Christ Church Cathedral (Houston) facts for kids
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Christ Church Cathedral, Houston
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Christ Church Cathedral at night
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 Location in Houston Downtown
Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1117 Texas Ave Houston, Texas |
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| Built | 1893 |
| Architect | Silas McBee |
| Architectural style | Late Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002957 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 15, 1979 |
Christ Church Cathedral in Houston is a very old and important church. It's the main church for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. This church started way back in 1839. At that time, Texas was its own independent country, called the Republic of Texas.
Christ Church is the oldest church group still active in Houston. It is also one of the oldest non-Roman Catholic churches in all of Texas. Many other Episcopal churches in Houston began as smaller missions started by Christ Church. For example, Trinity Church, Houston was founded in 1893 because of Christ Church.
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A Look Back: Church History
The first Episcopal minister known to preach in Houston was Reverend Richard Salmon. He came to Texas in 1836 and visited Houston in 1838. Back then, there were no church buildings in Houston. So, the Texas government allowed church meetings to happen in the Capitol Building.
Founding the Church
Christ Church was officially started on March 16, 1839. This made it the first church group in Houston to get a special charter. The main person who helped start Christ Church was William Fairfax Gray. He was from Fredericksburg, Virginia. Gray had helped organize the first Texas Revolutionary government. By 1837, he moved to Houston with his family. He planned to open a law office and helped establish the church.
First Church Building
The first permanent church building for Christ Church was built in 1847. Reverend Charles Gillette oversaw its construction. The church was located at Texas Avenue and Fannin Street. It was a small, red brick church with a tall steeple. Inside, it had a gallery overlooking the main area. The church grew so quickly that it was full within ten years.
In 1857, Reverend W. T. D. Dalzell became the new leader. The church members decided to build a house for the minister, called a rectory. Bering Brothers built a two-story house with two small sections facing Texas Avenue. It also had a double porch on the front.
The Current Building and a Fire
The church building you see today is located at 1117 Texas Avenue in Downtown Houston. It was built in 1893. In 1938, the building had a big fire. A firefighter bravely sprayed water on a beautifully carved wooden screen inside. This saved the screen from being destroyed. It only had a little damage.
Christ Church became the main church, or cathedral, for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas in 1949. Today, Christ Church has more than 3,000 members.
Church Leaders
The first main leader of Christ Church was Reverend Charles Gillett. He helped the church build its first building in 1845. James P. deWolfe was the church's leader from 1934 to 1940. He helped rebuild the church building and started many new programs. After that, he became a Bishop. From 2013 to 2022, the main leader, called the dean, was the Very Reverend Barkley S. Thompson.
Early Missionaries and Rectors
Here are some of the early leaders who helped guide Christ Church:
- Reverend Robert Martin Chapman, missionary (1838−1839)
- Reverend Henry B. Goodwin, temporary rector (1839−1840)
- Reverend Benjamin Eaton, missionary (1841)
- Reverend Charles Gillett (1843−1852)
- Reverend Henry Sampson (1852)
- Reverend W.T.D. Dalzell (1857−1861)
Cathedral House Episcopal School
The Cathedral House Episcopal School opened in 1986. It is located right on the campus of Christ Church Cathedral. The school teaches children using the ideas of Maria Montessori. This method focuses on hands-on learning and self-directed activity. The classrooms include spaces for nursery, toddlers, and primary school children, up to kindergarten.
See also
