role in the national denomination and in the development of the [[Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary]]. |
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Rev. William M. Baker, ordained following graduation from [[Princeton Theological Seminary]], became the pastor. He gained popularity throughout the community until the Civil War erupted. Strife arising from differences over the slavery issue led to bitter division within First Presbyterian Church. Baker was vigorously pro-Union. |
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The congregation has been instrumental in organizing five Presbyterian churches in Austin. |
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When the war ended in May 1865, discord arising from that conflict continued in many aspects of southern life. On January 27, 1866, a pro-northern majority in the church supported a resolution disclaiming all connection with the Presbytery of Central Texas. A minority of 11 (some have said 13) left First Presbyterian and maintained allegiance to the presbytery and the Southern Assembly. |
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First identified as Presbyterian Church (South), the congregation has been known subsequently as Austin Presbyterian Church, Southern Presbyterian Church, Free Presbyterian Church (i.e. its pews were not for sale to families) and First Southern Presbyterian Church. In 1983, with national reunification of the Northern and Southern branches of the denomination into the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]], the church changed its name to Central Presbyterian Church. |
First identified as Presbyterian Church (South), the congregation has been known subsequently as Austin Presbyterian Church, Southern Presbyterian Church, Free Presbyterian Church (i.e. its pews were not for sale to families) and First Southern Presbyterian Church. In 1983, with national reunification of the Northern and Southern branches of the denomination into the [[Presbyterian Church (USA)]], the church changed its name to Central Presbyterian Church. |
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==Notes== |
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Among others associated with Central who have played significant roles in society is one who attained international renown in the world of literature. [[William Sidney Porter]], the acclaimed O. Henry of American short story, sang bass in the choir of First Southern in the mid-1880s (learn more at the O. Henry museum in downtown Austin). Porter and his 17-year-old bride, Athol Estes, were married by their minister, Dr. Richmond Kelley Smoot, in the Smoot residence at 1316 West Sixth Street on July 1, 1887. |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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''The Roots of Central Presbyterian Church, Austin Texas'' by Bo Byers 1989, published by Nortex Press |
''The Roots of Central Presbyterian Church, Austin Texas'' by Bo Byers 1989, published by Nortex Press |
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==External |
==External links== |
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* [http://www.cpcaustin.org Central Presbyterian Church] |
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[http://www. |
* [http://www.mission-presbytery.org Mission Presbytery] |
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[http://www.mission-presbytery.org Mission Presbytery]<br> |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{Coord|30.269685|-97.740280|display=title|type:landmark_region:US}} |
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[[Category:Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas]] |
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{{US-church-stub}} |
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[[Category:Presbyterian churches in Texas]] |
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[[Category:Presbyterian Church in the United States churches]] |
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Latest revision as of 06:07, 25 May 2022
Located on the northeast corner of Brazos and Eighth Street, Central Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas. Central Presbyterian Church is a member of Mission Presbytery, in the Synod of the Sun region of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
It maintains a program of ministry, outreach, and cultural events. It has presented free concerts weekly since 1980, and since 2006 the church has been a venue for the SXSW Music Festival.
History[edit]
The congregation traces its roots to October 13, 1839, when Austin's first Presbyterian worship service was held at Bullock's hotel. The City of Austin was chartered two and a half months later, December 27, 1839. Present at that service was builder Abner Cook, elder in the first Presbyterian church organized in Austin.[1] He helped acquire the property at the northeast corner of Brazos and Bois d'Arc (now Eighth Street) for the Presbyterian Church (South) following a post-Civil War split in the church. A sanctuary was completed on the site in 1874; the current sanctuary was built in 1957. It was recognized by the Texas Historical Commission in 1989 as an historical site.
The congregation was known in later years as Southern Presbyterian Church, the Free Presbyterian Church, First Southern Presbyterian Church, and (currently) Central Presbyterian Church. It has counted among its members many individuals important in the life of the denomination and the city of Austin, including Gov. Francis R. Lubbock; William Sidney Porter (O. Henry); A. N. and Jane Y. McCallum; Dr. George Clark and Rebecca Kilgore Stuart Red; and U. S. Attorney General Thomas Watt Gregory. The Rev. Richmond Kelley Smoot, pastor from 1876 to 1905, played an important role in the national denomination and in the development of the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. The congregation has been instrumental in organizing five Presbyterian churches in Austin.
First identified as Presbyterian Church (South), the congregation has been known subsequently as Austin Presbyterian Church, Southern Presbyterian Church, Free Presbyterian Church (i.e. its pews were not for sale to families) and First Southern Presbyterian Church. In 1983, with national reunification of the Northern and Southern branches of the denomination into the Presbyterian Church (USA), the church changed its name to Central Presbyterian Church.
Notes[edit]
- ^ "Handbook of Texas Online". Cook, Abner Hugh. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved 2010-02-09.
References[edit]
The Roots of Central Presbyterian Church, Austin Texas by Bo Byers 1989, published by Nortex Press
External links[edit]
| Authority control databases: Geographic |
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