Central Presbyterian Church
Waco, McLennan County, Texas
Marker Inscription
This church was established as Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Waco by 18 charter members in 1869. The Rev. William Dillard served as first pastor. Led by the Rev. D. C. Kinnard, the congregation built a 2-story brick sanctuary in 1873 which also housed the public school in Waco. A frame sanctuary was built here in 1903, and in 1906 the church was renamed Central Presbyterian Church. The congregation built a brick sanctuary with elaborate stained glass windows at this site in 1921-22. Central Presbyterian Chruch serves the community with a variety of programs. Sesquicentennial of Texas Statehood 1845-1995 The Congregation moved to the present site in 2004. (Supplemental Plate 2004)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Eighteen charter members founded this congregation as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Waco in 1869, with the Rev. William Dillard as its first pastor. The two-story brick sanctuary they built in 1873 doubled as Waco's public school, binding church and civic life together. Renamed Central Presbyterian Church in 1906, the congregation later worshiped beneath elaborate stained glass before moving to its present site in 2004.
Why it matters
In frontier towns a single church building often served as sanctuary and schoolhouse alike, standing at the center of a community's spiritual and civic life.
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Related people
- · Rev. William Dillard
- · Rev. D. C. Kinnard
Themes & tags
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