First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Austin
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1853, Missionary Rev. E.B. Crisman formally organized the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Austin. Members met in a frame building at 7th and Lavaca streets until 1892, when they replaced it with a stone structure. In 1906, a dispute over a church merger that led all the way to the Texas Supreme Court forced the Cumberland members to move and turn their building over to the Presbyterian USA church. Eight years later,through elder R.M. Castleman, the congregation was able to buy back its building. Around 1950, members built a new sanctuary at this location. The First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Austin celebrated its 150th year in 2003. (2005)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Austin was organized in 1853 by missionary Rev. E.B. Crisman, meeting first in a frame building downtown before raising a stone structure in 1892. A bitter dispute over a denominational merger reached the Texas Supreme Court in 1906 and cost the Cumberland members their building, but through elder R.M. Castleman they bought it back eight years later. Around 1950 they built a new sanctuary and, in 2003, marked 150 years of continuous worship.
Why it matters
Its courthouse fight over a church merger shows how the national schisms of American Presbyterianism played out congregation by congregation, testing the resolve of local believers.
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Related people
- · Rev. E.B. Crisman
- · R.M. Castleman
Themes & tags
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