The Presbyterian Church of Gonzales
Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas
Marker Inscription
On February 29, 1852, the Presbyterian Church of Gonzales was constituted with eight charter members, led by the Rev. Joel T. Case. The Rev. John McRae served as the first permanent pastor, and the congregation held worship services once a month in the local Baptist church. In 1875, the Presbyterian church completed its own building, and six years later, members established the first Sunday school with 62 pupils and 13 teachers. A new worship facility, completed in 1925, replaced the 1875 building, and the congregation has expanded its facilities since that time to meet the needs of the congregation's activities. (2002)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
The Presbyterian Church of Gonzales was constituted on February 29, 1852, with eight charter members under the Rev. Joel T. Case, at first borrowing the local Baptist church for monthly worship. The congregation built its own sanctuary in 1875, opened a Sunday school of 62 pupils in 1881, and replaced its building with a new worship facility in 1925 as it continued to grow.
Why it matters
A congregation that took root in the early years of statehood shows how organized religion helped anchor civic and social life in frontier Texas towns.
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Themes & tags
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