Central Presbyterian Church (Austin, Texas): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Historic church in Texas, United States}} |
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"Deliberately diverse and fully inclusive, Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Austin is a community of Christian faith where each person is welcomed as a unique child of God." [ http://cpcaustin.org/Information/Mission%20Statement.htm ] |
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[[File:central-presbyterian-austin.jpg|right|300px]] |
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Located on the northeast corner of Brazos and Bois d’Arc (now 8th Street) in Austin, Texas, Central Presbyterian Church traces its roots to the organization of the first Presbyterian church in Austin on Sunday, October 13, 1839. 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), First Southern Presbyterian Church and Central Presbyterian Church. The most renowned pastor in Central’s history has been Reverend Richmond K. Smoot. His 29-year ministry, 1876 until his death in 1905, carried the church to great heights of service, inspiring young men to enter the ministry and stimulating the founding of Texas’ first Presbyterian school of theology, which became the present [[Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary]]. |
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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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William Sidney Porter, the acclaimed [[O. Henry]] of American short story, sang bass in the choir of First Southern in the mid-1880s. |
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== History == |
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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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|url=http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fco46 |
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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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The congregation has been instrumental in organizing five Presbyterian churches in Austin. |
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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. |
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==Notes== |
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{{Reflist|2}} |
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==References== |
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''The Roots of Central Presbyterian Church, Austin Texas'' by Bo Byers 1989, published by Nortex Press |
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==External links== |
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* [http://www.cpcaustin.org Central Presbyterian Church] |
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* [http://www.mission-presbytery.org Mission Presbytery] |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070811001050/http://www.synodsun.com/ Synod of the Sun] |
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* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090810171209/http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/ohenry/ O. Henry Museum] |
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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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[[Category:Churches in Austin, Texas]] |
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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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[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Austin, Texas]] |
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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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