Christ Church Cathedral (Houston)
Christ Church Cathedral, Houston | |
![]() Christ Church Cathedral at night | |
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Location | 1117 Texas Ave Houston, Texas |
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Coordinates | 29°45′35″N 95°21′40″W / 29.7596°N 95.3612°WCoordinates: 29°45′35″N 95°21′40″W / 29.7596°N 95.3612°W |
Built | 1893 |
Architect | Silas McBee |
Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 79002957 |
RTHL No. | 10631 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | June 15, 1979 |
Designated RTHL | 1972 |
Christ Church Cathedral, Houston is the cathedral church for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. The congregation was established in 1839, when Texas was still an independent republic.[1] It is the oldest extant congregation in Houston and one of the oldest non-Roman Catholic churches in Texas. Many Episcopal churches in Houston and the surrounding area were founded as missions of Christ Church, such as Trinity Church, Houston, founded in 1893.
History[]
Located at 1117 Texas Avenue in Downtown Houston, the current building dates from 1893.[2] In 1938 the building suffered a major fire. A firefighter sprayed down the ornately carved rood screen to prevent its destruction, and it survived with only minor damage.[1] Everett Titcomb composed the anthem "Behold Now, Praise the Lord" for the rededication and centennial of Christ Church.[3]
Christ Church became the cathedral of the diocese in 1949.[2] Presently, Christ Church has a baptized membership of more than 3000 communicants.
Clergy[]
Christ Church's first rector was the Rev’d Charles Gillett of Connecticut. He led the congregation to build its first church building in 1845.[2] James P. deWolfe was the church's rector from 1934 to 1940.[2] He rebuilt the edifice and started many programs before going on to be the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island.[4] The current dean is the Very Reverend Barkley S. Thompson.[5]
Cathedral House Episcopal School[]
The school opened in 1986 on the campus of Christ Church Cathedral with a philosophy grounded in the teachings of Maria Montessori. Classrooms include nursery, movement, toddler, primary and kindergarten.[6]
See also[]
References[]
- ^ a b Turner, Allan. "Christ Church Cathedral's story parallels Houston's". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ a b c d "History". Christ Church Cathedral. Archived from the original on April 17, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ Titcomb, Behold Now Praise the Lord, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_SIIToPl50
- ^ "Episcopate: Bishop DeWolfe Dies". The Living Church. Vol. 152 no. 8. February 20, 1966. p. 5.
- ^ "Clergy". Christ Church Cathedral. Archived from the original on September 5, 2017. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ^ "History & Philosophy". Cathedral House Montessori School. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
External links[]
- Episcopal cathedrals in Texas
- Episcopal churches in Texas
- Cathedrals in Houston
- Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in Texas
- Churches in Harris County, Texas
- Buildings and structures in Houston
- 1893 establishments in Texas
- Churches completed in 1893
- 19th-century Episcopal church buildings
- National Register of Historic Places in Houston
- Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks