First Christian Church of San Marcos
San Marcos, Hays County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Formed by the Rev. Henry Thomas in 1853 with only two members, the congregation had grown to fifty members by 1856. After the Civil War, it was reactivated by the Rev. W. H. D. Carrington of Austin. The present church building was constructed in 1893, when some members withdrew because of doctrinal conflicts. Designed by architect Edward Northcraft (1833-1919), it was erected on land donated by banker Edwin J. L. Green (1841-1924). Membership increased after a revival led by Evangelist J. B. Boen in 1895, and a new sanctuary was added in 1910. In 1975, the fellowship included about 125 families.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
This San Marcos congregation began in 1853 with just two members and grew quickly through the antebellum years before lapsing during the Civil War, when a visiting Austin minister revived it. Its 1893 sanctuary, designed by architect Edward Northcraft on land donated by banker Edwin Green, still stands; a revival in 1895 and a new sanctuary in 1910 marked its continued growth.
Why it matters
The church charts the religious and civic maturing of a Central Texas town from frontier settlement through the Gilded Age.
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Related people
- · Henry Thomas
- · W. H. D. Carrington
- · Edward Northcraft
- · Edwin J. L. Green
- · J. B. Boen
Themes & tags
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