St. James Lutheran Church
Harper, Gillespie County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1908, the first Lutheran missionary to the area, Rev. C. Stadler, came to Harper. In April 1910, he confirmed the first class of Lutheran young people. When there was no missionary assigned to the area, Lutheran pastors from neighboring congregations came to serve. The worship services were held at the Baptist, Methodist and Presbyterian church buildings or homes and the Harper Hotel when none of these were available. The first Lutheran congregation officially organized on Mar. 9, 1913, led by Rev. B. Schliefer. Mrs. Sophie Klein donated half of her lot on Main Street, at the corner of what is now 4th Street, for the building of a church. The name St. James was decided on at a meeting on Jan. 11, 1914. The church was built in the shape of a cross and its steeple was in the form of traditional German churches. At the time, it was Harper's largest church building. The dedication service was on Jul. 26, 1914. Until 1918, the German language was used exclusively in the church. Over time, additional land has been purchased, annexes built, and remodeling done. In 1943, the constitution was revised and the church became affiliated with the American Lutheran Church. The congregation later adopted a new constitution, which eventually became a part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. The church has been a leading part of the community. It has organized a Women's Society, Young People's Group, Vacation Bible School and Sunday School. It has also hosted a revival-type event called Brush Arbor Days and raised funds for the community help center. The church has hosted many celebrations from baptisms, confirmations, weddings and burials, to the ordination of pastors, holding of reunions and school functions. 175 Years of Texas Independence * 1836-2011
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
When Lutheran missionary Rev. C. Stadler arrived in Harper in 1908, the German settlers of the Texas Hill Country had no church of their own and worshipped in borrowed Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian buildings—even the town hotel. The congregation formally organized in 1913, and after Sophie Klein donated a Main Street lot, they built a cross-shaped church with a steeple in traditional German form, dedicated in 1914 as Harper's largest building. Services were held entirely in German until 1918, a reminder of how deeply the immigrant homeland shaped frontier faith.
Why it matters
St. James reflects the German Lutheran heritage that helped settle the Texas Hill Country and the slow Americanization of its immigrant communities across the early 20th century.
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Related people
- · Rev. C. Stadler
- · Sophie Klein
Themes & tags
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