St. Mary's Cathedral
Galveston, Galveston County, Texas
Marker Inscription
City's oldest surviving church. Built 1847 by the most Rev. John M. Odin, C. M., Early missionary, and first bishop of Texas. Gift of half a million bricks from Antwerp, Belgium, made structure possible. Gothic cathedral is preserved in original style. After disastrous flood of 1875, tower was crowned with status of Mary, Star of the Sea, which has withstood storms ever since. Fine stained glass windows and rich altars are notable features. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Galveston's oldest surviving church rose in 1847 under John M. Odin, an early missionary and the first Catholic bishop of Texas, built with a gift of half a million bricks shipped from Antwerp, Belgium. Its Gothic form endures largely in its original style, and after the devastating flood of 1875 its tower was crowned with a statue of Mary, Star of the Sea, that has ridden out every storm since. Fine stained glass and rich altars make it a landmark of the Gulf port.
Why it matters
As the cathedral of Texas's first Catholic bishop, built with materials and faith carried across the Atlantic, it marks the arrival of an immigrant Catholic Church on the young state's coast.
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Related people
- · John M. Odin
Themes & tags
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