Central Presbyterian Church (Austin, Texas) facts for kids
Central Presbyterian Church is a historic church located in Austin, Texas. You can find it on the corner of Brazos and Eighth Street. This church is part of the Presbyterian Church (USA), which is a large group of Presbyterian churches across the United States. It belongs to the Mission Presbytery, which is part of the Synod of the Sun region.
The church is not just a place for worship. It also has many programs, helps the community, and hosts cultural events. For example, it has offered free concerts every week since 1980. Since 2006, it has also been a place where the SXSW Music Festival holds some of its events.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
How It All Started
The story of Central Presbyterian Church began a very long time ago, on October 13, 1839. This was when the first Presbyterian worship service in Austin took place at a place called Bullock's hotel. The City of Austin itself was officially created just a couple of months later, in December 1839.
A person named Abner Cook was at that first service. He was a builder and an elder (a leader) in the first Presbyterian church organized in Austin. He helped the church get the land where it stands today, at the corner of Brazos and what is now Eighth Street. This happened after a big split in the church following the American Civil War.
Building and Recognition
A church building was finished on this land in 1874. The building you see today was built much later, in 1957. In 1989, the Texas Historical Commission recognized the church as an important historical site.
Changing Names and Important People
Over the years, the church has had a few different names. It was known as Southern Presbyterian Church, the Free Presbyterian Church, and First Southern Presbyterian Church. Today, it is called Central Presbyterian Church.
Many important people in Austin and in the Presbyterian Church have been members here. These include Governor Francis R. Lubbock and William Sidney Porter, who is better known as the famous writer O. Henry. Another notable member was Thomas Watt Gregory, who served as a U.S. Attorney General.
The Reverend Richmond Kelley Smoot was a pastor at the church from 1876 to 1905. He played a big role in the national Presbyterian Church and helped develop the Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. This church has also helped start five other Presbyterian churches in Austin.
Becoming Central Presbyterian Church
The church was first known as Presbyterian Church (South). It later became Austin Presbyterian Church, Southern Presbyterian Church, and Free Presbyterian Church (meaning its pews were not sold to families). In 1983, the Northern and Southern branches of the Presbyterian Church in the United States reunited. Because of this big event, the church changed its name to Central Presbyterian Church.
