Saint John Catholic Church
Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas
Marker Inscription
On oldest church site in Terrell, which became a town when Texas & Pacific Railroad was built to this point in 1873. The Rt. Rev. Claude-Marie Dubuis, Bishop of the Diocese, acquired the land on May 22, 1876. First church erected on site was dedicated Nov. 19, 1876. Outdoor shrine was built in 1945; the church was remodeled in 1949. Incise on back: Marker sponsored by Rossie Crawford Sullins and Family
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Terrell sprang up in 1873 when the Texas & Pacific Railroad reached this point, and this parcel—the oldest church site in town—was acquired by Bishop Claude-Marie Dubuis in 1876. The first church was dedicated that November, joined by an outdoor shrine in 1945 and a remodeling in 1949. The site has anchored Catholic worship in Terrell for well over a century.
Why it matters
The parish's founding right after the railroad's arrival reflects how rail lines drew new towns and their earliest congregations into being across post-Civil War Texas.
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Related people
- · Claude-Marie Dubuis
Themes & tags
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