First Presbyterian Church of Houston
Houston, Harris County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Organized March 31 (Easter Sunday), 1839, in Senate Chamber, Capitol of Republic of Texas, Main at Texas, by the Rev. Wm. Youel Allen, missionary from the United States, and eleven members. James Burke was elected ruling elder. Services of worship and a Sunday School (begun on May 13, 1838) continued in Capitol while church building was being erected on site (NW corner, Main and Capitol) given by the Allen family which had founded Houston. The church was the first house of worship completed in Houston. Dedicated on Feb. 13, 1842, it was used for meeting of other denominations and groups. Here the House of Representatives met in summer of 1842, and President Sam Houston addressed a joint session of Congress. Thus the congregation repaid the Republic's hospitality of 1838-1839. Original church burned 1862; a brick structure was built in 1867, and served until the erection of a large stone edifice, Main at McKinney, 1894. Fire destroyed part of that building in 1932. The present church was occupied in 1948 and dedicated Sept. 12, 1954. Through the years, this church body has furnished many outstanding leaders to the businesses and professions of state and nation. (1970) (see other side) Founding members: A.B. Shelby, Marian Shelby, J. Wilson Copes, James Bailey, James Burke, Sarah Woodward, Isabella R. Parker, Edwin Belden, Harris G. Avery, Sophia B. Hodge, Jannet Scott. Pastors: J.W. Miller, 1844-50. L.S. Gibson, 1850-51. A.Fairbairn, 1852-53. J. Twitchell, 1855-56. R.H. Byers, 1857-59. T. Castleton, 1860-64, J.R. Hutchinson, 1864-67. W.C. Summerville, 1869-70. S. Frahe, 1870-71. J.J. Read, 1871-76. J.H. McNeely, 1877-79. E.D. Junkin, 1880-91. W. George, 1891-92. J.A. LeFevre, 1892-93. W.H. Leavell, 1893-1905. W.S. Jacobs, 1906-31. Charles L. King, 1932-61. John W. Lancaster, 1961-
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
On Easter Sunday 1839, in the Senate Chamber of the Republic of Texas Capitol, a missionary from the United States and eleven members organized the First Presbyterian Church of Houston. Its first sanctuary, built on land given by the town's founding Allen family, was the first house of worship completed in Houston and hosted other congregations and even the House of Representatives — where President Sam Houston once addressed a joint session. Fire, growth, and rebuilding carried the congregation through four sanctuaries to its present home.
Why it matters
The church's early history is inseparable from that of the Republic of Texas itself, whose Capitol nurtured both the young nation's government and its first settled congregations.
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Related people
- · William Youel Allen
- · Sam Houston
- · James Burke
Themes & tags
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